MARKETS
Aerosols Crack Billion-Dollar Mark Nonfood aerosols, antifreeze, and some auto chemicals post respectable gains; food aerosols falter Producers of permanent types of antifreeze had reason to rejoice at last week's CSMA meeting. Ethylene glycol-based antifreeze sales jumped 4.5% to 115.3 million gallons in 1961. Much of this gain was at the expense of methanol-based antifreeze, which dipped 37% to 6.6 million gallons, according to new CSMA figures. But CSMA feels that the potential growth of glycol-based antifreeze by replacement of methanol-based antifreeze is "meager." Plus signs were also posted by automotive cooling system chemicals last year. Production totaled almost 34 million packages, up 4.6% from 1960 levels. This gain reversed a downtrend noted last year. Fuel line antifreeze, a relatively new product, scored wide gains with production totaling nearly 35 million packages, nearly two and a half times 1960 levels. But brake fluids failed to record a gain for the second straight
Nonfood aerosols became a billiondollar retail business in 1961. Retail sales in 1960 were $870 million, $750 million in 1959. Output last year totaled an estimated 796 million units, a 19% gain over 1960, and a whopping 38% increase over 1959, according to a new survey released last week at the Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association meeting in Chicago. But food aerosols apparently are failing to live up to expectations. Some 58 million units were turned out in 1961, down a shade from the estimated 59.5 million recorded for 1960. Almost all of this volume still is accounted for by whipped toppings. Aerosol producers say that more sophisticated products must come along before food aerosols can show big new gains. To this end CSMA plans to have an aerosol information booth at the Fifth International Food Congress and Exposition at New York this fall.
Ethylene Glycol Accounted for Almost 95% of All Antifreeze Sold Last Year Millions of Gallons Ethylene Glycol
WÊÊË Methanol
140 " 120 100 80 60 4020-
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
Source: Chemical Specialtieê Manufacturers Association 36
C&EN
MAY
21,
1962
1960
1961
year. Output remained at about the 1960 level, an estimated 10.6 million gallons. Again, heavy-duty types dominated. CSMA's survey of auto waxes and polishes continues to slip in importance. Since such major producers as S. C. Johnson and Simoniz failed to participate in the 1961 survey, any figures compiled are unrealistic. Particularly gratifying to chemical specialty makers is the fact that aerosol containers over 12 ounces were the most popular in 1961, edging ahead of the 6-ounce size packages. According to CSMA, 35% of the aerosol containers produced were of 12-ounce size or larger. The 1960 survey showed that large sizes accounted for 30% of total production, with the 6-ounce container the most popular. Starches Shine. Hair sprays still dominate the aerosol field. Production touched an estimated 150 million units last year, up 28% from 1960, and a thumping 80% ahead of 1959. But top aerosol performance in terms of percentage gain was turned in by starches. Production of these units hit an estimated 48 million units, up 92% from 1960. Starches thus moved into the number two slot in the household products category, outdone only by room deodorants. Outstanding performance was also posted by pharmaceutical and medicinal aerosols. Output of these aerosols hit an estimated 22 million units in 1961, up 57%. Shaving lather continues to hold the runner-up spot in aerosol production, up nearly 24% from 1960 to an estimated 84 million units. On the down side were insect sprays, off about 6% from 1960. But the darkest cloud came in shoe and leather dressings. Output of this group of aerosol products plummeted some 50% from 1960 levels. This performance looms even more dismal in view of the fact that production in this category was up 13% in 1960 from 1959. The 1960 value was three times the 1958 value.
In the Doldrums. Sales of toothpaste in aerosol containers dipped so low that CSMA felt that a separate listing was no longer justified. Toothpaste was bulked in CSMA's catchall category, other personal products. New to CSMA's aerosol survey this year was engine starting fluid. CSMA estimates production of this type product at some 6 million units. Output of food aerosols is in the doldrums. But some new products now coming along may serve as a real stimulant. Pillsbury Mills has just started marketing a cake decorator aerosol product. A special valve attachment offers the user a choice of three writing styles for decorating cake tops. The product uses Bradley-Sun's free-piston aerosol package, which permits complete separation of propellant
and product (C&EN, April 17, 1961, page 2 7 ) . In addition, Corn Products is test marketing its Bosco brand chocolate syrup in an aerosol package that swirls the material as it is squirted, thus eliminating the need for stirring. Previously, such products had to be stirred. The propellant is nitrous oxide. And Du Pont's Fréon C-318 propellant, which got the Food and Drug Administration's clearance for food use last fall, may help to increase use of food aerosols. Record Antifreeze Sales. The long cold winter of 1961 warmed the hearts of makers of fuel line antifreeze. A survey by CSMA's automotive division indicates 34.6 million packages of these products got dumped into gas tanks last winter. Antifreeze sales in 1961 reached an
estimated 121.9 million gallons, up only 1% from 1960 but a new high. As in the past several years, ethylene glycol-based antifreeze continued to gain at the expense of methanol-based antifreeze, posting nearly a 5% gain, while methanol types declined 37%. Production of cooling system chemicals made a turnabout in 1961, climbed to an estimated 34 million packages, a new record. Both cooling system cleaners and cooling system sealers took part in the gain. Sealers recovered from the 6% dip recorded in 1960 and rang up a 5.5% gain from 1960 levels. Liquid-type sealers accounted for nearly two thirds of all sealer production. Growth in cooling system cleaners failed to match the 9% gain registered in 1960, weighing in with a 4 % rise.
NONFOOD AEROSOL OUTPUT MOVES HIGHER AGAIN 1961
TOTAL UNITS 1960
1959
INSECT SPRAYS Space insecticides Residual insecticides (all types except pet products) Moth ρ roofers (includes all fabric pests)
36,526,287 22,564,434 4,502,571
37,118,175 25t499,295a 4,851,195
38,750,648 21,506,082e 5,654,044
COATINGS AND FINISHES All types (pigmented, metallic, clear plastic, protective, decorative, etc.)
76,785,322
67,206,544
52,555,836
64,590,562 7,674,571 25,585,087 6,611,130 17,031,889 46,350,731
66,754,870* 7,952,750 17,677,986 15,374,691 40,204,065 19,796,475
59,723,589b 8,959,181 18,470,212 13,739,069 11,843,438
11,359,645
9,052,960
24,597,909
82,353,230 140,215,822
68,174,431 111,861,259
72,610,959 79,687,474
18,037,783 33,775,368 13,689,758
11,776,836 27,751,216 11,269,302
10,036,312 28,385,226 5,692,235
16,525,788
10,081,204c
12,241,638e
7,145,493 15,742,560 3,441,407
4,710,936 14,206,978
4,113,025
...
... ...
14,287,682 11,464,682 676,261,802
14,719,838 18,166,396 606,992,370
18,013,512 446,031 498,287,943
HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS Room deodorants (excludes medicinal) Snow (all types) Glass cleaners Shoe or leather dressings Waxes and polishes (household and automotive) Starches Other household products (metal, oven, rug, and upholstery cleaners; water re pellents, etc.) PERSONAL PRODUCTS Shaving lather Hair sprays and dressings Medicinals and pharmaceuticals (fungicides, burn treatments, topical antisep tics, oral medicinals, anesthetics, antibiotics, etc.) Colognes and perfumes: over 1 ounce 1 ounce and under Other personal products (shampoos, sun tan preparations, sachets, hand lo tions, dental creams, powders, personal deodorants, depilatories, etc.) MISCELLANEOUS Veterinarian and pet products (shampoos, deodorants, insecticides, etc.) De-icers (automotive and household) Engine starting fluid Miscellaneous products (mildew preventatives, fire extinguishers, automotive other than reported above, industrial lubricants, and any other) Total of categories too revealing to be released TOTAL*
* Actual count. CSMA's 796 million figure is obtained by estimating unreported productionι. Note: Totals include Canadian production (33,102,458 units in 1961). Source: Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association
ο Includes pet products. b Includes medicinals. c Excludes dental creams.
MAY
21, 1962
C&EN
37
