DALLAS, TX – A new report by research firm MarketsandMarkets predicts that the renewable chemicals market will grow from an estimated $57.5 billion in 2012 to $83.4 billion by 2018, with a CAGR of 7.7 percent from 2013 to 2018. The report, titled Renewable Chemicals Market - Alcohols (Ethanol, Methanol), Biopolymers (Starch, PLA, PHA, Polyethylene and Others), Platform Chemicals and Others - Global Trends and Forecasts to 2018, defines and segments the global renewable chemicals market with analysis and forecasting of global volume and revenue.

The emergence of bio-feedstock and bio-based commodity polymers production, in tandem with increasing oil prices, rising consumer consciousness, and improving economics, has ushered in a new and exciting era of renewable chemical commercialization. However, factors such as economic viability, product quality and performance, and scale of operation will still play important roles in determining the commercialization spectrum.

The renewable chemicals industry will witness high growth of 7.7 percent annually in the next five years from 2013 to 2018, mainly due to a continuous rise in oil prices, requirements for environmentally friendly feedstock and low production cost of bio-based chemicals.

Among the major renewable chemicals, ethanol is the most commercialized segment. Although it has been established in the United States and Brazil, it has ample growth potential in Europe, as well as developing countries in Asia, such as India and China. In the biopolymers segment, starch plastics hold maximum share (around 48 percent), whereas PHA is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of over 27.7 percent during the next five years.

This report analyzes the global markets for major renewable chemicals such as alcohols, polymers, ketones and acids, along with the major applications of renewable chemicals. The report identifies the driving factors, as well as inhibiting factors, for the growth of each segment. The market segments are sized for major geographical markets of North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW). In addition to the market size, data trends and forecast, the report also highlights key market opportunities for the stakeholders and presents a competitive landscape analysis in which it profiles the key market developments of the top-20 companies in the renewable chemicals space.

For more information about the report, visit http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/renewable-chemical-274.html.