What is the capacity and import dependence of methyl methacrylate in China?

China methyl methacrylate production capacity and import dependence status?

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) is an important chemical raw material, which is widely used in the production of organic glass, coatings, adhesives and other fields. In recent years, with the rapid development of China's chemical industry, the production capacity and import dependence of MMA have become the focus of the industry.

1. Methyl methacrylate overview

Methyl methacrylate is a colorless transparent liquid with good chemical properties and is an important monomer for the production of PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate). PMMA is commonly known as plexiglass, because of its excellent optical properties and lightweight characteristics, widely used in construction, automotive, electronics and other fields. With the growth of downstream industry demand, the market demand for MMA continues to rise.

2. China methyl methacrylate production capacity status

China's MMA production started relatively late, but in recent years, through technology introduction and independent innovation, production capacity has achieved rapid growth. According to data from the China Chemical Industry Association, as of 2023, my country's annual MMA production capacity has reached about 1.5 million tons, an increase of about 15% year-on-year. The main production enterprises include Beijing Dongfang Hongying Fine Chemical Co., Ltd., Shandong Luxi Chemical Co., Ltd.

3. Import dependence status

Despite the increase in production capacity, China's MMA market still has some import dependence. In 2022, China's MMA imports will be about 500000 tons, mainly from the United States, South Korea and Japan. Most of the imported products are high purity industrial grade or food grade, and some high-end products in China still rely on imports. The main reason for import dependence is that some of the key domestic production technologies have not been fully mastered, and the tightening of environmental protection policies has led to the withdrawal of some small and medium-sized production capacity from the market.

4. Import substitution challenges and progress

In order to reduce the dependence on imports, domestic enterprises have increased their technological research and development efforts and gradually broke through the production technology of high-end products. For example, Yantai Wanhua Polyurethane Co., Ltd. has successfully realized the localization of high-end MMA through technology research and development. At the policy level, the government also encourages enterprises to increase technological innovation and promote the optimization of industrial structure.

5. Future development trend

With the improvement of environmental protection requirements and the popularization of the concept of green chemical industry, the production of MMA will pay more attention to environmental protection and resource efficiency. It is expected that in the next few years, China's MMA production capacity will continue to grow, and the import dependence will be further reduced. The expansion of downstream applications will also drive the diversification of the MMA market.

6. Summary

China's methyl methacrylate production capacity and import dependence is gradually improving. With technological progress and policy support, domestic enterprises are expected to further enhance their independent innovation capabilities, reduce external dependence, and promote the development of the industry to a higher level.

For further information on China's methyl methacrylate production capacity and import dependence, please refer to relevant industry reports or consult professionals.