Cresols Market Size & Share 2016 - 2024
Market Size by Product (Meta-Cresols, Para-Cresols, Ortho-Cresols), by Application (Chemical Intermediates, Solvents, Preservatives, Antioxidants), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Application Potential, Price Trends, & Forecast.
Report ID: GMI789
|
Published Date: September 2016
|
Report Format: PDF
Download Free PDF
Authors:
Kiran Pulidindi, Kunal Ahuja
Cresols Market Size
Cresols Market size was over USD 340 million in 2015, and is anticipated to grow at over 3% CAGR.
Global cresols market size is primarily driven by escalating vitamin E demand in dietary supplements and food & beverages fortification. Changing consumer lifestyle and food habits along with fluctuating food nutrition content due to adulteration is the major driving factor for these dietary supplements. Meat consumption demand is directly proportional to the animal feed and animal feed additives such as vitamin E. In addition, global synthetic vitamin E consumption was more than 100 kilo tons in 2015 and must exceed 150 kilo tons by 2024, with an estimated gain more than 4% CAGR over the forecast timeframe. Furthermore, increasing nutraceuticals demand, particularly in Europe and Asia Pacific owing to increasing consumer awareness towards enhanced nutrient consumption will further complement industry growth.
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), is a lipophilic organic compound and is a chemical derivative of phenol, which is useful for its antioxidant properties. BHT stabilizes fats and is used to retain aroma, color and food items flavor. It is used as a major antioxidant in cereals, gum, fast food, processed potatoes, drink mixes and snack foods. Also, the compound is found in food packaging, animal feed, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, rubber and plastics. Meta-cresols are produced with co-production of BHT. The FDA considers BHT as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) for usage as a food additive up to 0.02% concentration. High dose of this ingredient may cause significant damage to liver, kidneys and lungs. Oral consumption has also shown to have toxic effects on the blood coagulation system in the body. In addition, Japan, Romania, Sweden and Australia have forbidden the product use as food additive. Thus, increasing BHT criticism, a workhorse antioxidant based on p-cresol, regarding its consumption may hamper cresols market size over the forecast timeframe. However, some notable cresols market share is used in industrial applications such as automotive, electrical & electronics industries owing to its ability to withstand escalated temperature under mechanical load with minimum deformation and or creep. This has created new growth openings by making the product desirable in automotive applications such as natural gas valves, brake pistons and pulleys.
Cresols Market Analysis
Meta-cresols market size was valued at over USD 160 million in 2015. The product is used as a precursor of synthetic vitamin E. Inclining vitamin E demand on account of improved consumer eating habits will drive industry growth for the product. In addition, increasing meat consumption has driven animal feed and feed additives demand, which consequently will complement industry growth.
Para-cresols market share in analyzed to experience gains exceeding 3% over the forecast timeframe. It is primarily employed in the production of antioxidants such as BHT. Also, it is principally used in products such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, rubber and electrical transformer oil owing to boost industry share.
Solvent was valued at over USD 35 million in 2015. Meta-cresol is mainly used in dissolving polymers such as polyaniline. Growing polymers industry for its use in industrial application will ultimately drive cresols market size over the forecast timeframe.
Global cresols market size for chemical intermediates will witness highest gains more than 3.5% over the forecast timeframe. Cresols are mainly used as chemical intermediates in vitamin E production. Rising vitamin E consumption and its broad application array from human nutritional supplements, animal feed additives to antioxidant for polymers will drive industry growth. Furthermore, robust growth in chemical industries will further complement industry share by 2024.
North America, led by the U.S. cresol market size was valued more than USD 45 million in 2015. Growing pharmaceutical sector will drive the industry growth for chemical intermediates by 2024. In addition, the region has significant packed food demand, which will further complement growth for preservatives. Asia Pacific must witness highest growth of over 3.5%. The regional cresols market share will be driven mainly by improving consumer food habits.
Cresols Market Share
Global cresol market share is consolidated with five major industry participants including:
Chemical accounted over half of global share in 2015. Other prominent industry share contributors are Dakota Gasification Company, Asahi Kasei Chemicals and Rutgers Chemicals GmbH.
The product can be obtained through natural or synthetic sources. Companies such as SABIC Innovative Plastics and Lanxess AG, extract it from natural sources such as crude oil, creosote, and cresolene through coal gasification and coking of coal tar. Additionally, Atul Ltd and Rutgers Chemical Gmbh procure raw materials such as cresylic acid from Sasol Phenolics and SABIC Innovative Plastics for the production of cresols through the synthetic process.
Cresols Industry Background
Increasing vitamin E demand owing to its extensive application in dietary supplements and animal feed additives will fuel cresols market size over the forecast timeframe. However, the product is strictly directed from the EPA as they are destructive air pollutants, this may be a restraining factor for the cresols market share in the near future.
It can also be obtained through synthetic processes such as toluenesulfonates alkali fusion, alkaline chlorotoluene hydrolysis, cymene hydroperoxide splitting and phenol methylation in the vapor phase. Furthermore, these are aromatic organic compounds which are widely used as chemical intermediates in the production of Vitamin E, polymer resins, antioxidants, plasticizers, solvents, pharmaceuticals, rubbers, dyes, fragrances and other chemicals.
Research methodology, data sources & validation process
This report draws on a structured research process built around direct industry conversations, proprietary modelling, and rigorous cross-validation and not just desk research.
Our 6-step research process
1. Research design & analyst oversight
At GMI, our research methodology is built on a foundation of human expertise, rigorous validation, and complete transparency. Every insight, trend analysis, and forecast in our reports is developed by experienced analysts who understand the nuances of your market.
Our approach integrates extensive primary research through direct engagement with industry participants and experts, complemented by comprehensive secondary research from verified global sources. We apply quantified impact analysis to deliver dependable forecasts, while maintaining complete traceability from original data sources to final insights.
2. Primary research
Primary research forms the backbone of our methodology, contributing nearly 80% to overall insights. It involves direct engagement with industry participants to ensure accuracy and depth in analysis. Our structured interview program covers regional and global markets, with inputs from C-suite executives, directors, and subject matter experts. These interactions provide strategic, operational, and technical perspectives, enabling well-rounded insights and reliable market forecasts.
3. Data mining & market analysis
Data mining is a key part of our research process, contributing nearly 20% to the overall methodology. It involves analysing market structure, identifying industry trends, and assessing macroeconomic factors through revenue share analysis of major players. Relevant data is collected from both paid and unpaid sources to build a reliable database. This information is then integrated to support primary research and market sizing, with validation from key stakeholders such as distributors, manufacturers, and associations.
4. Market sizing
Our market sizing is built on a bottom-up approach, starting with company revenue data gathered directly through primary interviews, alongside production volume figures from manufacturers and installation or deployment statistics. These inputs are then pieced together across regional markets to arrive at a global estimate that stays grounded in actual industry activity.
5. Forecast model & key assumptions
Every forecast includes explicit documentation of:
✓ Key growth drivers and their assumed impact
✓ Restraining factors and mitigation scenarios
✓ Regulatory assumptions and policy change risk
✓ Technology adoption curve parameter
✓ Macroeconomic assumptions (GDP growth, inflation, currency)
✓ Competitive dynamics and market entry/exit expectations
6. Validation & quality assurance
The final stages involve human validation, where domain experts manually review filtered data to identify nuances and contextual errors that automated systems might miss. This expert review adds a critical layer of quality assurance, ensuring data aligns with research objectives and domain-specific standards.
Our triple-layer validation process ensures maximum data reliability:
✓ Statistical Validation
✓ Expert Validation
✓ Market Reality Check
Trust & credibility
Verified data sources
Trade publications
Security & defense sector journals and trade press
Industry databases
Proprietary and third-party market databases
Regulatory filings
Government procurement records and policy documents
Academic research
University studies and specialist institution reports
Company reports
Annual reports, investor presentations, and filings
Expert interviews
C-suite, procurement leads, and technical specialists
GMI archive
13,000+ published studies across 30+ industry verticals
Trade data
Import/export volumes, HS codes, and customs records
Parameters studied & evaluated
Every data point in this report is validated through primary interviews, true bottom-up modelling, and rigorous cross-checks. Read about our research process →