Advances in volume terms will be led by specialty amines which offer stronger performance characteristics. The mature fatty and commodity amines will post more modest gains. For commodity amines, service and reliability are instrumental in cus-tomer satisfaction, while product performance is paramount for more specialized products. Key Developments Consolidation activity involving major industry participants.
Producers seek new geographic markets and application areas for their existing product lines.
Introduction of new specialty amines designed for specific uses, including custom formulations. Competition with other technologies, such as nitrogen-free surfactants. Market Highlights Formulators of personal care pro-ducts seek milder, equally effective surfactants. Natural gas operators use specialty amines for more effective acid removal. The US amines market is quite con-centrated, with about a dozen firms supplying over 90 percent of demand.