Concern is growing as acetone demand is outpaced by phenol. Surplus could depress acetone markets for months to come.
Acetone, the familiar clear, water-white volatile liquid with a mild, mint-like fragrant odor, which goes to produce such consumer products as acrylics in windows, skylights, lighting fixtures, signs and automotive parts, seems slated for an uncertain future. "The acetone market is not growing because phenol is growing and a main concern of the market is what will happen to the acetone,” Michael Foeste said in a speech at the 6th ICIS World Phenol-Acetone conference.
The worldwide phenol demand (acetone, a by-product of phenol) is predominantly driven by bisphenol A (BPA) production and not acetone demand, with the strongest demand for BPA coming from Asia, particularly China. "Acetone in Europe was expected to grow by only 0-2% from 2010 to 2015," reported ICIS Chemical Business, "which raises the question of what options the market would have for the excess acetone."
Best-in-Class Chemical distributors; Southwest US region feature:
- Flammable and temperature-sensitive chemical storage; 24/7 delivery.
- Product quality and traceability; Quality-ISO 9002:2009 & Environmental Management System, conforming to standards set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
- Custom labeling services and contract warehousing/shipping, on-site lab capabilities, and on-line railcar tracking system
Top Considerations Before Buying from Chemical distributors; Southwest US region:
Chemical distributors for the Southwest US region should have continuous QC, ongoing development for newer and better distribution systems, should be a full-service distributor with technically trained Product Managers, who oversee each order; and raw material distributions capable of both direct supply and “just-in-time” manufacture /delivery from local warehouse sites on a 24/7 basis.
Key Producers:
1. OctoChem, Inc. works with its chemical customers as a marketing services provider that offers sample fulfillment for chemical, biological and hazardous materials. In conjunction with its sample fulfillment offering the company provides comprehensive reporting for lead generation and follow-up. The company accommodates both small and large sample fulfillment needs, repackaging chemical, cosmetic, or food grade samples in a cost-effective manner. Octochem's product literature claims "it puts your product into the customer's hands at the right time, in the right quantity, with the right information, anywhere in the world...to showcase your product and demonstrate quality where it counts-in your customer's laboratory." The company offers four basic services: HyperChem, which is the sample packaging and distribution services; e-Samples, secure web-based sample requests; e-Report, secure web board for daily reporting; and SPEED 2000 for small quantity packaging, order processing and shipping.
2. InterAtlas Chemical Inc. is engaged in the trading of raw materials for chemical companies, including distribution of paraformaldehyde, hexamethylene tetramine (hexamine), precipitated silica, and urea (carbamide). The company operates in 15 countries and on 3 continents, principally in St. Catharines (Ontario, Canada), New York, Houston, Rotterdam (Holland), Trieste (Italy), Valencia (Spain) and Beijing (China), with terminals and storage facilities in New Jersey and Texas. The company claims that it is an independent company "unencumbered by external shareholders" that couples both physical resources and in-depth expertise in delivering value to its chemical distribution business; promoting to its customers that the company is "living proof that a multi-million dollar chemical distributor does not have to be a lumbering corporate giant".
3. R.E. Carroll, Inc., incorporated in 1925, engages in the sale, re-packaging and distribution of raw materials and compounding agents used in the adhesives, ceramics, paints, coatings, plastics, and rubber industries. Principally operating from Trenton, New Jersey, R.E. Carroll has additional storage facilities in Akron, Ohio; Dalton, Georgia; Dallas, Texas; and Fullerton, California. The company's product line includes inert pigments such as calcium carbonates, clays, alumina hydrate, barytes, zinc oxides, zinc dust, peroxides, sulfur, accelerators, all types of process oils, white oils, petrolatums, reference oils, specialty oils, lubricants, precipitated silicas, feldspar, rubber chemicals, waxes, magnesium carbonate and oxides, amides, fatty acids, plasticizers, and Gilsonite.
4. The Chemical Company (known also as TCC) engages in the manufacture, custom manufacture and distribution of commodity and specialty chemicals for pharmaceuticals to cosmetics, food, and papermaking, as well as for industries that utilize resins, polymers, and plasticizers. The company distributes throughout the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, Western Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, Europe, Canada, and Mexico. The company is an ISO 9002 registered manufacturer and distributor of alcohols, absorbent polymers, textile auxiliaries, dicyandiamides, flame retardants, environmentally safe solvents and cleaners, formaldehyde replacement, guanamines, micro-sized chemicals, pentaerythritols, phosphates, quaternary salts, resins, polymers, and specialty esters. The company also offers chemical consulting services, new product development assistance, emissions control consulting, grinding, chemical milling, custom chemical formulating, synthesis, and manufacturing.
5. Wego Chemical & Mineral Corporation, founded in 1978, engages in the international trade and distribution of chemicals, including industrial and technical chemicals, throughout the Americas as well as in Asia and Europe. Its products include acids, adhesives and sealants, colorants, dyes, pigments, esters, flavors and fragrances, food additives, and intermediates. The company supplies its chemical products to industries operating in agriculture, cosmetics, detergent, food, mining, pharmaceutical, paper, textile, and water treatment industries. In addition to a full variety of chemical products, the company offers expertise in global sourcing and servicing to a wide range of industrial markets. Wego Chemical & Minerals sources most of its products from Asia, with an important emphasis in China, Taiwan, Korea and India, where it owns stakes in manufacturing facilities, including four business offices in China. The company claims to have a direction and philosophy that has consistently revolved around the development of new sources of supply from chemical producers in the Far East that has enabled it to "strengthen our relationships with existing suppliers, enable us to have daily personal contact with these suppliers, and creates an environment which allows us to better develop new sources for products."
6. Cannon Water Technology Inc. , principally engaged in the distribution of water treatment equipment and supplies, as well as chemical handling and flow control equipment, is also a chemical dealer for water treatment chemicals and chemical formulations. With over 30 years of service in the industrial HVAC water treatment business, the company's array of chemical products are specifically designed for control of scale, corrosion and microbiological fouling in cooling water and heating water systems. Chemical formulations include cooling water treatments, boiler water treatments, closed loop treatments, heating water system treatments, cleaners and de-scalers, condensation pan treatments, antifoam de-foaming agents, coil cleaners, duct cleaners, glycol heat transfer fluids antifreeze, and grease treatments for drain lines and grease traps.
Chemical distributors: Southwest US region.
Definition: Chemical distributors for Southwest US region are raw materials producers and chemical raw material manufacturers of chemicals and raw materials for industrial, healthcare, and pharmaceutical needs. Products include organic and inorganic bulk chemicals, chemical additives, agents, desiccants, dyes, food additives, industrial cleaning agents, inks, pigments, and solvents.
