Worldwide LFT Competitive Analysis and Leadership Study 2008, January 2009
Long fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites (LFRTs) are one of the most dynamic and fastest growing materials in the plastics industry today. Although the materials have been around for several decades, advances in technology and increased acceptance in the automotive market have been the major driving forces for their rapid growth. LFRT competes with a wide range of materials, including short fiber reinforced engineering plastic, glass mat thermoplastic (GMT), sheet molding compound/ bulk molding compound (SMC/BMC), D-LFT and metals. This broad competitive arena will result in new applications and markets fueling continued growth.
Low cost producers will win most of the volume growth. This is inevitable with production overcapacity, high growth rates, automotive volume influence and savvy negotiations by buyers with knowledge of the benefits of LFT. Niche suppliers will seek margins in product differentiation. Not surprisingly, this current environment has attracted considerable attention from the investment community as well as potential customers interested in alternative materials. The LFT market is shifting from a seller “push” to a buyer “pull” situation. LFT is no longer an emerging technology, but neither is it mature. It is showing some elements of commoditization, however. Automotive end users, as well as Tier 1 suppliers are well aware of the benefits of LFT. Materials suppliers are repositioning their companies by developing innovative product marketing strategies. LFT suppliers are opening up manufacturing plants in high growth markets – China, Korea. For example, Ticona and RTP recently started domestic productions of LFT materials in China and SABIC opened up a plant in Korea.
The world's leading LFRT producers are also closely monitoring competitive activities in an attempt to navigate the landscape more adeptly and to capture as much share as possible. In virtually every respect, these producers are seeking to establish a tangible competitive advantage in the marketplace through the implementation of innovative strategies and creative product development capabilities.
Lucintel's Leadership Quadrant considers a variety of critical factors - from management effectiveness to product range to market strength to financial strength - and then ranks each firm accordingly on the grid for quick comparison. This report answers following key questions:
In Lucintel's newest competitive research study on the world's leading LFRT producers, “Worldwide LFRT Competitive Analysis and Leadership Study 2008”, we thoroughly profile the following seven companies with detailed competitive assessments of the following organizations
Low cost producers will win most of the volume growth. This is inevitable with production overcapacity, high growth rates, automotive volume influence and savvy negotiations by buyers with knowledge of the benefits of LFT. Niche suppliers will seek margins in product differentiation. Not surprisingly, this current environment has attracted considerable attention from the investment community as well as potential customers interested in alternative materials. The LFT market is shifting from a seller “push” to a buyer “pull” situation. LFT is no longer an emerging technology, but neither is it mature. It is showing some elements of commoditization, however. Automotive end users, as well as Tier 1 suppliers are well aware of the benefits of LFT. Materials suppliers are repositioning their companies by developing innovative product marketing strategies. LFT suppliers are opening up manufacturing plants in high growth markets – China, Korea. For example, Ticona and RTP recently started domestic productions of LFT materials in China and SABIC opened up a plant in Korea.
The world's leading LFRT producers are also closely monitoring competitive activities in an attempt to navigate the landscape more adeptly and to capture as much share as possible. In virtually every respect, these producers are seeking to establish a tangible competitive advantage in the marketplace through the implementation of innovative strategies and creative product development capabilities.
Lucintel's Leadership Quadrant considers a variety of critical factors - from management effectiveness to product range to market strength to financial strength - and then ranks each firm accordingly on the grid for quick comparison. This report answers following key questions:
- What are the market shares of LFRT suppliers in automotive, industrial goods and consumer goods market?
- Who are the market leaders in various regions and what are their market shares?
- Which companies are more aligned with market opportunities and which companies have more ability to gain market share?
- What are the key differentiators for major LFRT suppliers?
- Which company has the widest product range and how the product mapping looks among various players?
- Which companies will gain market share and who will lose market shares in future?
In Lucintel's newest competitive research study on the world's leading LFRT producers, “Worldwide LFRT Competitive Analysis and Leadership Study 2008”, we thoroughly profile the following seven companies with detailed competitive assessments of the following organizations
1. COMPETITIVE AND LEADERSHIP ANALYSIS
Introduction
Research Methodology
LFRT Definitions
Competitive Analysis
Product Mapping: Breadth of Product Offerings
Industry Leaders in terms of Global Market Share
Industry Leaders in Various Market Segments
Industry Leaders in Various Regions
Production Capacity vs. Global Demand for LFRT
Leadership Quadrant Analysis
Leaders Quadrant (Top Right)
Challengers Quadrant (Bottom Right)
Visionaries (Top Left)
Niche Players (Lower Left)
Essential Guidance
Conclusions
2. TICONA PROFILE
Company Overview
Celanese Corporation Company Description and Business Segments
Celanese Company Statistics
LFRT Business Overview
LFRT Business Segment
Key Differentiators and Strengths
Products and Product Positioning
LFRT Product Line Overview
Product positioning in market segments
Markets and Market Positioning
Market Position in the Global LFRT Business
Revenue Breakdown by Market Segments
Revenue Breakdown by Regions
Production
Ticona Global Manufacturing Operations
Innovation and Market Leadership
Marketing, Sales, and Organizational Capabilities
Marketing and sales
Management commitment and track record
Financial Strength
3. SABIC EUROPE BV PROFILE
Company Overview
SABIC Company Description and Business Segments
SABIC Company Statistics
Business Overview
LFRT Business Segment
Key Differentiators and Strengths
Products and Product Positioning
Product Line Overview
Product Positioning in Market Segments
Markets and Market Positioning
Market Position in Global LFRT Business
Revenue Breakdown by Market Segment
Revenue Breakdown by Region
Production
SABIC Europe BV Global Manufacturing Plants
Innovation and Market Leadership
Marketing, Sales and Organizational Capabilities
Marketing and Sales
Management Commitment and Track Record
Financial Strength
4 SABIC INNOVATIVE PLASTICS PROFILE
Company Overview
SABIC Company Description and Business Segments
SABIC Company Statistics
Business Overview
LFRT Business Segment
Key Differentiators and Strengths
Products and Product Positioning
LFRT Product Line Overview
Product Positioning in Market Segments
Markets and Market Positioning
Market Position in Global LFRT Business
Revenue Breakdown by Market Segments
Revenue Breakdown by Regions
Production
SABIC IP Global Manufacturing Operations
Innovation and Market Leadership
Marketing, Sales, and Organizational Capabilities
Marketing and sales
Management commitment and track record
Financial Strength
5 RTP PROFILE
Company Overview
RTP Company Description and Business Segments
RTP Company Statistics
LFRT Business Overview
LFRT Business Segment
Key Differentiators and Strengths
Products and Product Positioning
Product Line Overview
Product Positioning in Market Segmentation
Markets and Market Positioning
Market Position in Global LFRT Business
Revenue Breakdown by Market Segments
Revenue Breakdown by Regions
Production
RTP Global Manufacturing Operations
Innovation and Market Leadership
Marketing, Sales, and Organizational Capabilities
Marketing and Sales
Management Commitment and Track Record
6 FACT PROFILE
Company Overview
FACT Company Description and Business Segments
FACT Company Statistics
LFRT Business Overview
LFRT Business Segment
Key Differentiators and Strengths
Products and Product Positioning
LFRT Product Line Overview
Product positioning in market segments
Markets and Market Positioning
Market Position in the Global LFRT Business
Revenue Breakdown by Market Segments
Revenue Breakdown by Regions
Production
FACT Global Manufacturing Operations
Innovation and Market Leadership
Marketing, Sales, and Organizational Capabilities
Marketing and sales
Management commitment and track record
Financial Strength
7 CHISSO PROFILE
Company Overview
Chisso Corporation Description and Business Segments
Chisso Corporation Statistics
Business Overview
Business Segment
Key Differentiators and Strengths
Products and Product Positioning
Product Line Overview and Mapping
Product positioning in market segments
Markets and Market Positioning
Market Position in Global LFRT Business
Revenue Breakdown by Market Segments
Revenue Breakdown by Regions
Production
Chisso Global Manufacturing Operations
Innovation and Market Leadership
Marketing, Sales, and Organizational Capabilities
Marketing and sales
Management Commitment and Track Record
Financial Strength
8 TECHNOCOMPOUND PROFILE
Company Overview
TechnoCompound Company Description and Business Segments
TechnoCompound Corporation Statistics
Business Overview
LFRT Business Segment
Key Differentiators and Strengths
Products and Product Positioning
Product Line Overview and Mapping
Product positioning in market segments
Markets and Market Positioning
Market Position in Global Business
Revenue Breakdown by Market Segments
Revenue Breakdown by Regions
Production
Techno Compound Global Manufacturing Operations
Innovation and Market Leadership
Marketing, Sales, and Organizational Capabilities
Marketing and sales
Management Commitment and Track Record
Financial Strength
Introduction
Research Methodology
LFRT Definitions
Competitive Analysis
Product Mapping: Breadth of Product Offerings
Industry Leaders in terms of Global Market Share
Industry Leaders in Various Market Segments
Industry Leaders in Various Regions
Production Capacity vs. Global Demand for LFRT
Leadership Quadrant Analysis
Leaders Quadrant (Top Right)
Challengers Quadrant (Bottom Right)
Visionaries (Top Left)
Niche Players (Lower Left)
Essential Guidance
Conclusions
2. TICONA PROFILE
Company Overview
Celanese Corporation Company Description and Business Segments
Celanese Company Statistics
LFRT Business Overview
LFRT Business Segment
Key Differentiators and Strengths
Products and Product Positioning
LFRT Product Line Overview
Product positioning in market segments
Markets and Market Positioning
Market Position in the Global LFRT Business
Revenue Breakdown by Market Segments
Revenue Breakdown by Regions
Production
Ticona Global Manufacturing Operations
Innovation and Market Leadership
Marketing, Sales, and Organizational Capabilities
Marketing and sales
Management commitment and track record
Financial Strength
3. SABIC EUROPE BV PROFILE
Company Overview
SABIC Company Description and Business Segments
SABIC Company Statistics
Business Overview
LFRT Business Segment
Key Differentiators and Strengths
Products and Product Positioning
Product Line Overview
Product Positioning in Market Segments
Markets and Market Positioning
Market Position in Global LFRT Business
Revenue Breakdown by Market Segment
Revenue Breakdown by Region
Production
SABIC Europe BV Global Manufacturing Plants
Innovation and Market Leadership
Marketing, Sales and Organizational Capabilities
Marketing and Sales
Management Commitment and Track Record
Financial Strength
4 SABIC INNOVATIVE PLASTICS PROFILE
Company Overview
SABIC Company Description and Business Segments
SABIC Company Statistics
Business Overview
LFRT Business Segment
Key Differentiators and Strengths
Products and Product Positioning
LFRT Product Line Overview
Product Positioning in Market Segments
Markets and Market Positioning
Market Position in Global LFRT Business
Revenue Breakdown by Market Segments
Revenue Breakdown by Regions
Production
SABIC IP Global Manufacturing Operations
Innovation and Market Leadership
Marketing, Sales, and Organizational Capabilities
Marketing and sales
Management commitment and track record
Financial Strength
5 RTP PROFILE
Company Overview
RTP Company Description and Business Segments
RTP Company Statistics
LFRT Business Overview
LFRT Business Segment
Key Differentiators and Strengths
Products and Product Positioning
Product Line Overview
Product Positioning in Market Segmentation
Markets and Market Positioning
Market Position in Global LFRT Business
Revenue Breakdown by Market Segments
Revenue Breakdown by Regions
Production
RTP Global Manufacturing Operations
Innovation and Market Leadership
Marketing, Sales, and Organizational Capabilities
Marketing and Sales
Management Commitment and Track Record
6 FACT PROFILE
Company Overview
FACT Company Description and Business Segments
FACT Company Statistics
LFRT Business Overview
LFRT Business Segment
Key Differentiators and Strengths
Products and Product Positioning
LFRT Product Line Overview
Product positioning in market segments
Markets and Market Positioning
Market Position in the Global LFRT Business
Revenue Breakdown by Market Segments
Revenue Breakdown by Regions
Production
FACT Global Manufacturing Operations
Innovation and Market Leadership
Marketing, Sales, and Organizational Capabilities
Marketing and sales
Management commitment and track record
Financial Strength
7 CHISSO PROFILE
Company Overview
Chisso Corporation Description and Business Segments
Chisso Corporation Statistics
Business Overview
Business Segment
Key Differentiators and Strengths
Products and Product Positioning
Product Line Overview and Mapping
Product positioning in market segments
Markets and Market Positioning
Market Position in Global LFRT Business
Revenue Breakdown by Market Segments
Revenue Breakdown by Regions
Production
Chisso Global Manufacturing Operations
Innovation and Market Leadership
Marketing, Sales, and Organizational Capabilities
Marketing and sales
Management Commitment and Track Record
Financial Strength
8 TECHNOCOMPOUND PROFILE
Company Overview
TechnoCompound Company Description and Business Segments
TechnoCompound Corporation Statistics
Business Overview
LFRT Business Segment
Key Differentiators and Strengths
Products and Product Positioning
Product Line Overview and Mapping
Product positioning in market segments
Markets and Market Positioning
Market Position in Global Business
Revenue Breakdown by Market Segments
Revenue Breakdown by Regions
Production
Techno Compound Global Manufacturing Operations
Innovation and Market Leadership
Marketing, Sales, and Organizational Capabilities
Marketing and sales
Management Commitment and Track Record
Financial Strength
LIST OF FIGURES
CHAPTER 1
Fig. 1.1: Industry-wide LFRT Product Map based on fiber type.
Fig. 1.2: Industry-wide LFRT Product Map based on resin type.
Fig. 1.3: Industry-wide LFRT Product Map based on market segments.
Fig. 1.4: LFRT manufacturers Global market shares in 2007.
Fig. 1.5: LFRT manufacturers market share in Global Automotive market in 2007.
Fig. 1.6: LFRT manufacturers market share in Global Industrial Goods market in 2007
Fig. 1.7: LFRT manufacturers market share in Global Consumer Goods market in 2007.
Fig. 1.8: LFRT manufacturers market share in North America in 2007.
Fig. 1.9: LFRT manufacturers market share in Europe in 2007.
Fig. 1.10: LFRT manufacturers market share in Asia and other in 2007.
Fig. 1.11: Relative positions of each LFRT manufacturer in four quadrants.
CHAPTER 2
Figure 2.1: Ticona LFRT product line by type of resin and reinforcement.
Figure 2.2: Ticona LFRT product line offering by market segment
Figure 2.3: Ticona 2007 LFRT revenue by Market Segment
Figure 2.4 Ticona 2007 LFRT Share by Market Segment
Figure 2.5: Ticona LFRT product line offering by region
Figure 2.6: Ticona 2007 LFRT revenue by Region
Figure 2.7: Ticona 2007 LFRT market share by Region
Figure 2.8: Ticona LFRT Manufacturing Locations
CHAPTER 3
Figure 3.1: SABIC Europe BV LFRT product line by type of resin and reinforcement.
Figure 3.2: SABIC Europe BV LFRT product line offering by market segment
Figure 3.3: SABIC Europe BV 2007 LFRT revenue by Market Segment
Figure 3.4 SABIC Europe BV 2007 LFRT Share by Market Segment
Figure 3.5: SABIC Europe BV LFRT product line offering by region
Figure 3.6: SABIC Europe BV 2007 LFRT revenue by Region
Figure 3.7: SABIC Europe BV 2007 LFRT market share by Region
Figure 3.8: SABIC Europe BV LFRT Manufacturing Locations
CHAPTER 4
Figure 4.1: SABIC IP LFRT product line by type of fiber and type of resin.
Figure 4.2 SABIC IP LFRT product line by market segments
Fig. 4.3: SABIC IP LFRT revenues by Market Segment in 2007.
Fig. 4.4: Share of LFRT Market Segment Revenues by SABIC IP in 2007.
Fig. 4.5: SABIC IP’s LFRT Sales by Regions in 2007
Fig. 4.6: SABIC IP’s LFRT Market Share by Region in 2007
Fig. 4.7: SABIC IP LFRT Manufacturing Locations
CHAPTER 5
Figure 5.1: RTP LFRT product line by type of reinforcement and resin.
Figure 5.2: RTP LFRT product line offering by market segment
Figure 5.3: RTP 2007 LFRT Revenues by Market Segment.
Figure 5.4: RTP 2007 LFRT Market Share by Market Segment
Figure 5.5: RTP 2007 LFRT Revenues by Region
Figure 5.6: RTP 2007 LFRT Market Share by Region
Figure 5.7: RTP’s LFRT Manufacturing Sites.
CHAPTER 6
Figure 6.1: FACT LFRT product line by reinforcement and Resin
Figure 6.2: FACT LFRT product line offering by market segment
Figure 6.3: FACT 2007 LFRT Revenue by Market Segment
Figure 6.4 FACT 2007 LFRT Share by Market Segment
Figure 6.5: FACT LFRT product line offering by region
Figure 6.6: FACT 2007 LFRT revenue by Region
Figure 6.7: FACT 2007 LFRT market share by Region
Figure 6.8: FACT’s LFRT Manufacturing Location
CHAPTER 7
Figure 7.1: Chisso’s product line by type of weave and reinforcement.
Figure 7.2: Chisso’s product line by market segments.
Figure 7.3: Chisso’s Revenues by Market Segment in 2007.
Figure 7.4: Share of LFRT by Market Segment Revenues by Chisso in 2007.
Figure 7.5: Chisso’s LFRT Sales by Regions in 2007
Figure 7.6: Chisso’s LFRT Market Share by Regions in 2007
Figure 7.7: Chisso LFRT Manufacturing Locations.
CHAPTER 8
Figure 8.1 TechnoCompound’s product line by type of resin matrix and reinforcement.
Figure 8.2. TechnoCompound’s product line by market segments
Figure 8.3: TechnoCompound’s Revenues by Market Segment in 2007.
Figure 8.4: Share of Market Segment Revenues by TechnoCompound in 2007.
Figure 8.5: TechnoCompound’s Sales by Regions in 2007
Figure 8.6: TechnoCompound’s Market Share by Regions in 2007
Figure 8.7: TechnoCompound’s Manufacturing Locations
CHAPTER 1
Fig. 1.1: Industry-wide LFRT Product Map based on fiber type.
Fig. 1.2: Industry-wide LFRT Product Map based on resin type.
Fig. 1.3: Industry-wide LFRT Product Map based on market segments.
Fig. 1.4: LFRT manufacturers Global market shares in 2007.
Fig. 1.5: LFRT manufacturers market share in Global Automotive market in 2007.
Fig. 1.6: LFRT manufacturers market share in Global Industrial Goods market in 2007
Fig. 1.7: LFRT manufacturers market share in Global Consumer Goods market in 2007.
Fig. 1.8: LFRT manufacturers market share in North America in 2007.
Fig. 1.9: LFRT manufacturers market share in Europe in 2007.
Fig. 1.10: LFRT manufacturers market share in Asia and other in 2007.
Fig. 1.11: Relative positions of each LFRT manufacturer in four quadrants.
CHAPTER 2
Figure 2.1: Ticona LFRT product line by type of resin and reinforcement.
Figure 2.2: Ticona LFRT product line offering by market segment
Figure 2.3: Ticona 2007 LFRT revenue by Market Segment
Figure 2.4 Ticona 2007 LFRT Share by Market Segment
Figure 2.5: Ticona LFRT product line offering by region
Figure 2.6: Ticona 2007 LFRT revenue by Region
Figure 2.7: Ticona 2007 LFRT market share by Region
Figure 2.8: Ticona LFRT Manufacturing Locations
CHAPTER 3
Figure 3.1: SABIC Europe BV LFRT product line by type of resin and reinforcement.
Figure 3.2: SABIC Europe BV LFRT product line offering by market segment
Figure 3.3: SABIC Europe BV 2007 LFRT revenue by Market Segment
Figure 3.4 SABIC Europe BV 2007 LFRT Share by Market Segment
Figure 3.5: SABIC Europe BV LFRT product line offering by region
Figure 3.6: SABIC Europe BV 2007 LFRT revenue by Region
Figure 3.7: SABIC Europe BV 2007 LFRT market share by Region
Figure 3.8: SABIC Europe BV LFRT Manufacturing Locations
CHAPTER 4
Figure 4.1: SABIC IP LFRT product line by type of fiber and type of resin.
Figure 4.2 SABIC IP LFRT product line by market segments
Fig. 4.3: SABIC IP LFRT revenues by Market Segment in 2007.
Fig. 4.4: Share of LFRT Market Segment Revenues by SABIC IP in 2007.
Fig. 4.5: SABIC IP’s LFRT Sales by Regions in 2007
Fig. 4.6: SABIC IP’s LFRT Market Share by Region in 2007
Fig. 4.7: SABIC IP LFRT Manufacturing Locations
CHAPTER 5
Figure 5.1: RTP LFRT product line by type of reinforcement and resin.
Figure 5.2: RTP LFRT product line offering by market segment
Figure 5.3: RTP 2007 LFRT Revenues by Market Segment.
Figure 5.4: RTP 2007 LFRT Market Share by Market Segment
Figure 5.5: RTP 2007 LFRT Revenues by Region
Figure 5.6: RTP 2007 LFRT Market Share by Region
Figure 5.7: RTP’s LFRT Manufacturing Sites.
CHAPTER 6
Figure 6.1: FACT LFRT product line by reinforcement and Resin
Figure 6.2: FACT LFRT product line offering by market segment
Figure 6.3: FACT 2007 LFRT Revenue by Market Segment
Figure 6.4 FACT 2007 LFRT Share by Market Segment
Figure 6.5: FACT LFRT product line offering by region
Figure 6.6: FACT 2007 LFRT revenue by Region
Figure 6.7: FACT 2007 LFRT market share by Region
Figure 6.8: FACT’s LFRT Manufacturing Location
CHAPTER 7
Figure 7.1: Chisso’s product line by type of weave and reinforcement.
Figure 7.2: Chisso’s product line by market segments.
Figure 7.3: Chisso’s Revenues by Market Segment in 2007.
Figure 7.4: Share of LFRT by Market Segment Revenues by Chisso in 2007.
Figure 7.5: Chisso’s LFRT Sales by Regions in 2007
Figure 7.6: Chisso’s LFRT Market Share by Regions in 2007
Figure 7.7: Chisso LFRT Manufacturing Locations.
CHAPTER 8
Figure 8.1 TechnoCompound’s product line by type of resin matrix and reinforcement.
Figure 8.2. TechnoCompound’s product line by market segments
Figure 8.3: TechnoCompound’s Revenues by Market Segment in 2007.
Figure 8.4: Share of Market Segment Revenues by TechnoCompound in 2007.
Figure 8.5: TechnoCompound’s Sales by Regions in 2007
Figure 8.6: TechnoCompound’s Market Share by Regions in 2007
Figure 8.7: TechnoCompound’s Manufacturing Locations
LIST OF TABLES
CHAPTER 1
Table 1.1 Properties of various LFRT materials.
Table 1.2: Ranking of suppliers based on LFRT revenue
Table 1.3: Ranking of leaders in Automotive, Industrial goods, and Consumer Goods
Table 1.4: Ranking of leaders in North America, Europe and Asia.
Table 1.5 LFRT Leaders’ Manufacturing Sites
Table 1.6: Major parameters for Lucintel’s leadership quadrant analysis
CHAPTER 2
Table 2.1: Celanese Revenues and Operating Income Trends
CHAPTER 3
Table 3.1: SABIC Revenues and Operating Income Trends
CHAPTER 4
Table 4.1: SABIC Revenues and Operating Income Trends
CHAPTER 8
Table 8.1: TechnoCompound Revenues Trends
CHAPTER 1
Table 1.1 Properties of various LFRT materials.
Table 1.2: Ranking of suppliers based on LFRT revenue
Table 1.3: Ranking of leaders in Automotive, Industrial goods, and Consumer Goods
Table 1.4: Ranking of leaders in North America, Europe and Asia.
Table 1.5 LFRT Leaders’ Manufacturing Sites
Table 1.6: Major parameters for Lucintel’s leadership quadrant analysis
CHAPTER 2
Table 2.1: Celanese Revenues and Operating Income Trends
CHAPTER 3
Table 3.1: SABIC Revenues and Operating Income Trends
CHAPTER 4
Table 4.1: SABIC Revenues and Operating Income Trends
CHAPTER 8
Table 8.1: TechnoCompound Revenues Trends
