An overview of the global textile chemicals market

The consumption and production of clothing and other textile products is growing at the speed of a long term growth rate of nearly 3 percent every single year. The pattern of consumption of apparel and textiles is growing largely in developing countries like India, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, and in the Republic of Korea. The rising demand for textile and apparels is driving in return the growth for textile chemicals in the industry.

The textile chemicals are in huge demand owing to the huge production of not just apparels but also rising demand for home furnishings, floor coverings, and technical textiles globally. With new and innovative textile and fabrics being developed, the textile chemical manufacturers globally are constantly creating products for the future fabrics used specially for medical, construction, and functional interior textiles. With the textile industry joining hands to produce and process sustainable and environment friendly products, the prospects of bio-based chemicals is slowly growing within the market.

The textile chemical products range from basic mixtures like surfactants, starch, sulfonated oils, greases, and some surfactants to highly specialized chemicals like flame retardants, warp sizes, biocides, and water repellents. Textile chemicals are a part of essential textile processes like yarn formation, textile laminating and coating, fabric pretreatment, and finishing. The global textile chemicals market was valued at US $ 19 billion in 2012 and is further expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.7 percent from 2014 to 2020.

The volume of the international textile chemical market in the year 2013 was 9230.1 kilo tons and is speculated to reach 11462.5 kilo tons by the year 2020. The three main regions in the world where the largest textile chemical markets are based are North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe. China, Western Europe, United States of America, India, Turkey, and Japan are some of the largest consumers of textile chemicals in the world.

Chemicals used for the purpose of pretreatment like coatings and sizing chemicals were largely consumed products in the year 2013 since these are used for increasing the strength and abrasion resistance of yarns. Accounting to 26 percent and the second largest product to be used were colorants and auxiliaries in 2013. However, the textile colorants are losing sheen because of eco-friendly alternatives like organic colors being preferred by many manufacturers in the industry and the growing concerns of using synthetic dyes. Other products occupying the textile chemicals share in 2013 were finishing agents at 19.3 percent, followed by desizing agents at 7.8 percent, bleaching agents, yarn lubricants, and surfactants.

The growing industrialization in countries like India and China has given the textile chemical industry a huge impetus. The dragon nation of China has been the largest consumer and producer of textile chemicals across the globe. China accounts for a huge domestic consumption and also exports a large amount to countries like Japan, Europe, and America. The increase in disposable incomes of the population has led to a boost in the domestic consumption of apparels especially in menswear and casualwear, carpets, and home furnishings.

Similarly, India has developed into a massive market for textile chemicals owing to the domestic production and export of cotton and synthetic fibres. Since production of textile products and garments have a direct relationship with the amount of textile chemicals to be consumed, it is estimated that India and China will up their use of textile chemicals for the period 2013-2017 from 50 percent to 53 percent of the world consumptions. On the other hand Middle East, Africa, Europe, America, and East Asia will be losing their share from 50 percent to 47 percent during the same period.