Bio-based 1,4-butanediol Market

Bio-Based 1,4-Butanediol market size is forecasted to reach US$288.2 million by 2027, after growing at a CAGR of 7.8% during the forecast period 2022-2027. Bio-based 1,4-butanediol is a chemical intermediate derived from renewable sources such as sugar, and cellulosic feedstock. The preference for bio-based 1,4-butanediol has been increasing rapidly, owing to its range of benefits such as biodegradability, high durability, stability, high moisture resistance, excellent insulating properties, and more. Such properties of bio-based 1,4-butanediol are driving its demand for use in multiple end-users which include automotive, textile, electronics, and more, which in turn, is fueling the growth of the bio-based 1,4-butanediol industry. Furthermore, the increasing demand for bio-based 1,4-butanediol for use in the manufacturing of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyurethanes, tetrahydrofuran, polyesters, and other elastic fibers utilized in the textile industry is further expected to accelerate the growth of the market. The outbreak of COVID-19 disrupted the production and supply of raw materials used in bio-based 1,4-butanediol manufacturing. The break in the supplies of raw materials reduced the production and supply of bio-based 1,4-butanediol, thereby affecting the bio-based 1,4-butanediol market size in 2022.

Key Takeaways

• Asia-Pacific dominates the Bio-Based 1,4-Butanediol market, owing to the increasing automotive and electronics industry in the region. The growing per capita income and urbanization coupled with the increasing population are the major factors expanding the automotive and electronics industry in APAC.
• Several industrial applications, particularly applications involving polyesters, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyurethane (PU), and more, employ bio-based 1,4-butanediol, owing to its range of properties such as high durability, stability, high moisture resistance, and flexibility.
• Bio-based 1,4-butanediol derived from sugar offers a range of benefits such as better resistance to moisture, chemical resistance, impact resistance, and UV resistance. Moreover, bio-based 1,4-butanediol derived from sugar tends to be more flexible and durable in comparison to cellulosic feedstock, which is propelling the growth of the sugar-based 1,4-butanediol market.
• Moreover, the growing need from various end-use industries such as textile, automotive, electronics, construction, and more is boosting the demand for bio-based 1,4-butanediol.
• In February 2022, TreeToTextile AB invested EUR 35 million (US$ 41,4 million) in the development of a new sustainable textile fiber manufacturing plant in Sweden. Such projects are expected to drive the demand for bio-based 1,4-butanediol from the textile sector for the production of textile fibers utilized in such facilities.

Bio-Based 1,4-Butanediol Market Segment Analysis - By Source

The sugar segment held the largest share in the Bio-Based 1,4-Butanediol market in 2022 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.0% by revenue during the forecast period 2022-2027. Bio-based 1,4-butanediol derived from sugar offers a range of benefits such as better resistance to moisture, chemical resistance, impact resistance, and UV resistance. Moreover, bio-based 1,4-butanediol derived from sugar tends to be more flexible and durable in comparison to other cellulosic feedstock. As depicted in table 8.1, bio-based 1,4-butanediol obtained from sugar has a high boiling point of 230 °C and low melting of 20.4 °C. In addition to this, sugar as a source of raw material is more economical and cost-effective in comparison to other sources. The major players such as BASF and Novamont are using sugar as a base material for the production of bio-based BDO. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the global production of sugar is expected to increase by 1.7 million tons to reach 182.9 million tons in 2023 as compared to 2022. Thus, all of the above-mentioned properties along with an increase in the global production of sugar are driving its demand over other sources of raw materials for use in the production of bio-based 1,4-butanediol. This, in turn, is expected to drive the growth of the market in the upcoming years.

Bio-Based 1,4-Butanediol Market Segment Analysis - By Application

The polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG) segment held the largest share in the Bio-Based 1,4-Butanediol market in 2022 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% by revenue during the forecast period 2022-2027. Polytetramethylene Ether Glycol (PTMEG) is one of the main bio-based 1,4-butanediol products. PTMEG is mostly used to produce spandex fibers, and thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU). The demand for PTMEG is mostly driven by the usage of TPU in various applications such as automotive instrument panels, caster wheels, power tools, sporting goods, medical devices, drive belts, and footwear. Apart from that, usage of PTMEG in apparel and sportswear is also expected to drive the demand for PTMEG in major markets such as U.S., and China. The rising growth and increasing investments in the sports industry will drive the demand for PTMEG. For instance, according to the Government of Canada, in 2022, the Chairman of the 2022 Canada Games, announced the funding for the construction of two new sports facilities, the rehabilitation of seven other sporting venues, and the purchase of new specialized sports equipment for two events. The Government of Canada invested US$29 million and sport Canada provided an additional US$3 million towards the projects with the Government of Ontario, 11 host municipalities, and Brock University providing the remaining funding. Thus, driving the bio-based 1,4-butanediol market growth.

Bio-Based 1,4-Butanediol Market Segment Analysis - By End-Use Industry

The automotive segment held the largest share in the Bio-Based 1,4-Butanediol market in 2022 and is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 7.5% by revenue during the forecast period 2022-2027. Bio-based 1,4-butanediol is used as a chemical intermediate in the production of polybutylene terephthalate, tetrahydrofuran (THF), and polyurethanes, which have automotive applications. Polybutylene terephthalate derived from bio-based 1,4-Butanediol, due to high mechanical & electrical properties, good thermal stability, and super chemical resistance is used in automotive components such as windshield wiper covers, fuel system components, airbag covers, and cable liners. Bio-based 1,4-butanediol consumption in automotive sectors is strongly driven by growing vehicle production. For instance, according to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, in 2022, global automotive production stood at 80 million units showing a 3% increase in comparison to 77.7 million units produced in 2022. Hence the increase in global automotive production will increase bio-based 1,4-butanediol for making different polymer-based components used in the automotive industry.

Bio-Based 1,4-Butanediol Market Segment Analysis - By Geography

Asia-Pacific held the largest share in the Bio-Based 1,4-Butanediol market in 2022 up to 41% by revenue, owing to the growing demand for Bio-Based 1,4-Butanediol from its flourishing end-use industries in the Asia-Pacific region. According to the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles (OICA), the total automobile production in China reached 2,60,82,220 units in 2022, an increase from 2,52,25,242 units in 2022, and 2,57,20,665 units in 2019 respectively. Automobile production rates were slightly lower in China in 2022 as depicted in figure 12.7, owing to the strict lockdowns and the economic impact of COVID-19 in the country. However, an increase in automotive production has been observed since 2022, leading to steady growth of the automotive industry in China. According to data published by Trading Economics, GDP from construction in Taiwan was reported to be 116274 TWD million (US$ 3,982 M) in the fourth quarter of 2022 from 133171 TWD million (US$ 4,562M) in the third quarter of 2022. In 2022, developers in northern Taiwan launched NT$150 billion (US$5.39 billion) of presale and newly completed housing projects for the fall season, as the market regains some confidence amid a declining number of COVID-19 cases in Taiwan. There are nine projects with total sales exceeding NT$10 billion, indicating an evident recovery in confidence on the part of developers. Moreover, in 2022 ENSO Malaysia, a subsidiary of DENSO Corporation in Japan is a leading mobility systems and components supplier and it invested RM160 million (US$37.9 million) in the project involving the expansion of its advanced semiconductor production capacity in Selangor, Malaysia, for the production of engine control units, air-conditioning systems, airbag electronic control units, radiators, electric power steering, and other products, approved by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA). With such projects and the growth of end-use industries, the demand for Bio-Based 1,4-Butanediol is substantially rising. Therefore, the growth in the various end-use industries is positively impacting the bio-based 1,4-Butanediol market in the Asia-Pacific region.

Bio-Based 1,4-Butanediol Market Drivers

Surging Demand from The Textile Industry:

Bio-based 1,4-butanediol is primarily used in the textile industry for manufacturing polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) fibers, polyurethane fibers, polyester fibers, and other elastic fibers. The demand for textile fibers derived from bio-based 1,4-butanediol is increasing, owing to their properties such as high durability, stability, high moisture resistance, excellent softness, and antimicrobial properties. The surging investments, new facility development, and government initiatives related to the textile industry are the key determinants that are driving the growth of the textile industry at the global level. For instance, in February 2022, TreeToTextile AB invested EUR 35 million (US$ 41,4 million) in the development of a new sustainable textile fiber manufacturing plant in Sweden. In 2022, Spinnova invested EUR 4 million (US$ 4.5 million) for the development of a 2,000 square meter textile production facility in Finland. The development of the new facility began in March 2022 and is scheduled to be completed by mid-2023. Furthermore, the federal government of African countries has launched multiple initiatives to build new textile factories across the region to increase textile productivity in the region. These initiatives aim at increasing the production of the textile and apparel sector in Africa by 2030. In this way, such surging development of new textile facilities is expected to increase the demand for bio-based 1,4-Butanediol for the production of textile fibers utilized in such facilities. This is anticipated to drive the growth of the bio-based 1,4-Butanediol market in the upcoming years.

Growing Electronics Industry:

Bio-based 1,4-butanediol is used in the production of polybutylene terephthalate, polyurethane, and other polymers that are utilized in the electronics industry to seal and insulate delicate, pressure-sensitive, microelectronic components, cables, semiconductor chips, printed circuit boards, and other electronic components. According to the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association, the global electronics production by Japanese electronics and IT companies reached up to ¥37,300 billion (US$ 339.7 billion) in 2022, an increase of 8% in comparison to 2022. It further states that the electronics production by the global electronics and IT industries is expected to increase by 5% and reach up to US$ 3,536.6 billion by the end of 2022 as compared to 2022. Moreover, recent insights published on Growth from Knowledge (GRK) in September 2022 state that the GDP growth rate of consumer electronics which includes electronic appliances and gadgets such as washing machines, televisions, computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, and more in countries like India, China, the U.S, and regions like Europe is expected to increase up to 8.1%, 5.7%, 1,4%, and 1.7% respectively by the end of 2022. Furthermore, in December 2022, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) started negotiations with the German government to build a new semiconductor facility in Germany. The main motive of this facility development is to boost the production of semiconductors in Europe and contribute to 20% of the global chip manufacturing by 2030. In September 2022, China's Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation invested around US$ 8.87 billion to build a new semiconductor plant in Shanghai to expand the country’s production capacity and boost its independence in the sector. Hence, such a surging growth of the electronics industry along with the increase in production of electronics and semiconductors is expected to increase the demand for bio-based 1,4-butanediol as a primary material for the production of polybutylene terephthalate, polyurethane, and other polymers for use in microelectronic components, cables, semiconductor chips, printed circuit boards, and other electronic components., owing to its excellent insulation properties. This upsurge is expected to boost the growth of the market in the upcoming years.

Bio-Based 1,4-Butanediol Market Challenges

Availability of Substitutes in the Market:

Bio-based 1,4-butanediol has several substitutes such as bio-based 1,5-pentadiol, 2,3-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol and more. These substitutes have similar physical properties, performance, and other similar factors such as strength, applications, and more, which may restrict the growth of the market. Bio-based 1,5-pentadiol is a commonly used substitute for bio-based 1,4-butanediol in several end-users such as automotive, electronics, textile, and more, owing to its range of benefits which include high flexibility, and low toxicity while delivering similar performance and strength in comparison to bio-based 1,4-butanediol. The boiling point of 1,5-pentadiol is 242 °C, which is comparatively higher than 1,4-butanediol while bio-based 1,5-pentadiol has less density and it is lighter in weight as compared to bio-based 1,4-butanediol. Such superior properties of bio-based 1,5-pentadiol make it ideal for use in automotive, aerospace and other similar end-users as compared to bio-based 1,4-butanediol. Thus, factors such as high flexibility, low toxicity, and lightweight along with similar properties and performance of bio-based 1,4-butanediol substitutes may act as major restraining factors for the growth of the bio-based 1,4-butanediol market.

Bio-Based 1,4-Butanediol Industry Outlook

Technology launches, acquisitions, and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in the Bio-Based 1,4-Butanediol market. The companies in the Bio-Based 1,4-Butanediol market are:

• BASF SE
• Novamont
• Shandong Land Biological Technology Co. Ltd.

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