This report comments on the motivations behind the recent maleic anhydride (MAN) capacity additions and provides a high-level analysis of the business and strategic considerations as well as the technology availability from the perspective of a company entering or expanding into this market. As over 70 percent of the global capacity and all the announced capacity additions are/will be based on the n-butane route, the cost of production via this route for plants located in the United States, Western Europe, the Middle East, and China has been estimated for the first quarter of 2020.  This analysis is underpinned by a review of end-use sector consumption as well as regional market dynamics.

This report discusses the process technologies and production economics for purified terephthalic acid (PTA) which is commercially produced by the oxidation of para-xylene with air followed by purification and recovery/recycle of catalysts and solvents.  Production economics for the United States, Middle East, and China are assessed and regional market analyses are also presented. 

Thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers were developed over the past few decades as a means to bridge the gap between rubber and plastics using olefinic feedstocks.  Covered in this report are in-situ TPOs, compounded TPOs, TPVs, Polyolefin Elastomers and Plastomers, and Olefin Block Copolymers. 

The chemistry, process technology, and production economics for polycarbonate are assessed.  Comparative economics are presented for interfacial, non-phosgene melt (DMC via oxidative carbonylation and via methanolysis of ethylene carbonate), phosgene melt, and isosorbide processes.  A regional market overview is also included.