Global Metallocene Polypropylene (mPP) Market, 2023-2028

Market Overview

Metallocene catalysts are experiencing a growing utilization within the plastics industry for the purpose of manufacturing polyolefins that possess distinctive structures and physical properties. In sharp contrast to conventional polymerization catalysts such as Ziegler-Natta (Z-N) catalysts, metallocene catalysts consist of metal complexes featuring two cyclopentadienyl (Cp) or substituted Cp groups. Specifically, a metallocene refers to a metal ion that carries a positive charge and is situated between two negatively charged cyclopentadienyl anions.

In PP manufacturing, the monomers are reacted using a catalyst. All catalysts have reactive sites enabling them to perform their function, i.e. linking individual molecules of monomers to form a polymeric chain. Conventional catalysts have many reactive sites located randomly on the surface of the catalysts. This produces different and varying polymers. The new metallocene catalyst system, which is known as single site catalyst, also has many reactive sites, but all sites are identical. This in turn gives identical polymers and does away variability of polymers.

The global metallocene polypropylene (mPP) industry is projected to experience a significant increase of USD 223.8 million by the end of 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3%. The report provides comprehensive statistical data, encompassing market size, market share across different segments, growth rate, and industry-specific forecasts for the metallocene PP sector. This data-centric analysis equips professionals in the field with vital information to evaluate the current market scenario, make well-informed decisions, and identify potential avenues for growth within the industry.

Segment Insights

The report provides a detailed analysis of the following segments within the metallocene PP market:
Application: fiber and nonwoven, film and sheet, injection molding, and others
End user: automotive, food and beverages, healthcare, industrial packaging, and others
Region: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, MEA (Middle East and Africa), and South America

The application of metallocene PP encompass various industries, including food packaging, automotive interior, high-end product packaging, hygiene and personal care, and medical consumables. Among these, the field of medical consumables holds the greatest potential for metallocene PP in the future. This is due to the stringent cleanliness requirements of medical products such as infusion tubes, surgical gowns, and surgical bed sheets.

Metallocene polypropylene possesses several desirable properties, including clarity, stiffness, heat resistance, cleanliness, and chemical resistance. These characteristics make it an ideal choice for the injection molding process. Compared to conventional polypropylene resins, metallocene-isotactic propylene homopolymers, ethylene-propylene random copolymers, and syndiotactic propylene polymers exhibit lower extractables, greater clarity, and improved dimensional stability.

Additionally, the utilization of mPP in expanded polypropylene (EPP) for automotive applications shows promise. EPP foam, known for its exceptional resilience and ability to absorb impact energy, finds extensive use in impact absorbers. By minimizing the transmission of impact energy to the vehicle chassis during collisions, molded EPP enhances safety for both drivers and passengers.

The mPP market in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to achieve a value of $367.1 million by 2028, with a CAGR of 6.4%. The increasing purchasing power of residents in Asia-Pacific will facilitate the wider adoption of mPP-based consumer goods such as personal care and medical products. The automotive and industrial sectors will also experience growth as consumer spending stimulates demand in various areas of the economy. Additionally, there will be a rapid expansion in the demand for mPP used in filters and molding parts.

In 2022, the Asia-Pacific region accounted for more than half of the global mPP demand. China and India, in particular, play a significant role in maintaining the region’s dominant position. China’s robust manufacturing sector supplies various export markets, including countries in the region where consumer bases are expanding, with mPP nonwoven-based goods. India’s economy is driven by foreign investments in related manufacturing operations, which will contribute to future demand growth.

Competitive Landscape

The mPP market is dominated by key players such as Clariant AG, ExxonMobil Chemical Company, Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Japan Polypropylene Corporation (Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation), LyondellBasell Industries N.V., Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., LG Chem Ltd., PolyMirae Company Ltd., TotalEnergies SE, and China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec).

LyondellBasell Industries N.V., being the largest global supplier of mPP, offers a wide range of over twenty metallocene PP grades. With a history dating back to the 1980s, LyondellBasell has been at the forefront of developing metallocene technology, accumulating the highest level of technical expertise in sustainability, production stability, and catalyst control within the industry.

In recent years, Chinese petrochemical companies and research institutes have intensified their research efforts and devoted themselves to the study of metallocene PP catalysts, optimization of production processes, and the development of target products. Currently, China has achieved new breakthroughs in metallocene PP production technology, with several groundbreaking achievements in catalyst development.

For instance, in late June 2017, the independently developed supported metallocene PP catalyst (PMP-S01) by Petrochemical Research Institute was first used in CNPC Harbin Petrochemical Company’s 80,000-ton/year batch liquid-phase polypropylene plant, successfully producing high-transparency metallocene polypropylene MPP6006. This product can be applied in packaging, film, and injection molding, providing differentiated performance for polypropylene applications.

On March 16, 2018, Sinopec Beijing Yanshan Petrochemical Co., Ltd. successfully produced metallocene PP products. This marked the first successful development of metallocene PP on a continuous production unit in China’s industrialization, making Yanshan Petrochemical the first domestic continuous production enterprise for metallocene PP. The mPP grades include MPP1300 and MPP1400, and they can also produce transparent metallocene polypropylene MU4016 and fiber material. MU4016 is a highly transparent random copolymer polypropylene with high gloss, excellent transparency, low extractables, and good sensory properties. It is suitable for injection molding and blow molding. In the cosmetics field, the use of metallocene catalytic technology in ultra-transparent PP can achieve glass-like transparency.

On December 16, 2020, the research team at Yangzi Petrochemical Research Institute achieved a new breakthrough in the metallocene PP production process on a pilot plant, ensuring continuous and stable operation of metallocene PP production.

On November 23, 2021, Qingdao Petrochemical Company successfully produced metallocene PP resin. The products demonstrated low polymer soluble content, exceptional toughness, and potential applications in films, fibers, and medical materials. In the future, the company intends to partner with the Beijing Institute of Chemical Technology to broaden the application scope of polypropylene metallocene catalysts and advance high-performance polypropylene product development. Key areas of emphasis will include catalyst enhancement, dosing method modifications, and increased conversion rates to expand the industry market.

Key Questions Answered

What is the projected global market size of metallocene PP by 2028?
In the metallocene PP market, which application segment attains the foremost position?
Which end user segment generates the most substantial revenue?
Which region segment achieves the highest performance in the metallocene PP market?
Who are the key players with the largest market share in the metallocene PP market?
What is the estimated global market size for the metallocene PP market in 2023?
What are the main factors driving the growth of the metallocene PP market?
What is the expected incremental growth of the metallocene PP market during the forecast period?

Table of Contents

1. Scope and Methodology
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Report Scope
1.3 Research Methodology
2. Executive Summary
3. Market Overview
4. Global Metallocene Polypropylene Market – Application Analysis
4.1 Fiber and nonwoven
4.2 Film and sheet
4.3 Injection molding
4.4 Others
5. Global Metallocene Polypropylene Market – End User Analysis
5.1 Automotive
5.2 Food and beverages
5.3 Healthcare
5.4 Industrial packaging
5.5 Others
6. Global Metallocene Polypropylene Market – Region Analysis
6.1 North America
6.2 Europe
6.3 Asia-Pacific
6.4 MEA (Middle East and Africa)
6.5 South America
7. Patents Analysis
8. Competitive Landscape
8.1 Competitive Scenario
8.2 Market Positioning/Share Analysis
8.3 Mergers and Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Collaborations, and Agreements
9. Company Profiles
9.1 Clariant AG
9.2 ExxonMobil Chemical Company
9.3 Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.
9.4 Japan Polypropylene Corporation (Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation)
9.5 LG Chem Ltd.
9.6 LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
9.7 Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
9.8 PetroChina Dushanzi Petrochemical Company
9.9 Petrochina Lanzhou Petrochemical Company
9.10 Sinopec Beijing Yanshan Petrochemical Corporation
9.11 Sinopec Qingdao Petrochemical Co., Ltd.
9.12 Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical Company Ltd.
9.13 TotalEnergies SE
APPENDIX
DISCLAIMER

Companies Mentioned

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes:
Clariant AG
ExxonMobil Chemical Company
Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.
Japan Polypropylene Corporation (Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation)
LG Chem Ltd.
LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
PetroChina Dushanzi Petrochemical Company
Petrochina Lanzhou Petrochemical Company
Sinopec Beijing Yanshan Petrochemical Corporation
Sinopec Qingdao Petrochemical Co., Ltd.
Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical Company Ltd.
TotalEnergies SE