Abstract
Global production and consumption of TPA in 2007 was approximately 38 million metric tons. Global capacity utilization was 88% in 2007; this was a slight decline from 2006 due to a larger increase in capacity than consumption. Global TPA consumption is estimated to have increased by 9.6% in 2007, and is expected to increase on average by 5.1% per year from 2007 to 2012, declining to 4.1% per year from 2012 to 2017. As a result of considerable capacity additions, utilization rates are expected to decline to the high-70s range by 2010, gradually increasing thereafter.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET melt) accounted for almost 99% of global TPA consumption in 2007. Other applications for TPA include production of polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) Corterra polymers, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), aramid fibers, polyacrylate resins, liquid crystal polymers (LCP), and specialty polyesters.
