The global market for plastics additives is estimated to grow to US$45.8 bln in 2014 at a compounded annual growth rate of 4.1%, according to a report by BCC Research. This was estimated to be worth over US$36.2 bln in 2008 and US$37.4 bln in 2009. The market is broken down into property modifiers, property stabilizers, property extenders and processing aids. Of these, the property modifiers segment has the largest share of the market, worth US$18.2 bln in 2008. That is expected to increase to US$18.7 bln in 2009 and US$22.9 bln in 2014, for a CAGR of 4.1%. The second-largest segment is property stabilizers, which generated US$12.1 bln in 2008 and an estimated US$12.6 bln in 2009, expected to increase to US$15.4 bln in 2014, for a CAGR of 4.2%. Property extenders have the third-largest market share, with revenues of US$3.8 bln in 2008, is expected to increase to US$3.9 bln in 2009 and US$4.8 bln in 2014, for a CAGR of 4.2%. Additives are integral components in plastics and contribute to the success of plastics not only in processability but also in property modification and performance. Plastics would not have been able to deliver their performance without the addition of these polymer additives. Although used at only 5-7% in terms of weight or about 10% by cost, they provide immense benefits. The plastics additive industry turned the corner in 2007 after undergoing over 5 strenuous years of structural market changes, including reduction in margins, rapid increases in feedstock prices, product-lifecycle maturity, transfer of growth to emerging markets, and regulatory pressures. Without additives, plastics would not work, but with them plastics can be made safer, cleaner, tougher, and more colorful. Additives cost money, but by reducing production costs and making products last longer, they help in saving money and conserving the world's precious raw material reserves. As per Acmite Market Intelligence, plastics additives can be classified into five broad categories: modifiers, property extenders, plasticizers, fillers and process aids. In terms of value, property extenders are the largest category, accounting for 34% of the total plastics additives consumption. It is as well the fastest growing category, driven by end users’ requirements on better performance or extra properties of existing plastic products. Demand on property extenders is expected to grow by 3% pa in these two years and by 5% pa thereafter when the economy revives. Total demand will increase to US$10.53 bln by 2012 and reach US$12.22 bln by 2015, from current US$9 bln. Plasticizer, mainly used in PVC, is the single largest type of plastics additives. Its global demand was valued at approximately US$8.38 biln in 2008, accounting for 31% of the total plastics additives market. The growth is tightly linked to the market prospect of PVC. The demand on PVC is forecast to see below average growth, as the flexible PVC market is slowing down due to the replacement by PE in some applications, particularly as packaging materials. Growing by 2.2-3.2% pa in the coming years, plasticizer market will grow to US$9.32 bln by 2012 and reach US$10.25 bln by 2015. Modifiers combined make up 17% of the global plastics additives market, with sales valued at approximately US$4.64 bln in 2008. Modifiers market is expected to grow by slightly above average rate, namely by 2.5% in these two years and by 4.5% thereafter. Total demand is forecast to exceed US$5.5 bln by 2012 and to approach US$6.5 bln by 2015. Global demand on fillers was estimated at US$2.26 bln (excl. carbon black) in 2008, making up nearly 10%. Market growth of fillers remains slow but steady. As per Jennifer Markarian, key issues affecting the additives market include feedstock costs, increasing global competitiveness, the growing importance of China in the global market, and continuing environmental and regulatory issues. Additive growth is driven by growing plastics' use in developing regions, where per capita plastics consumption is still far below that in developed nations, note industry experts. Globally, plastic use is growing as polymers continue to replace traditional materials. Growth for individual additive segments is driven primarily by the resin and applications using the additives. The largest volume segment of the additives market continues to be plasticizers, with 58% of the market. Plasticizers, used in flexible PVC, are predicted to grow at about 3.5%, primarily because of demand in China. The highest growth segments, with 7% AAGR predicted, are coupling agents, used in wood-plastic composites, polymer blends, and filled polymers, and nucleating/clarifying agents, used in clarified polypropylene (PP). Other additive segments are predicted to have a 4-6% AAGR. Additives offer innovative solutions for qualities like durability, aesthetics, low-maintenance, and biodegradability. Resin suppliers continue to simplify their grade-slates, which drives additive use downstream to compounders and converters. Rapid growth in the demand for plastics in the Chinese market is driving a shift of both additive consumption and production to the Far East. Regulatory issues and sensitivity to environmental issues continue to drive developments and changes in the polymer additives markets.