US-based petrochemical consulting firm Chemical Market Associates, Inc. (CMAI) has recently completed the 2006 World Terephthalates & Polyester Analysis, an annual global study covering the period 2000 to 2010 for the terephthalates and polyester markets. The major polyester products covered include terephthalic acid (TPA) and dimethyl terephthalate (DMT), polyester polycondensation, staple and filament, bottle resin, polyester film, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate as well as other terephthalate derivatives. The study, authored and prepared from CMAI's Singapore location, offers an Asian perspective on these markets.

According to CMAI consultants, demand drivers for TPA continue to be region specific. Absolute demand and demand growth in Asia continues to be dominated by polyester fibre, which dwarfs the market size of PET resin, although the latter has grown significantly. In Europe and the Americas, PET bottle resin has significantly increased market share and now exceeds demand for polyester fibre.

Asia continues to be the focal point for the global TPA market. Within Asia, Chinese imports have taken centre stage in terms of determining the regional supply and demand dynamics. Strong growth of TPA demand from China will continuously draw more TPA imports, which will exceed 6 million metric tons in 2005 and 2006.

Northeast Asia still remains the focal point for polyester, with a total production of 21.6 million metric tons of polyester polymer in 2005, slightly more than half the total world market. In the Americas and Europe, the polyester fibre supply chain will struggle to compete with low-cost imports of finished goods, while demand in industrial fibres, technical textiles and non-wovens remains healthy.