Market Trends of Nylon Resins Industry
Increasing Demand from Automotive Industry
- Nylon is a lightweight material that is used in the production of automobiles as it reduces the overall vehicle weight and helps improve fuel efficiency.
- There have been diverse industries for which nylon resins are used, including automotive components, electrical power distribution, and packaging films, among others. The automotive industry holds the largest share of nylon resin consumption.
- The section of the vehicle part that utilizes nylon resins includes door panels, upholstery, airbags, carpets, and others. The growing automotive industry boosts the demand for the consumption of nylon resins in the market.
- According to the OICA, in 2022, around 85.01 million vehicles were produced across the globe, witnessing a growth rate of 5.99% compared to 80.205 million vehicles in the previous year, thereby indicating an increased demand for nylon resins from the automotive industry.
- In 2022, the market for global automotive manufacturing reached USD 2.95 trillion, with unit sales volumes reaching 78 million units.
- The growth in the automotive industry can also be attributed to the rising demand for electric vehicles across the globe. As per the reports from the World Economic Forum (WEF), nearly 4.3 million new battery-powered EVs (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) were sold in the first half year of 2022. This enhanced the demand for materials such as nylon resins and others.
- In 2022, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, the total car production in the North American region rose by 10.3% and reached 10.4 million units.
- According to the electric vehicle (EV) volumes, global electric vehicle (EVs) sales reached 10.52 million units in 2022, registering a growth rate of 55% as compared to 2021.
- In Europe, Germany is among the key manufacturer of vehicles. The automobile manufacturing industry in Germany is a key shareholder of the overall production in the region due to the presence of major car-making brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Porche, and Volkswagen, among others.
- Therefore, considering the aforementioned factors, the demand for nylon resins is expected to rise in the automotive industry significantly in the near future.
Asia-Pacific to Dominate the Market
- Currently, Asia-Pacific is the largest market for nylon resins and is expected to grow at a high rate during the forecast period, mainly because of increasing manufacturing capacities in the region.
- According to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Automotive Federation (ASANAF), in 2022, Asia-Pacific produced 4.38 million units of motor vehicles and 3.63 million units of motorcycles and scooters. In the same year, a total number of 3.42 million units and 4.04 million units of motor vehicles and two-wheelers, respectively, were sold in the region.
- According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), the automotive manufacturing industry of China is the largest in the world.
- Many Automakers have been investing heavily in various segments of the industry. For instance, in November 2022, Maruti Suzuki India invested an amount of USD 865.12 million on various projects, including new facilities set-up and the introduction of new models.
- In January 2022, Honda China announced a joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Corporation Ltd for the development of an electric-vehicle manufacturing factory in Wuhan. The new facility will be opened in 2024 with a production capacity of 120,000 units per year.
- Nylon 6 compounds are also used effectively in the electrical and electronics sector. The components such as connectors, terminal blocks, circuit breakers, power tool housing, and others utilize nylon 6 resin.
- These compounds provide excellent properties, including toughness, flame retardant characteristics, insulation resistance, and good di-electric strength, among others, that make them suitable to be used in various electrical parts.
- According to Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA), in November 2022, the total production of the electronics industry reached USD 7.09 billion. In December 2022, the total electronics exported from Japan amounted worth USD 8.39 billion.
- Nylon is also used as a flexible packaging film for the type of food that is sensitive to oxygen. It is used for food items that require a high melting point, high mechanical strength, transparency, and a good oxygen barrier.
- In the countries such as India, the demand for online food ordering has increased, which boosts the demand for packaging materials. For instance, in February 2022, one of the leading food delivery companies in India, Zomato, stated its average monthly active food delivery restaurants grew six times while the growth in the monthly transacting customers reached 13 times over the period of the past five years.
- Hence, owing to the above-mentioned factors, Asia-Pacific is likely to dominate the market studied during the forecast period.