The Global Consumption of Cellulose Acetate is Projected to Exceed 951 Thousand Metric Tons by 2020

Continued Growth in Cigarette Filter Tow Production Sustains Cellulose Acetate Demand, According to a New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

GIA announces the release of a comprehensive global report on Cellulose Acetate market. The global consumption of Cellulose Acetate is projected to exceed 951 thousand metric tons by 2020, driven by growth in cigarette filter tow production and increasing demand from applications such as film & sheet castings, molding & extrusion and surface coatings.

Cellulose acetate, a transparent thermoplastic material, is primarily used in cigarette filters, surface coatings, synthetic textiles and bio-based plastics. Cigarettes and textiles are the leading end-use applications, driving the global demand for cellulose acetate. Growing consumption of cigarettes in China and other emerging markets, increasing preference for low tar cigarettes, and substitution of polypropylene cigarette filters with acetate tows are the key factors driving growth in this application. Although increasing textile demand bodes significant prospects for cellulose acetate, substitution by polyester fibers is expected to moderate growth in the textiles space. Declining sales of cigarettes in most markets worldwide is also expected to impact future demand. Positive growth prospects however exist in film & sheet castings, molding & extrusion and surface coatings markets.

In order to offset the weakening consumption trend in cigarettes market, major companies are redirecting R&D efforts towards improving the functionality of cellulose acetate. By engineering novel properties and product forms, manufacturers aim at venturing into new lucrative application areas and high-growth markets. Electrospinning process, for instance, has expanded the scope of cellulose acetate fiber beyond conventional applications into the sophisticated world of biotechnology. Electrospun CA nanofibers and related nanocomposites are being explored for multifarious applications including biomolecule immobilization, bioremediation, and bio-sensing. Use of cellulose acetate fibers incorporating fluorescent nanoparticles is emerging as one of the promising developments in the field of anti-counterfeiting research. Cellulose acetate is also being used in the development of novel membrane materials.

As stated by the new market research report on Cellulose Acetate, Asia-Pacific represents the largest market worldwide. The region also ranks as the fastest growing market worldwide, driven by growing demand for filter tow in China and other emerging Asian markets. Construction of new filter tow production facilities and capacity expansions are concentrated in China. Cigarette Filter Tow represents the largest application segment for cellulose acetate.

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

The research report titled "Cellulose Acetate: A Global Strategic Business Report" announced by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., provides a comprehensive review of market trends, issues, drivers, company profiles, mergers, acquisitions and other strategic industry activities. Additionally, an overview of the cigarette market in individual countries enables a clear understanding of the market for cigarette tow, the major application for cellulose acetate. The report provides market estimates and projections for Cellulose Acetate (in Metric Tons) for geographic markets including the US, Canada, Japan, Europe (France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia, and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, and Rest of Asia-Pacific), Middle East and Latin America. Applications analyzed in the report include Cigarette Filter Tow, Textile Fibers, Photographic Film, Film & Sheet Castings, Molding & Extrusion, Surface Coatings and Inks & Reprographic Formulations.