CLEVELAND - World demand for dyes and organic pigments is forecast to increase 3.9 percent per year to $16.2 billion in 2013, in line with real (inflation-adjusted) gains in manufacturing activity. Volume demand will grow 3.5 percent annually to 2.3 million metric tons. While the textile industry will remain the largest consumer of dyes and organic pigments, faster growth is expected in other markets such as printing inks, paint and coatings, and plastics. Strong gains will occur in developing Asia and, to a lesser extent, other developing areas such as the Africa/Mideast region and Eastern Europe. Market maturity will limit advances in developed areas such as North America, Western Europe and Japan. These and other trends are presented in World Dyes & Organic Pigments, a new study from The Freedonia Group Inc., a Cleveland-based industry research firm.

 

Following trends seen over the past decade, the Asia/Pacific region will experience the strongest growth and increase its share of the global dye and organic pigment market, representing one-half of world demand in 2013, up from 37 percent in 1998. China is by far the largest single consumer in the world and the fastest-growing national market. India will also post rapid increases, but demand levels will remain well below those of China. China alone is expected to account for about two-fifths of global value gains in dye and organic pigment demand between 2008 and 2013.

 

Growth in dye consumption will trail increases in organic pigment demand, although dyes will continue to represent the lion’s share of the overall market, both in volume and value. Among the different dye product types, disperse dyes are expected to see the most rapid gains, due to their usage in the fast-growing polyester fiber industry. For their part, organic pigments find increasing use in inks and coatings due to their ability to provide intense and bright colors. The best prospects are for high-performance products such as quinacridones, which will experience favorable gains as end users require more exacting properties from their coloring agents. While specialized pigment grades will offer good opportunities due to their enhanced environmental acceptability and superior performance characteristics, classical or conventional grades are expected to continue to dominate the organic market.