Global Consumption of Cellulose Acetate to Exceed 927 TMT by 2018

GIA announces the release of a comprehensive global report on Cellulose Acetate markets. Global consumption of Cellulose Acetate is projected to exceed 927 thousand metric tons by 2018, driven by encouraging demand from industrial applications such as surface coatings, cigarette filter tow, photographic films, and film & sheet castings, among others.

Cellulose acetate, a man-made polymer produced by reacting cellulose and acetic acid, is a transparent thermoplastic material. The compound began its journey during the First World War, when it was used as lacquer for airplanes. Subsequently, cellulose acetate was used to develop synthetic textiles and bio-based plastics. With time, the range of applications expanded to premium playing cards, adhesives, photographic films, and advanced filters, among others. Cellulose acetate plastics are utilized in the packaging of food as well as consumer commodities. However, cigarettes and textiles are the heavyweights among end-use industries influencing global demand trends in the market. Over 82% of cellulose acetate is consumed for making cigarette filters.

Cigarette tow accounts for a major share of the global cellulose acetate market. Demand for cellulose acetate in Russia, Central Europe and China is growing steadily driven by applications in the filter tow market. The use of cellulose acetate in the cigarette filter industry is highest in Asian countries. Cigarette applications are diminishing in the US and Europe as a result of reduced consumption triggered by growing awareness over the risks of smoking and strong government legislations and policy enforcement. Growth in the global market in the coming years will be driven by rising consumption of cigarettes in low-to-middle income countries, shift towards longer cigarette filters, health concerns driving preference for low-tar cigarettes and substitution of polypropylene cigarette filters with acetate tows.

As stated by the new market research report on Cellulose Acetate, China dominates global cellulose acetate consumption. China has also established itself as the largest market in terms of cigarette filter tow consumption. In the coming years, construction of new cellulose acetate cigarette filter tow production facilities and capacity expansions are expected to be concentrated in China. The on-going exodus of textile production and hubs from Western economies towards China is also favoring the growth in the domestic market. Cigarette Filter Tow represents the largest consumer of cellulose acetate, while surface coatings represent the fastest growing application market.

Major players covered in the report include Celanese Corporation, Daicel Corporation, Eastman Chemical Company, Mitsubishi Rayon Co. Ltd., and Solvay Acetow GmbH.

The report provides market estimates and projections for Cellulose Ac