NEWS RELEASE                                                                                                    NOVEMBER 2014

Will the Market for Thermal Treatment Be $2 Billion or $4 Billion In 2019?

There are many variables which are likely to change the present forecast of $2.3 billion for thermal and catalytic oxidizer sales in 2019. These variables are analyzed in Thermal Catalytic World Air Pollution Markets published by the McIlvaine Company.

Thermal Treatment Market ($ Millions)

World    Region

2019

 Total

 2,360  

 Africa

 66  

 CIS

 81  

 East Asia

 922  

 Eastern Europe

 48  

 Middle East

 74  

 NAFTA

 466  

 South &   Central America

 181  

 West Asia

 138

 Western Europe

 384  

 

One variable is the East Asia market.  Ambient air quality in major Chinese cities was worse than ever last year.  Pollution is the number one concern of the citizens.  As a result, the government is reviewing its existing and future five year plans. It is likely that the new regulations will boost the sales of thermal treatment equipment beyond the forecasted totals.

India is another variable. The chemical industry is growing and simultaneously generating more VOCs. There are few regulations. Only benzene and hydrocarbons are targeted. Ambient air quality levels are high in many major cities.  The present forecast assumes that the lenient regulatory environment will continue. However, a policy change could boost the 2019 world numbers.

Unconventional oil and gas is another big variable.  The requirements in the U.S. to eliminate the emissions of stranded gas from oil shale plants could be good news for oxidizer manufacturers. The ultimate goal is to capture and process the gas.  The interim option is to flare the gas.  If the gas is captured and liquefied for transport by truck, then the oxidizer market opportunity will be small.

China has a huge program to convert coal-to-gas, fuels and chemicals. There are many oxidizer opportunities.  McIlvaine forecasts the potential coal-to-gas delivery will be over 200 BCM by 2025.  This would be equal to the entire U.S. shale gas output in 2011. The greenhouse gas impacts of this program are being debated internationally. So this adds a degree of uncertainty.

The forecast is based on the revenues of the system suppliers.  There is a much bigger market for total solutions.  Megtec, for example, provides ongoing support and service which includes process advice.  An example would be whether to destroy or capture vapors. This would be dependent on the fluctuating value of the recovered product.

These developments will continually be analyzed in Thermal Catalytic World Air Pollution Markets. For more information, click on:http://home.mcilvainecompany.com/index.php/markets/2-uncategorised/105-n007