Superabsorbent Polymers (SAP) Industry continues to grow in China

Propelled by growth in global demand for hygiene products, the global superabsorbent polymers consumption totaled 2.13 million tons in 2014, up 7.14% year on year (yoy), as per RnRMarketResearch.com. In 2014, the global superabsorbent polymers market capacity came to 3.119 million tons, up 11.8% from a year earlier, which was mainly distributed in China, Japan, the United States, Germany, and other countries and regions. Over the same year, China overtook Japan as the world's largest country in SAP capacity, accounting for 27.2% of the global total. China consumed 315,000 tons, up 18% from the previous year, a rise that was far higher than the global average. In future, driven by the factors including the implementation of the "Selective Two-child" Policy and the increase of ageing population, China's SAP consumption will further expand, with an estimated CAGR of some 20% during 2015-2018. At present, the global superabsorbent polymers market manufacturers represent a high concentration, with more than 80% of SAP capacity in the hands of top 6 enterprises-EVONIK Industries, Nippon Shokubai, BASF, Sumitomo Seika Chemicals, SDP Global, and Yixing Danson Technology. Moreover, all major enterprises are still stepping up layout, continuously expanding projects and increasing market share . EVONIK Industries, the world's biggest SAP producer, achieved an annual capacity of 570,000 tons of SAP through the end of 2014. In 2014, the company's third largest SAP plant-Saudi Arabia SAP Plant was put into operation, which would increase a further 80,000 tpa SAP. As the world's second largest SAP manufacturer, Nippon Shokubai began in October 2014 to expand its SAP capacity in Himeji plant to 370,000 tpa; in May 2015, the company invested an extra EUR350 million in the expansion of acrylic acid and SAP capacity in Belgium, a move that helped increase an additional 100,000 tpa SAP. Sumitomo Seika Chemicals, one of the major SAP manufactures worldwide, has factories in Japan, France and Singapore. In August 2014, the company co-funded a 59,000 tpa SAP plant in Yeosu. South Korea. The joint venture is to be put into operation in May 2016. In May 2015, Japans Himeji plant went into operation. By the end of 2016, the company's total SAP capacity will be very likely to reach 385,000 tpa. Yixing Denson Technology, the largest SAP producer in China, boasted a capacity of 260,000 tpa SAP by the end of 2014. In 2015, the company has four 40,000 tpa production lines under construction, which are to be put into operation at the year end. At that time, the company will have 11 SAP production lines, with a total capacity of 420,000 tpa