World Analysis – Acrylonitrile

Duration: Long-term outlook to 2050

Acrylonitrile is used as a monomer to produce various plastics, fibers, rubbers, and other chemicals. Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) resins are plastics that can be compounded with various additives to create unique properties, making them versatile and attractive for multiple end-use applications. Acrylic fiber contains 85% or more acrylonitrile by weight, while mod-acrylic fibers contain between 35% and 85% acrylonitrile. Adiponitrile is a precursor to hexamethylenediamine, which itself is a precursor to nylon 6,6 production (fibers and engineering plastics). Adiponitrile can be produced from acrylonitrile. Nitrile rubber (NBR) and nitrile latex (NBL) are copolymers (NB copolymers) of acrylonitrile and butadiene. Acrylamide, produced by the hydration of acrylonitrile, is used to make various types of polyacrylamides for different industry segments, such as water treatment and the oil & gas industry.

The ammoxidation of propylene represents the current commercial route for most of the world’s acrylonitrile production. In this process, chemical-grade propylene (CGP), fertilizer-grade ammonia, and air (sometimes oxygen enriched) are combined in a fluidized-bed catalytic reactor. Key coproducts of acrylonitrile production are hydrogen cyanide and acetonitrile. The hydrogen cyanide is generally consumed on site (e.g., used to manufacture sodium cyanide, methionine, methyl methacrylate, etc.), while acetonitrile is either recovered for marketing or disposed of. Coproduct utilization is critical to the economics of an acrylonitrile plant.

Duration: Long-term outlook to 2050

The World Analysis – Acrylonitrile provides a comprehensive analysis and key insights on critical market developments as they shape the future outlook for the global acrylonitrile market.

The following reports, data files, analytical tools and visualization modules are available online and can be downloaded from our website:

• Direct Access to the Subject Matter Experts
• In-depth exploration of present market strategic insights, recognition of critical challenges, and presentation of our experts’ forecasts and analysis
• Explanatory Notes detailing data sources, methodologies, unit and conversion factors, and World Analysis deliverables.
• Energy and Economy assumptions
• Price, cost, and margin base assumptions forecast and sensitivities analysis, including price assessment methodology and price definitions across all regions.
• Excel data files with standard supply/demand graphics and price forecasts extended to 2050, trade grids with country and regional trade flows Data appendix (Excel) with supply/demand, capacity and trade tables.
• An online dashboard visualization of capacity, supply/demand, trade grids, and price, cost and margin forecasts
• Supply/demand and capacity database access via data browser
• Data Appendix (Excel) with supply/demand and capacity tables
• Capacity by company/shareholder, capacity integration, top producer/consumer and surplus/deficit capacity ranking, and ownership/subsidiary information

In addition to acrylonitrile, capacity and brief textual analysis are provided for the following products:

• ABS resin
• Acrylamide
• Acrylic fiber
• Adiponitrile
• Nitrile rubber
• SAN resin

This World Analysis contains detailed information on capacities, production, demand, and trade for all significant producing and consuming countries and regions. Although data gathering is essential for understanding history and potential future trends, we believe that the interpretation and analysis of the data is the most valuable information to our clients.

Duration: Long-term outlook to 2050