Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) is the copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate. EVA copolymers are used in foam applications, packaging/agricultural films, extrusion/lamination products, flexible injection and blow moulded products, base components for hot melt adhesives, sanitary applications, etc. EVA can also be used in the construction of solar panels and photovoltaic cells as an encapsulating material. Competitive edge of EVA copolymer resins is safeguarded by their multiple strengths and advantages with respect to processability, barrier properties, low-temperature toughness, stress-crack resistance, hot-melt adhesive waterproof capacity, resistance to ultraviolet radiation and mechanical properties. This also means a wide range of EVA grades. In 2014, global EVA output was equal to 3.8 mln. tonnes, up 3.7% on the previous year. Top five EVA-producing countries include the USA, China, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan. In 2014, global EVA production capacity amounted to 5.7 mln tonnes with capacity utilization rate of around 65%.
Ethylene vinyl acetate: structure of the global capacity broken down by region, 2014
The major EVA-manufacturing companies are as follows: DuPont, SINOPEC, BASF-YPC Co Ltd, Dairen Chemical Corp., LyondellBasell Industries, Jiangsu Sailboat Petrochemicals, ExxonMobil, Samsung Total Petrochemical, Formosa Plastics Corp., to name only a few. Large number of EVA producers with high technological expertise, wide product assortments and orientation on different niche markets lead to demonopolization of the EVA market. The EVA market has good growth prospects, which fosters capacity expansions and various projects related to EVA-based products. Many companies view investments in EVA-related projects as a solid foundation for continuous raw material procurement and a contribution to securing steady feedstock supply for other end-products within their vertically-integrated businesses. They also give special emphasis to the higher-end applications in architectural coatings, dispersions, building and construction materials, and other advanced sectors.
More information on the EVA market performance at various geographical scales can be found in the insightful research report “Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA): 2016 World Market Outlook and Forecast up to 2020”.