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Mixed xylenes are the second-most-important aromatic product in terms of world
consumption for chemical manufacture, ranking behind benzene and ahead of toluene.
The three isomers (ortho-, meta- and p-xylene) represent the major uses of
isolated mixed xylenes, and account for most of the consumption. p-Xylene is
the most widely used isomer. Most of the separated isomers are oxidized to
their corresponding dibasic aromatic acid or anhydride (phthalic anhydride,
isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid). These are largely used in the manufacture
of polymeric materials.
The following pie charts show world consumption of xylenes.
Isolation of the o-xylene isomer accounts for about 9% of global mixed xylenes
consumption. The region with the largest capacity for o-xylene is Asia (54%).
North America, Central and Eastern Europe, and Western Europe all have comparable
capacities ranging from 12% to 13%. As a region, the Middle East will have
the fastest capacity growth, averaging 9% per year from 2006 to 2011; China
will have the largest capacity increase—310 thousand metric tons added
from 2006 to 2011, or an 8% per year average capacity growth rate.
World consumption of m-xylene accounts for the smallest volume of the xylene
products (only about 1% of global mixed xylenes consumption), but it commands
a significantly higher unit value than the other isomers. It is produced primarily
in the United States, Europe and Japan, with minor production elsewhere. The
manufacturing and major sites of use are limited compared with the other xylene
products.
Isolation of p-xylene accounted for 82% of 2006 global mixed xylenes consumption.
Asia is the largest p-xylene producing region, with 64% of capacity; North
America has 20% and Western Europe 9%. A significant amount of p-xylene is
traded, with the major trade route being from North America to Asia. There
is increasing intraregional trade within Northeast Asia as Japan is a major
exporter and China is a major importer. As a result of tremendous consumption
growth, China will continue to be a major importer of p-xylene even with a
substantial amount of added capacity in the forecast period. From 2006 to 2011,
p-xylene capacity growth in China will average 22% per year.
ExxonMobil is the world’s leading producer of all xylenes except the
m-xylene isomer. In recent years, China Petrochemical Corporation and its affiliates
have become the second-largest producer of mixed xylenes and third-largest
producer of p-xylene and o-xylene. Reliance Industries Ltd. has also become
a major producer of xylene products (except m-xylene). BP is a major producer
of mixed xylenes and the second-largest producer of p-xylene and a major producer
of its derivative, terephthalic acid.
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