News Release

Niche and higher margin esters to counter price erosion and commoditization

Technical Insights World Fatty Esters Market Analysis

Business Announcement

Technical Insights




Palo Alto, Calif. – March 23, 2004 – Commoditization coupled with consolidation in the end user and supplier segment is exerting downward pressure on price in the fatty esters market. Possibilities of price fluctuations can be considerably reduced through greater product innovation and focus on specialized and higher margin esters.

"Novel and specialized emollients in the personal care sector and niche esters in the nutraceutical foods segment are finding their own grooves in the saturated fatty esters market," state Technical Insights Industry Manager Girish Solanki.

Product sophistication in performance and value added features such as thickening, anti-irritation, pigment wetting, water solubility, and multi-functionality creates a more diverse and innovative product portfolio.

Emulsifying, softening, and detergency characteristics of fatty esters provide advantages of high performance and custom design versatility, thereby making them popular in the lubricants end-user segment. Pharmaceuticals are also providing outlets to new fatty ester formulations to serve as non-reactive bases and carriers for active drug delivery.

Exciting applications in personal care, especially in Asia, are likely to fuel the use of monohydric alcohol esters in deodorants, antiperspirants, anti-wrinkle, and anti-aging lotions.

"Low-cost Asian products are intensifying price sensitivity due to liberalization policies implemented by the World Trade Organization, which has lowered tariff barriers and created a competitive global market," says Technical Insights Analyst Rajesh Kannan.

In order to survive in such a market, manufacturers in Europe are exporting certain esters such as glycerol and monohydric alcohol from their Asian plants.

Compounding the issue of price pressure are the stringent policies of regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration that largely impact the fatty esters market.

"There have been a series of litigations against chemical companies suspected of releasing pollutants and potentially harmful compounds into river, streams, and underground dumps," explains Technical Insights Analyst Kasturi Nadkarny.

Fatty esters are more biodegradable and eco-compatible than petrochemical-based additives as they are organically derived from feedstocks that are low in toxicity and volatile organic compound levels.

"The gradual transition toward the use of natural products in Europe and North America is influencing growth of polyethylene glycol and sorbitan esters, particularly in personal care products such as conditioning and pearlized shampoos, deodorants, and skin lotions," adds Solanki.

The World Fatty Esters Market is part of the Oleochemicals, Surfactants and Specialty Chemicals Vertical Subscription Service and provides a comprehensive analysis of the impact of recent technological advances on the fatty esters market. It provides key technical challenges and drivers affecting growth and offers comprehensive analysis of cutting-edge developments in the market. The study also evaluates upcoming applications in the personal care, food, and industrial end-user markets. Executive summaries and interviews are available to the press.

If you are interested in an analysis overview which provide manufacturers, end-users and other industry participants an overview, summary, challenges and latest coverage of World Fatty Esters Market - then send an email to Julia Paulson – North American Corporate Communications – at jpaulson@frost.com with the following information: Full name, Company Name, Title, Contact Tel Number, Contact Fax Number, Email. Upon receipt of the above information, an overview will be emailed to you.

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Technical Insights is an international technology analysis business that produces a variety of technical news alerts, newsletters, and research services.

Frost & Sullivan, an international growth consultancy, has been supporting clients' expansion for more than four decades. Our market expertise covers a broad spectrum of industries, while our portfolio of advisory competencies includes custom strategic consulting, market intelligence, and management training. Our mission is to forge partnerships with our clients' management teams to deliver market insights and to create value and drive growth through innovative approaches. Frost & Sullivan's network of consultants, industry experts, corporate trainers, and support staff spans the globe with offices in every major country.

World Fatty Esters Market
D483

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E: jpaulson@frost.com

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Keywords in this release: Fatty esters, sorbitan, polyethylene glycol, glycerol, monohydric alcohol, emollients, nutraceutical foods, thickening, anti-irritation, pigment wetting, water solubility, emulsifying, softening, detergency, World Trade Organization, Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, Occupational Safety and Health Administration


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