Dimer Acid Market Assessment, By Product Type [Standard, Distilled, Hydrogenated, Others], By Application [Resin Synthesis, Lubricants, Fuel Oil Additives, Oilfield Chemicals, Coatings, Others], By End-user [Personal Care Products, Inks, Oilfield, Automot

Dimer Acid Market Assessment, By Product Type [Standard, Distilled, Hydrogenated, Others], By Application [Resin Synthesis, Lubricants, Fuel Oil Additives, Oilfield Chemicals, Coatings, Others], By End-user [Personal Care Products, Inks, Oilfield, Automotive, Marine, Construction, Others], By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2016-2030F

Global dimer acid market size was valued at USD 3.1 billion in 2022, which is expected to reach USD 5.2 billion in 2030, with a CAGR of 6.6% for the forecast period between 2023 and 2030. Dimer acids are viscous liquids, which are generally dicarboxylic acids produced through dimerizing unsaturated fatty acids, which is obtained from tall oil, oleic acid, canola oil, etc. The dimer acids have excellent potential to enhance significant properties such as hydrophobicity or water repellency, corrosion inhibitor, etc. The dimer acids are highly lipophilic, providing unique characteristics for metal-working fluids and personal care products. Dimer acids are extensively used in cosmetics and personal care products such as in producing safe nail polishes, depilatory wax removal products, hair color products, etc. The trending data reflects excellent market opportunities in personal care products, where the dimer acids contribute to increase such applications.

The rising concern for climatic change has forced companies to choose dimer acids as an alternative bio-based product obtained from natural vegetable oils. Emery Oleochemicals' novel DEHYLUB product comprises of dimer acids that are extensively used in the lubricants industry. A unique class of C22- dimer acid esters synthesized using branched-chain alcohols delivers low pour point and higher oxidation stability making it a potential base oil for hydraulic and low-temperature lubricant applications. The application in lubricant industry tremendously creates market opportunities globally to recognize the significance of dimer acids.

Dimer Acids as a Base Oil for Bio-lubricant

Conventional bio-based oils generally crystallize at a low temperature (below the cloud point) where the formulation is derived from palm, peanut, rapeseed oils, etc. Chemical modification of fatty acids can resolve the problem of temperature which ultimately improves cold temperature performance. The crystallization of such bio-based oils can be minimized by forming chain branching of dimer acids which reduces the melting temperatures by disordering the configuration of the molecules. The synthesized C36-dimer acids (DA) on esterification with 2-ethylhexanol produces a new type of C52-DA 2-EH esters, which significantly has physiochemical, cold flow, and oxidation stability characteristics that have potential application in various bio-lubricant formulations.

Lubricant-based companies are strategically building solutions for bio-based lubricant esters. Emery Oleochemicals has provided ester base solutions for many years in the lubricant industry. The company’s proprietary EMERY 2003 and EMERY 2016 dimer acids are very effective in increasing flexibility, elasticity, toughness, low glass transition temperature, and reactive and non-reactive polyamide resins. These novel dimer acids are extensively used in numerous industrial applications such as surfactants for oil recovery, viscosity modifiers for large oil wells, amine-based corrosion inhibitors, etc. Emery’s bio-lubricants incorporate ester technologies in hydraulic fluids that significantly benefit formulators.

Dimer Acids for Polyamide Resins

Generally, polyamide resins are categorized into reactive polyamide and non-reactive polyamide. While producing polyamide hot-melt adhesives, dimer acids are extensively used in producing paper, wood, metal, surface-treated polypropylene, and polyethylene for imparting adhesion characteristics. Based on these two categories, reactive polyamide is substantially used in marine coating, thermosetting surface coating, potting materials and lining, and heavy-duty coating. On the contrary, non-reactive polyamide is used in printing inks and hot-melt adhesives.

Polyamide resins are majorly used in gravure plastic and paper printing inks. Its significant characteristics such as excellent chemical stability, good adhesion, water-fast, and most importantly folding endurance make its applications in different industries. Shandong Huijin Chemical Co., Ltd. produces conventional dimer acid and high purity dimer acid which is utilized in generating different grades of polyamide resins. Dimer acids for polyamide resins which has a revenue of around USD 6.7 billion provides a huge potential in the global market to create multiple opportunities due to its phenomenal properties which can be separately used in applications.

Impact of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic devastated various marketing sectors including the dimer acid market. Due to imposed lockdowns and restrictions in transportation, it has affected supply chain of dimer acid products in various sectors such as paints, coatings, lubricants, oil refineries, etc. The global dimer acid market has significantly lost productivity, workforce, and demand, which remained longer. The major chemical companies have emphasized the dimer acid market and adopted various effective measures to regain the market potential globally. The continuous efforts by the companies have created immense global market potential for dimer acids across various sectors.

Impact of Russia-Ukraine War

The annexation of Russia on Ukraine has developed unfavorable conditions for the global market to expand. The application of dimer acids is considered very important across various sectors such as oil and lubricant industry, paints, and coatings, etc. The unjustified aggression of war on Ukraine has disastrous outcomes for Ukraine and other countries. The war has created instability for price variation in dimer acids for different sectors. The continuous efforts by European countries to recover from the economic crises has possibly stabled the situations where dimer acids applications have been increased significantly.

Key Players Landscape and Outlook

Major chemical companies are developing synthetic functional acids that can be used in paints, coatings, adhesives, etc. Harima Chemicals Group has significantly developed products which is thermoplastic polyamide resins produced from dimer acid and amines and is extensively used as printing ink resin. The company indulges in developing products with specific characteristics using tall oil fatty acids (C18), a biomass resource and dimer acids (C36 dicarboxylic acid) are derived from these fatty acids. In March 2020, Harima Group Chemicals has collaborated with Takasago International Corporation to produce products for the flavor and fragrances industries which are prominently used in improving the properties of thermosetting resins and thermoplastic resins.