Metallocene Technologies and Global Markets

Report Highlights

The global metallocene resin/elastomer market reached nearly 11.4 billion pounds in 2012 and should reach nearly 11.9 billion pounds in 2013.  Total market volume is expected to reach 14.8 billion pounds in 2018 after increasing at a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5%. 

Report Includes

• An overview of the global market for metallocene technologies with coverage of the metallocene-catalyzed versions of the following resins/elastomers: LLDPE, HDPE, VLDPE, polypropylene, polystyrene and EPDM, along with variants known as polyolefin plastomers (POPs) and polyolefin elastomers (POEs); ethylene-styrene copolymers and cyclic olefin copolymers which are both based on metallocene technology will also be described
• Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2011, estimates for 2012, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2017
• Identification of end-use markets and materials that will be replaced by metallocene polymers
• Discussion of the competitive scenario in which these resins and elastomers will compete with traditional LLDPE, HDPE, VLDPE, EVA, ionomers; other resins/elastomers will also be analyzed, along with the backdrop of a wide array of applications led by nonfood and food packaging flexible films, stretch/shrink films, nonpackaging films, and many other uses in markets such as rigid packaging, medical, automotive, wire/cable, hose/tubing, polymer modification and a miscellaneous category made up of foams, sporting goods, toys, footwear, continuous filament, and nonwoven fibers
• Coverage of topics such as technologies, mergers and acquisitions, licensing, FDA status, legal issues, industry structure, recycling, and pricing
• Comprehensive company profiles of major players.

Report Scope

This report will cover global markets for the metallocene-catalyzed versions of the following resins/elastomers: LLDPE, HDPE, VLDPE, polypropylene, and EPDM, along with the more recently introduced variants known as polyolefin plastomers (POPs) and polyolefin elastomers (POEs).  Important competitive non-metallocene-based resins will also be covered.

Major global producers are covered in terms of key trade-named products.  Applications of metallocene resins/elastomers will be covered led by films in non-food packaging, non-packaging films, consumer/industrial packaging, flexible food packaging, rigid food packaging, shrink/stretch films, wire/cable, hose/tubing, polymer modification, medical products and automotive products.

Metallocene resin/elastomer producers, including specific trade named products will be covered along with up-to-date information on joint ventures, licensing arrangements, new technologies, and patents.

There are challenges in determining which resins/elastomers are metallocene-based especially with elastomers/plastomers in which producers manufacture both standard and metallocene variants sometimes under the same trade name—often at the same production plant.  Furthermore, traditional resins/elastomers are often blended with metallocene variants.

There are also wide arrays of resins/elastomers, which are specifically marketed as metallocene resins/elastomers by many producers, as well.

In addition, Dow Chemical, as one example, produces metallocene plastomers/elastomers based on its Insite single-site catalysis technology, while ExxonMobil Chemical’s metallocene technology is named Exxpol.

Analyst Credentials

Melvin Schlechter has thirty years of experience in the chemical industry, specializes in plastics market research and has been a BCC Research analyst for since 2006. Previously, Mr. Schlechter was the International Director of Chemical Reports for Frost & Sullivan. He also worked for the Union Carbide Company as a Senior Market Research Analyst, was a Senior Organic/Polymer Chemist for Stauffer Chemical Company and a Research Organic Chemist for Allied Signal Corporation. Mr. Schlechter holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Queens College, a Masters in Organic Chemistry from Virginia Tech, and an MBA from Adelphi University.