Pigments Market
Update
Catherine Diamond, Associate Editor
The global pigments market is expected to continue grow- ing through at least 2018, according to multiple market analyses and reports. The global pigments market will
generate $34.2 billion through 2020, according to Ceresana, an
international market research and consultancy ;rm. Organic as
well as inorganic pigments are expected to see signi;cant growth,
as they are intrinsically linked to the growth of the construction
industry. While global textile production accounted for more
than half of the world’s dye and pigment demand in 2014, paint
and coatings applications are the fastest rising segment thanks to
North American and Asian construction activity. Demand is also
driven by the manufacturing of printing inks and papers.
Ceresana’s report, Market Study: Pigments, 3rd Edition,
found that Asia-Paci;c accounts for almost half of global consumption of pigments already and is expected to increase its
share of the market even further. The rapidly growing middle
class in both China and India are responsible for increased demand in the region.
“This region will continue to be the growth motor of the
pigments industry, as China and India in particular are sub-
stantially increasing demand for pigments. Eastern Europe, the
Middle East and South America will see demand rise by more
than 3% p.a. each as well and thus contribute to the positive
development of the pigment industry,” the report states. “The
rather saturated markets in Western Europe and North America
will slowly return onto a growth path after they suffered losses
in the past couple of years.”
Researchers at Ceresana found that there are signi;cant re-
gional differences in demand for individual products. Demand
for individual types of pigments depends on the requirements of
the industry, the regional demands, and governmental regula-
tions. Titanium dioxide (TiO2), researchers said, is dominating
the pigment market, given its widespread use in paints, varnish-
es, and the processing of plastics.
“North America consumes a disproportionately large
amount of organic pigments; in Asia-Paci;c, on the other
Paints and coatings are the fastest rising segment in terms of global pigment demand.
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