Glycerin Market Overview
Biodiesel is the largest industrial source for glycerin, contributing more than 60 percent share to the global glycerin supply, followed by fatty acids that account for 24 percent share. Higher biodiesel blending mandates in Europe and blenders' tax credit in the U.S have led to their leading positions among the global biodiesel producers. Europe is the largest biodiesel supplier and along with the U.S., it accounts for more than 50 percent of the global share of biodiesel production. With a production capacity of 26 billion liters and production of around 10.8 billion liters, Europe is the largest producer of glycerin as well.However, since 2012, Brazil and Argentina have been increasing their production of biodiesel due to increase in mandates imposed by government. With the current market, glycerin is oversupplied globally. And with many fragmented suppliers, buyers have endless options to change suppliers and bargain for most effective procurement option.
Glycerin Market - Global Analysis
- Global glycerin market is expected to reach $3.12 billion by 2021 with a CAGR of 3.12 percent Currently, it is a tight market, and the trend is uncertain with changes in policies of anti-dumping duties for biodiesel market in the US and the EU
- The market is highly concentrated, as top 5 – 6 participants accounted for over 65 percent of the total demand in 2014
- Key market players include IOI, KL Kepong, Oleon, Wilmar, ADM, P&G, and Emery
- Key producing countries include EU(25 percent), China(20 percent) and the US(15 percent)
- Key exporting countries include Brazil (12%), Indonesia (21%), Argentina (10%), France (9%) and Germany (9%).
- Key importing countries include China (42%), Netherland (12%), Germany (11%) and Malaysia (5%)
- Key consuming regions are Asia (36%), EU (25%) and Singapore (16%)
- The UK refined glycerin prices are dependant on biodiesel mandates and moving crude oil price. The prices were forecasted to decline from 2019.
- The market price of crude and refined glycerin follows the same market dynamics at different price points, however the imperative parameters are the mandates and blenders tax credit in the US, which had played a crucial role in improved biodiesel production.
- Price trends point to the fact that refined glycerin vs. crude glycerin costs have remained stable in 2019.
Glycerin Consumption by Country
- Europe and China are the leading contributors to the global glycerin consumption, with increasing use of crude glycerin in disposal applications and refined glycerin in epichlorohydrin (ECH) production
- Key consuming countries are China (25 percent), Western Europe (22 percent), USA (17 percent) and the rest of Europe (9 percent).
- Higher consumption of glycerin in the EU and the US because of the growing crude glycerin usage in disposal applications, alongside the growth in demand from personal care industry
- The glycerin demand from the small segments, like alkyd resins, polyether polyols, and tobacco, is expected to grow at 3 – 4 percent every year
Glycerin Global Demand by Application (2017)
- Glycerin production is a by-product of saponification process, which has decreased in recent days. This is because of the increasing consumer preference for shower gels in developed countries and predominant usage of fatty acids to produce soaps in the developing countries
- Synthetic production of glycerin is negligible, and Dow Chemical was the only manufacturer of synthetic glycerin before it shut down its £140 million plants, when the prices dropped to unprofitable levels
- Key applications of glycerin include pharmaceuticals and personal care (35 percent), others (17 percent), epichlorohydrin (13 percent), food and beverage (12 percent), tobacco and humectants (12 percent) and alkyd resin (11 percent)
Why should you buy this report?
The report provides an extensive analysis of the key price drivers, supply-demand trends and trade dynamics of global glycerin manufacturers such as Europe, U.S., and Asia.
The report provides a detailed analysis of Porter's Five Forces for glycerin along with a detailed understanding of the glycerin supplier landscape. It also discusses the supply share of major commercial suppliers of refined glycerin brands including Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad (KLK), Musim Mas, Twin Rivers Technologies, IOI Group, and BioMCN.
Methodology for writing this Report
Beroe gathers intelligence through primary sources that include industry experts, researchers, and consultants, as well as current suppliers, producers and distributors. Secondary sources can include business journals, newsletters, magazines, market research data, company sources, and industry associations. Following data collation, analysis, and strategic review, the Final Research Report is published on Beroe LiVE.
Glycerin Market Trends
Category Intelligence on Glycerin covers the following
- Information relating to market, supply, cost, and pricing analysis
- Hard to find data on cost and TCO models, supplier details, and performance benchmarks
- Macroeconomic and regional trends impacting cost, supply, and other market dynamics
- Category-specific negotiation and sourcing advice
Glycerin Market Analysis and Industry Outlook
Glycerin Demand Cycle
Glycerin is derived as a by-product from various production process, such as biodiesel, soap, fatty acid, and alcohol. Hence, glycerin supply is largely determined by the global demand of biodiesel and fatty acids/alcohols
Global Supply–Demand Analysis
Biodiesel is the largest industry source for glycerin, with more than 60 percent share to the global glycerin supply, followed by fatty acids (24 percent). The sources of glycerin production include biodiesel (64 percent), fatty acids (24 percent), fatty alcohols (7 percent), saponification (4 percent), others (1 percent) and synthetic (0.10 percent). Higher biodiesel blending mandates in the EU and blenders' tax credit in the US have led to their leading positions among the global biodiesel producers
Global glycerin market is supply dependent on the biodiesel production than its own demand and biodiesel production is dictated by the respective government mandates. Hence lower biodiesel production would significantly reduce the glycerin supply
Market Outlook - 2016/17
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Regulatory policies promoting the production of biodiesel across countries led to increased production of biodiesel in the recent decade. Thus, the biodiesel industry emerged as the largest contributor to the global glycerin supply
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Biodiesel production displayed a tremendous annual growth rate of 37 percent during 2007–2011. However, sharp expansion of biodiesel production was arrested during 2011–2013, at 6 percent, due to lower crude oil prices and non-viable biodiesel production
