Heat stabilizers to grow at 3% from 2008 until 2013

Stabilizers play a key role in the PVC industry where the market is driven by regulatory and cost-performance issues. Additives are necessary in both rigid and flexible PVC, including a combination of stabilizers, lubricants, processing aids, plasticizers and impact modifiers. However, there may be hazards of additives interacting. Also, an additive package needs to be optimized for cost-performance. Stabilizers are key components of an additive system and their development is driven by regulatory and cost-performance issues.
Heat stabilizers are used primarily to protect the polymer during processing, and prevent longer-term heat degradation in the end product.
Heat stabilizer has prominent role in PVC stabilization. Over 90% of the global heat stabilizers demand of about 0.5 mln tons is from PVC. In 2008, heat stabilizers constituted about 1.3% of PVC consumption. The lower dosage of tin stabilizer used is responsible for the lower overall consumption of stabilizer/unit of PVC polymer. In 2008, tin stabilizer constituted 15% of the total stabilizer market (75,000 tons). Lead stabilizer is the major stabilizer since it is predominantly used for pipes in Asia, predominantly derived from one pack stabilizer. Lead stabilizer constitutes 50% of the total stabilizer globally. Cable market continued to be based on lead stabilizer. Mixed metal used widely in film/sheet application constitutes about 25% demands by volume. Organic stabilizer is a very small part of the stabilizer market. Tin stabilizers are expected to grow fastest at 4% while lead stabilizer is quite mature and is expected to grow by less than 1%. Mixed metal may see a growth of 3%, while overall stabilizer will grow at 2.5% from 2008 until 2013. Asian region accounts for 40% of the global stabilizer market, and is expected to grow at the fastest pace, possibly at 4%. China with 9-10% and India with 6-7% growth from 2008 until 2013 will drive the market of heat stabilizer.
Stabilizers will grow at the similar growth rate of PVC polymer that predominantly drives its growth.