Space Technology

By: Martin Ebner
The English poet Leigh Hunt once said, „Colours are the smiles of nature". They not only make our lives more colourful, with over a third of all information we perceive being somehow related to colours role in the characteristics of our surroundings. With this, it's no wonder that more and more companies are turning their attention to pigments and using this possibility to enhance their products, thereby increasing the amount of attention the products receive. Colour pigments are a growing market, with pearlescent and effect pigments becoming increasingly popular. However, they have numerous other applications like antidotes against metal poisoning, which uses the Iron Blue pigment. Other examples are Micaceous iron ore and phosphate pigments, which are used in rust protection, and magnetic pigments used in storage media.

New Market Study on Pigments

Ceresana Research has just completed its comprehensive analysis of the global pigments market, which is the most extensive of its kind, analyzing the newest facts and trends, presented on over 1,000 pages. The study offers a view of the current market, leading up to the year 2016, and contains more than 250 manufacturer profiles within the pigments branch. Additional to these helpful resources, is an overview of legislative, environmental and health aspects, which affect this important market. This report is now available in German or English, exclusively from Ceresana Research.

Growing market

The worldwide market for inorganic, organic and special pigments had a total volume of around 7.4 million tons in 2006. At growth rates of 2.9% p.a., this volume will rise to 9.8 million tons by 2016. Asia has the highest rate on a quantity basis followed by Europe and North America. In 2006, a turnover of US$ 17.6 billion (€ 13 billion) was reached mostly in Europe, followed by North America and Asia. This is expected to reach US$ 27.8 billion (€ 20,4 billion) by 2016, corresponding to its annual growth rate of 5%. Although organic pigments account for only 5% of all pigments based on quantity, they cover 28% when based on their value.

Shift to Asia

Demand and production of pigments are continually shifting from the USA, Western Europe and Japan to the emerging markets of Asia, especially China and India. This is mainly because of lower wages and lenient environmental regulations. Within emerging countries themselves, domestic demand for consumer products containing pigments is growing. While a few large suppliers of pigments dominate the relatively saturated markets of industrialized countries, Asian markets remain fragmented. New Asian suppliers constitute an additional margin pressure on established manufacturers.

Growth is driven by market areas

Almost all industrial sectors need pigments, with printing ink, paints, lacquers, and plastics all being growth markets for pigments. More and more manufacturers use new colours and visual effects for their packaging and advertising material. In addition, sectors such as cosmetics, paper, textile, building material, ceramics, and glass make great demands on pigments to add more brilliance to their products. The textile industry increasingly substitutes pigments for dyes.

Organic pigments substitute inorganic pigments

Surpassing growth in organic pigments will continue as these pigments offer a wide colour spectrum and increasingly supplant pigments on a heavy metal basis. Today many environmental regulations restrict the use of lead, chromium, and cadmium.

 

 About Ceresana Research

As an independent market research company, we are among the worldwide leading specialists for commodities as well as the chemical and manufacturing industries. Our multi-user market studies and individually commissioned reports provide the foundation for strategic decisions for our clients. Through the combination of competence, experience, innovation and quality, our customers receive high-value knowledge on which to base their decisions. Our clients from more than 40 countries include well-known retail and industrial companies in the most diverse markets as well as renowned institutes and organisations. 

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Press contact: Martin Ebner, M.A., m.ebner@ceresana.com

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