Chan Ye Xin Xi Wang·2025-05-27 01:24Core Viewpoint - The PMMA market in China is experiencing significant growth in demand, particularly in sectors such as LCD displays, LED lighting, and automotive applications, while the production capacity remains largely focused on low-end PMMA, necessitating substantial imports of high-end products from international chemical giants [1][13]. PMMA Industry Overview - PMMA, also known as acrylic or organic glass, is a non-crystalline plastic with excellent transparency, optical properties, and impact resistance, widely used in automotive, construction, and advertising sectors [3]. - The production technology for PMMA includes suspension polymerization, solution polymerization, and bulk polymerization, with only bulk polymerization capable of producing high-end PMMA products for automotive and electronic applications [3]. PMMA Industry Supply Chain - The upstream of the PMMA industry consists of raw material suppliers, particularly those providing MMA monomers, which are crucial for PMMA production [5]. - The midstream includes PMMA manufacturers who process these raw materials into various PMMA products, while the downstream encompasses applications in construction, home decoration, advertising, lighting, and electronics [5]. PMMA Industry Development Status - China's PMMA production capacity is projected to reach 735,400 tons in 2024, marking a year-on-year increase of 19.50% [11]. - The majority of PMMA production capacity is concentrated in East China, accounting for 87.71% of the total, with significant contributions from Southwest and Northeast regions [11]. PMMA Trade Dynamics - China's PMMA imports have consistently exceeded exports, resulting in a trade deficit, although this deficit is gradually narrowing as domestic companies improve their competitiveness in high-end products [1][13]. - In 2024, PMMA imports are expected to decline to 162,800 tons, while exports are projected to rise to 54,000 tons, reflecting a growing domestic production capability [1][13]. PMMA Industry Competitive Landscape - The PMMA production technology is predominantly controlled by foreign companies, but domestic firms like Wanhua Chemical and Suzhou Double Elephant are narrowing the gap through innovation [15]. - Key players in the industry include Wuxi Double Elephant, Wanhua Chemical, and Mitsubishi Chemical, among others [15][17]. PMMA Industry Trends - There is a significant growth potential for optical-grade PMMA, driven by increasing demand from high-tech industries such as 5G communications, virtual reality, and smart homes [22]. - The industry is also moving towards green transformation, focusing on sustainable practices in raw material sourcing, production processes, and waste management [23][24].