INTERNATIONAL
Good times again for fibers in Europe Three major synthetics—polyamides, polyacrylics, and polyesters—had 1968 rebound from dismal 1967 performance
Du Pont's Emery Another excellent year
Good times are back. Or so it must seem to West European synthetic fiber producers as they tally last year's results. All three of the major synthetics—polyamide, acrylic, and polyester—bounced back strongly in 1968 from their dismal performance of the year before. Consumption of all synthetic fibers in western Europe climbed 19% to more than 900,000 metric tons. The biggest gainer was polyester, with an increase in consumption of a healthy 33%, according to Du Pont International estimates. Close behind were acrylic fibers, up 31%. Demand for polyamides, which account for a bit less than half of the West European synthetic fiber market, rose some 11%. Overall production of synthetic fi-
bers in western Europe shot up 34% and passed the 1 million metric ton mark. Polyester fiber output increased 44%, while acrylics climbed 42%, and polyamides production was up 27%, according to recently released figures by Hoechst on the fiber situation in western Europe. What's behind the surge? "The answer is simply that consumer buying is up all over," says Bob Emery, Du Pont's textile fiber marketing director for Europe. As for 1969, Mr. Emery sees another excellent year and predicts a rise in consumption of 12%. Big gainer. With their recent surge in the market place, polyester fibers now have about one fourth of the synthetic fiber business. Consumption in western Europe last year climbed to about 290,000 metric tons, from 218,000 metric tons in 1967. Much of this growth has come in filament textured yarns (used more widely in western Europe than in the U.S.) and, more recently, in blends of polyester with wool and cotton. Prices of the fiber, meanwhile, have been soft, in fact skidded about 10% in 1968. There has been some overcapacity. But the main reason for the price cutting, Mr. Emery points out, has been an attempt to broaden the market for the fiber. And judging by the fiber's growth last year, this move has largely paid off. Polyester's price erosion seems to have ended now and producers are predicting only marginal reductions at worst in 1969. They look, too,
Polyamides lead in West European output of synthetic fibers 19.6
TOTAL Continuous filament Staple fibers Polyamides Polyesters Polyacrylics
Others 1
Source: Farbwerke Hoechst
20 C&EN FEB. 3, 1969
Thousands of metric tons 1967 Ί96Γ
772 426 346 383 193 158 38
855 471 384 413 214 187 41
1146
625 521 523 308 266 49
Change 1967-68,
% +34%
+33 +36 +27 +44 +42 +20
1
for continued strong demand. Du Pont says it expects at least a 50% growth in its European polyester business this year. In a few years polyester will take first place away from polyamides, predicts W. Hoerkens, fiber sales director for Farbwerke Hoechst. Acrylics also had an exceptionally good year. Some 240,000 metric tons of this fiber were used by West European textile producers in 1968, compared to about 180,000 metric tons die year before. After three years in a row of substantial price erosion, acrylics steadied last year and even recorded an increase of about 5%. At present the fiber is in short supply. However, numerous expansions are under way. West Germany's Farbenfabriken Bayer is in the midst of boosting its capacity for Dralon acrylic fiber and will reach 100,000 metric tons by the beginning of 1970. An increase to 30,000 metric tons is planned by Phrix-Werke, A.G., whose sales of the fiber were up 115% last year. In France, Rhône Poulenc is upping its capabilities for the fiber by 30%. Most acrylic producers are betting that demand for the fiber will continue strong well into 1969. As for prices, they will likely hold steady or even show some modest increases. Although polyamide did not chalk up the gains of its two biggest rivals, the fiber still had a fine year. West European consumption of polyamides amounted to about 390,000 metric tons in 1968, up 40,000 metric tons from 1967, Du Pont says. Like acrylics, polyamides are presently in short supply, particularly in the United Kingdom. But again, many major polyamides producers are in the midst of expansion. Du Pont makes nylon at Uentrop, West Germany, where facilities were completed only last summer. But the company is already in the process of doubling its capacity for bulk continuous nylon filament there. Completion of the expansion is slated for mid-1970. Britain's Imperial Chemical Industries is just winding up an expansion program which will bring its polyamide capacity to about 135,000 metric tons. ICI has plants at Pontypool, Doncaster, and Brockworth in the U.K.
