DSM Fibre Intermediates
| Key drivers of profitability | Key success factors |
|---|---|
| Growth (DSM Engineering Plastics and China) | Low-cost operations |
| High utilization rates | Security of sales (excellent global coverage) |
| Volatility of raw material prices | Reliable supply, consistently good product quality |
| Technology leadership |
DSM Fibre Intermediates is the global leader in the production and supply of caprolactam, the raw material for polyamide 6 (nylon). It has production facilities on three continents (Europe, North America, Asia) with a total production capacity of nearly 700 kilotons per year. DSM supplies around 20% of the merchant market. With its market share of 25%, DSM is the leading supplier in the European merchant acrylonitrile market while globally it ranks third. Other products include ammonium sulfate, sodium cyanide, cyclohexanone and diaminobutane.
Caprolactam’s key outlet is polyamide 6, of which approximately 4 million tons per year are produced worldwide. The applications of polyamide 6 are very diverse, covering many end-markets, from carpets and textiles to cars, electrical devices and packaging film.
Acrylonitrile is a key ingredient for bright, fashionable acrylic textile and carpet fibers and for materials (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, ABS and styrene-acrylonitrile, SAN) for automobile components, electronic devices, toys and sports equipment. The application of acrylonitrile in a wide range of valuable specialty products (e.g.: carbon fibers, water treatment additives, enhanced oil recovery, detergents) is rapidly growing.
