DSM Fibre Intermediates produces caprolactam and acrylonitrile, which are raw
materials for synthetic fibers and plastics.
Caprolactam is the raw material for polyamide 6. This is a versatile material,
which in the form of fibers is used in sports and leisure clothes, tires and
carpets. It is increasingly used as high-performance construction material in,
for example, the electronics and automotive industries and in packaging
materials.
Polyamide 6 has reached the mature phase of its life cycle, where market
demand and selling prices are strongly influenced by supply/demand cycles. It
is facing competition from other materials, such as polyamide 66, polyester
and polypropylene. DSM Fibre Intermediates, with plants in the Netherlands,
the United States and China, is the largest merchant caprolactam producer in
the world with a market share of 20%. In addition, the business group produces
about 1.2 million tons per annum (tpa) of fertilizer (ammonium sulphate) as a
co-product.
Acrylonitrile is a raw material used in textile fibers, ABS plastics, latex
rubber and water-purification products. The business group’s acrylonitrile
production capacity is 260,000 tpa. DSM Fibre Intermediates also produces
about 25,000 tpa of sodium cyanide, which is used in detergents and in the
synthesis of vitamins. With a market share of 25%, DSM is a major player in
the merchant acrylonitrile market in Europe.
Strategy
DSM Fibre Intermediates’ distinguishing
characteristics are its process technology, reliability and service. The
business group aims to exploit its global cost and technology leadership
position in caprolactam while growing its position in China parallel to a
further strengthening in Europe and North America in close cooperation with
DSM Engineering Plastics, for which caprolactam is a very important
raw-material. For acrylonitrile we aim to strengthen our manufacturing base in
Geleen (Netherlands).
