The European market for industrial solvents

Before the 1980s, commodity industrial solvents appeared to be a mature and stable market. But with a growing awareness of environmental issues — especially owing to more extensive toxicity data and concerns about air quality — there is a growing demand for less harmful and more effective solvents, and for the reduction of emissions. Total demand is forecast to decline from 4.7 billion tonnes in 1991 to 4.2 billion tonnes in 1997, a decline of 2% per annum (though only 1% per annum when measured by value). However, this is not a sunset industry. Technological changes are occurring more rapidly than in the past, and some good opportunities for new niche products exist.