Polyphenylene sulfone (PPSU) market space is huge and the competitiveness of local enterprises needs to be improved

Polyphenylene sulfone (PPSU), also known as polyphenylsulfone, is an amorphous thermoplastic that refers to a polymer compound containing sulfone groups and aromatic nuclei in the main chain of the molecule. Polyphenylene sulfone has the characteristics of flame retardancy, high hydrolytic stability, high transparency, chemical resistance, etc., and has broad application prospects in the fields of electronic and electrical, medical equipment, household appliances and other fields.

​​ ​​Polyphenylene sulfone is produced by the reaction of polyphenylene sulfide and peracetic acid. The main raw materials of polyphenylene sulfide are sodium sulfide and p-dichlorobenzene. my country is the world’s largest sodium sulfide producer, accounting for nearly 80% of the global total. Xinjiang Zhongtai Chemical Co., Ltd., Yili Resources Group Co., Ltd., and Shanghai Chaoqiang Chemical Co., Ltd. are the leading sodium sulfide companies in my country. The advantages of raw materials lay the foundation for the development of the polyphenylene sulfone industry. However, currently, due to the small number of polyphenylene sulfone production companies in my country, the industry’s production capacity is low.

According to the “2022-2027 China Polyphenylene Sulfone (PPSU) Industry Market In-depth Research and Development Prospects Forecast Report span>》shows that polyphenylene sulfone has excellent performance and a wide range of applications, with baby bottles as its largest demand end. Baby bottles are a rigid demand. With the gradual implementation of my country’s three-child policy, the market demand for baby bottles will continue to increase. According to statistics from the China Toys, Baby Products Association, my country’s total retail sales of baby bottles will reach 6.58 billion yuan in 2021, an increase of 2.6% over the previous year. In addition, polyphenylene sulfone is also widely used in household appliances, electronic and electrical appliances, medical equipment and other fields. Driven by downstream demand, my country’s polyphenylene sulfone market continues to expand.

Competition in the polyphenylene sulfone market is fierce. Major players in the global market include BASF AG of Germany, Solvay Group of Belgium, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. of Japan, RTP Company of the United States, Union Carbide of the United States, etc. Union Carbide of the United States was the first company to develop polyphenylene sulfone and was later acquired by the Belgian Solvay Group, the world’s largest sulfone resin manufacturer.

The polyphenylene sulfone industry has high technical barriers. Compared with overseas developed countries, my country lacks experience accumulation in polyphenylene sulfone production, technology and processes. As a result, product output and quality cannot meet market demand, and high-end products rely on imports. The degree is higher. The main manufacturers of polyphenylene sulfone in my country include Kingfa Technology Co., Ltd. and Shenzhen Walter New Materials Co., Ltd. In 2020, the 1,000-ton PPSU/PES pilot industrialization device of Kingfa Technology has been installed.

Industry analysts said that polyphenylene sulfone has a wide range of applications. With the rapid economic development, its market demand will continue to be released. The future development prospects of the industry continue to improve. my country’s polyphenylene sulfone industry started late. It is restricted by high technical barriers and other factors, and is highly dependent on imports of high-end products. As local companies continue to innovate in production technology, the localization process of polyphenylene sulfone in my country will be further accelerated.