Market Trends of Bio-based 1,4-Butanediol Industry
Increasing Demand in the Textile Market
- 1,4 BDO is used as an adhesive in leather, plastics, polyester laminates, and polyurethane footwear. 1,4-butanediol is an immediate chemical used in thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) production, which is used in making synthetic leather sole material.
- However, 1-4 BDO produces tetrahydrofuran (THF), which is used to make spandex fiber captured in the garment industry. Spandex is a lightweight, soft, smooth synthetic fiber with a unique elasticity. Due to its elastic properties, it is used in making stretchable clothing.
- Spandex fibers, consisting of 80% poly (tetramethylene ether) glycol (PTMEG or PolyTHF), can be stretched to between 500% and 700% of their original length and durably retain their shape.
- Spandex fabric is highly used in clothing items such as athletic wear, stretch pants, yoga pants, skinny jeans, underwear, bras, socks, and motion capture suits.
- Due to the flexibility offered by spandex-blended clothing or garments, their demand is expected to grow Y-o-Y. For instance, according to the BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange), the value of apparel in India's sports and athleisure retail market is estimated to mark a growth of 92% by 2025 compared to 2022.
- BDO is a highly preferred material in the footwear industry. The growth in the demand for footwear will expand the market size of BDO. For instance, footwear retail sales in Germany were 4% higher in 2023, according to the BTE - Trade Association of Textile, Shoes and Leather Goods.
- Such factors indicate that the textile industry will observe stagnant growth during the forecast period.
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Europe is Expected to Dominate the Market
- Europe dominated the global market share. The demand in the market is driven by the growing demand from industries such as automotive, electronics, and consumer appliances.
- Germany has the most significant electronic and automobile industry in Europe. The German electrical and electronics market is Europe's largest and the fifth-largest worldwide.
- According to the ZVEI, the turnover of Germany's electro and digital industry accounted for EUR 239 billion (USD 260.4 billion) in 2023, witnessing a growth rate of over 6% compared to EUR 225 billion (USD 245.17 billion) in 2022. Such trends in the industry have enhanced the demand for bio-based 1,4 butanediol for electronics and semiconductor applications in the country.
- Germany also leads the European automotive market, with 41 assembly and engine production plants contributing to one-third of Europe's total automobile production. In 2022, the country produced 36,77,820 cars and commercial vehicles, marking a growth of 11% compared to 2021, according to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA). The large and growing size of Germany's automotive industry will likely boost the market of BDO during the forecast period.
- The United Kingdom is the largest European market for high-end consumer electronics products, with over 10,000 UK-based electronics companies. The demand for technologically advanced electronic devices registered significant growth in the country's consumer electronics market. This increase in demand is expected to drive electronics production in the country, leading to the need for bio-based 1,4-butanediol for electronic applications.
- The French automobile industry fared much better compared to other major European economies in the past few years. In 2022, the country produced about 13,83,173 units of cars and commercial vehicles, an increase of 2% compared to 2021, according to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA).
- The increasing income of the population and the rising demand for consumer appliances such as air-conditioners, fridges, washing machines, and microwaves are further driving the consumer appliances market’s growth.
- Hence, such favorable market trends are expected to drive the demand for bio-based 1,4-butanediol for raw material applications in the region during the forecast period.
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