Analysis: Euro paper, pulp defoamer mkt down to $92m in '08

29 September 2002 11:13  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (CNI)--Revenues in the European pulp and paper defoamer market are expected to fall to $91.6m (Euro93.1m) in 2008 from $93.1m last year, according to a report* by consultants Frost & Sullivan.

The projection is based on unit shipments decreasing to 70 500 tonne in 2008 from 72 600 tonne in 2001. The fall in revenues and unit shipments is due primarily to the following factors, according to Frost & Sullivan:

• Better air-content management at the mills.
• Intense price competition.
• Formidable bargaining power of large end-users.
• Fewer new installations or capacity expansions in future.
• Less foam generated through other process additives.
• Increased machine downtime.

Defoamers are foam-control chemicals that improve the efficiency of washing, bleaching, wastewater drainage and treatment, the runnability of the machine and the pumping mechanism in the paper and pulp making process.

Pulp defoamers can be categorised as silicone-based and oil-based while paper defoamers can be categorised as water-based, oil-based or concentrate products.

In the pulp defoamer market, oil-based defoamers are expected to play a far less significant role in the future because they are considered less effective and less environment- friendly when compared to the silicone-based options.

In the paper defoamer market, more cost-effective and more environment-friendly water-based defoamers are rapidly replacing the conventional oil-based defoamers. Concentrate products or 100% active products are enjoying steady volumes.

Frost & Sullivan said that the European pulp and paper defoamer industry is very mature, competitive and quality-driven. 

It said that for the most part, pulp and paper defoamers in the European market have become commoditised, and the advantage therefore rests with those suppliers who recognise and respond to this fact as soon as possible.

However, it warned that efforts toward taking the product up the value-chain must not be abandoned.

On specific industry challenges, Frost & Sullivan said these include:

• Lower defoamer volumes. 
• Price-pressure.
• Problems of product instability and incompatibility.
• The demand for technical service.
• The threat of being overshadowed by other process additives or services.
• The challenge of tapping emerging markets.

A total of 106 defoamer suppliers operate in the European defoamers market but just seven major players control around 80% of the market. Germany’s BASF commanded the largest market share in the total European pulp and paper defoamer market in 2001, essentially on the strength of its paper defoamer portfolio. The leader in the pulp segment, Nopco Paper Technology, is second in the total market. Other major players include Ondeo Nalco, Dr W Kolb, BIM Kemi, Blackburn, Sasol Servo and MBB.

 * European Pulp and Paper Defoamer Market is available from: Frost & Sullivan, 4100 Chancellor Court, Oxford Business Park, Oxford, OX4 2GX, UK. Contact Bill Stringer +44 (0)1865 398651, bill.stringer@fs-europe.com.

By: Russell Ong
+44 208 652 3214

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly