Applied Market Information's latest review discovers the top five players operate on a global basis

Applied Market Information's latest review discovers the top five players operate on a global basis

Global companies are dominating the European thermoplastic masterbatch industry, according to an industry report. Applied Market Information’s sector review identifies the top 50 European masterbatch producers. The list is headed by A. Schulman, followed by Ampacet, Clariant, Cabot and PolyOne.

These five companies accounted for nearly 60% of all masterbatch production in Europe in 2002, the consultants said. They all operate plants outside Europe, as well as having extensive manufacturing facilities within the continent itself. Clariant was picked out as “probably the most international of all these companies” with operations in 50 countries.

In terms of corporate change, the industry has been quite static. “The most notable characteristic of the last few years has been the failure of BASF and Ciba to sell their masterbatch business. Both these integrated companies had put their operations on the market but in neither case could a successful divestment be achieved.”

Meanwhile, the expansion in BOPP film production has fuelled rapid growth in the additive sector. Companies such as A Schulman, Multibase, Constab and Ampacet have all seen significant growth in this area, the consultants said.