Downstream application demand drives the rapid development of polyether, and the industry has good development prospects

Polyether polyol, referred to as polyether, is an organic polymer and the most sold synthetic oil. It has excellent properties such as high viscosity, low viscosity-pressure coefficient, good lubricity, good low-temperature fluidity, good water solubility and good oil solubility. , is widely used as brake fluid, high temperature lubricant, refrigeration oil, metal working fluid, gear lubricant, compressor oil, detergent, defoamer, emulsifier, dispersant, flame retardant hydraulic fluid, antistatic agent wait.

Polyether is obtained through the addition polymerization reaction of compounds containing active hydrogen groups and raw materials such as ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide under the action of a catalyst. It can be divided into five categories, namely soft foam polyether. Ether, rigid foam polyether, CASE polyether, special polyether, POP polyether. In my country’s polyether production capacity structure, soft foam polyether accounts for the largest proportion, about 62.3%, hard foam polyether accounts for the second place, about 19.8%, and CASE polyether accounts for the third place, about 13.1%.

Polyether is widely used in soft furniture, automobiles, waterproof coatings, adhesives, sealants, plastic tracks, sporting goods and other fields. Among them, automobiles are the field with the most applications of polyether, followed by upholstered furniture, waterproof coatings, and plastic runways.

According to the “2023-2027 China Polyether Product Market Analysis Feasibility Research Report” released by the Industrial Research Center, as my country With the growth of the national economy and the improvement of residents’ consumption power, my country’s automobile sales have continued to rise in recent years. The demand for polyether in the automobile market has increased significantly, which has promoted the increase in polyether production. In addition, polyether is an important raw material for the production of upholstered furniture. As the annual income of Chinese residents increases year by year, consumption concepts are constantly changing. The public has higher requirements for quality of life. Upholstered furniture is soft and comfortable, has beautiful appearance, good durability, and is very environmentally friendly. Therefore, it is deeply loved by consumers and has become a consumption trend, with its market share gradually increasing. The growth in demand for upholstered furniture has also promoted the development of polyether.

In the field of chemical industry, polyether is an important raw material for the synthesis of polyurethane and is closely related to the development of polyurethane. The Chinese government has successively issued the “Guiding Opinions on the High-Quality Development of the Petrochemical and Chemical Industry during the “14th Five-Year Plan””, the “Guidelines for the Scientific Development of the Petroleum and Chemical Industry during the “14th Five-Year Plan””, and the “Guidelines for the Development of China’s Polyurethane Industry during the “14th Five-Year Plan”, etc. This policy has promoted the rapid development of the polyurethane industry, thus driving the development of polyether.

Industrial analysts said that at present, my country’s polyether market is mainly occupied by multinational companies and local companies. BASF, Covestro and Dow Chemical are leading international companies, while Shenyang Chemical, Sinochem International, Jiangsu Changhua, Shandong Dongda, Wanhua Chemical, CNOOC and Shell, and Cologne are leading local companies. There are many enterprises in my country’s polyether industry, but their scale is generally small. With the consolidation and acceleration of my country’s polyether industry in recent years, industry concentration has gradually increased and development prospects are good.