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Phthalic anhydride PA can be produced from two routes, either from the catalytic oxidation
of orthoxylene OX or from the catalytic oxidation of naphthalene. In Asia the major outlet for
PA is used to make phthalate plasticizers such as dioctylphthalate DOP which is used
in polyvinyl chloride PVC. The second largest use of phthalic anhydride
is in unsaturated polyester resins UPR, used to produce fibre-reinforced polyester resins.
World wide growth rates for PA are expected to average just under 3% per year over the
next few years the highest growth rates are in Asia.
Consumption of PA is mainly dependent on the growth in consumption of flexible PVC, which
is sensitive to general economic conditions as it is consumed in the construction and
automobile industries. In Asia the majority of PA cargoes are traded
on a spot basis. Key factors that influence prices are movements in feedstock OX, sentiment
and market conditions in the downstream DOP segment and the availability of supply.