Legislative Influences Catalyse Growth in European Catalysts Market

Business Wire, Oct 15, 2007

LONDON -- Chemical processing catalysts and emission control catalysts in Europe are experiencing different growth rates due to the difference in their end applications. While the former market is approaching saturation, the latter is experiencing significant opportunities in the automotive and other industries due to stringent legislative influences.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.chemicals.frost.com), European Markets for Catalysts, finds that the European emission control catalyst market earned revenues of $2,500 million in 2006 and estimates this to reach $3,484.2 million in 2013. The chemical processing catalyst market earned revenues of $1,020 million in 2006 and expects to reach $1,277.3 million in 2013.

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"Legislative emphasis on the reduction of nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and other particulate matters from automobile exhausts and industrial plants are set to influence the European emission control catalyst market in a big way," says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Sowmya Ramaswami. "As a result of legislative directions, it is becoming essential for industries to use catalysts to minimise the volumes of contaminants discharged."

The European Commission has introduced directives such as The Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) programme to increase focus on improving air quality in Europe by reducing emissions from automobiles and other sources. Other initiatives such as the Euro IV and Euro V standards are also likely to promote wider application of emission control catalysts in Europe.

The performance of these catalysts which are commonly based on precious and base metals is another factor driving their growth. Precious metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium play a major role in three-way catalytic processes that are vital in controlling nitrogen oxide levels in petrol engines. However, base metal catalysts such as vanadium are used in selective catalytic reduction techniques, which are best suited for emission control in diesel trucks and buses.

Yet, high prices of precious metals could prove to be a hindrance to the growth of the emission control catalyst market. High raw material costs substantially add to production costs, posing a major challenge to catalyst manufacturers.

Another restraint to market growth is the high fuel costs in Europe, which is forcing many petrochemical manufacturers to consider establishing new production facilities in regions such as the Middle East, where the fuel costs are relatively lower. This trend toward establishing production capacities in other countries has affected the growth potential of the chemical processing catalyst market.

"Although manufacturers are expanding their business to regions such as Middle East to compensate for the high fuel and labour costs and legislative pressures, Europe still continues to house the largest chemical manufacturers in the world," says Sowmya Ramaswami. "This suggests that catalysts will continue to find applications in chemical processes as long as Europe remains the major producer of chemicals."

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European Markets for Catalysts

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