Polyester Catalyst Market Navigates Transition, Driven by Regulatory Pressure on Antimony
Global Polyester Catalyst Market Navigates Transition, Driven by Regulatory Pressure on Antimony
November 10, 2025 – The global Polyester Catalyst market is undergoing a significant strategic shift, driven by increasing environmental regulations on heavy metals and supply chain uncertainties affecting traditional catalysts. The market, estimated between $400 and $800 million USD in 2025, is projected to achieve a stable Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.2% to 4.2% through 2030.
Polyester catalysts are essential in the polycondensation process for manufacturing Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and other polyesters, ensuring efficient production and quality.
Regulatory Pressure Accelerates Catalyst Substitution
The traditional market has been dominated by Antimony-based catalysts (primarily Antimony Ethylene Glycolate), valued for their efficiency and high catalytic activity. However, environmental and health concerns are driving a decisive move toward alternative heavy-metal-free systems.
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Environmental & Safety Concerns: Antimony (Sb) poses risks during mining, water pollution during textile processing, and potential migration into food from packaging.
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Regulatory Limits: Standards like OEKO-TEX® (textiles, <30mg/kg extractable Sb) and China’s GB 9685-2016 (food contact materials, maximum migration of 0.04mg/kg Sb) necessitate careful control over its use, accelerating the push for alternatives.
Furthermore, China's implementation of antimony export controls since 2024 has created significant supply chain uncertainty for manufacturers worldwide, further encouraging substitution.
Technology Shifts: The Race for the Antimony Alternative
The market is segmented by catalyst type, with a clear trend favoring high-performance, environmentally friendly alternatives:
| Catalyst Type | Market Characteristics and Development | Trends |
| Antimony-based (Sb) | High efficiency, low impurity content (Ethylene Glycolate form); currently facing regulatory and supply chain hurdles. | Demand is decreasing in developed markets and food-contact/textile segments due to heavy metal content. |
| Titanium-based (Ti) | High catalytic activity, low dosage, and low cost compared to expensive Germanium (Ge) catalysts. Considered the primary candidate for Antimony substitution due to high activity and environmental profile. | Faces challenges with water sensitivity (hydrolysis), yellowing, and turbidity of PET products, requiring complexing/composite strategies to stabilize performance. |
| Aluminum-based (Al) | Lowest cost, results in high transparency. Heavy-metal-free and recognized for recyclability (e.g., TOYOBO GS Catalyst®). | Slower reaction rate compared to Ti and Sb limits widespread industrial application, but is gaining traction as a green solution. |
Key Competitive Developments
Manufacturers are actively investing in next-generation, non-antimony technologies to capture future market share:
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Clariant (Oct 2025): Announced the launch of new Titanium-based catalyst solutions in 2026, positioning the technology as a sustainable and high-performance alternative to address supply chain challenges and support PET recycling efforts.
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TOYOBO (May 2024): Its TOYOBO GS Catalyst® (Aluminum-based), the world’s first heavy-metal-free aluminum catalyst for polyester, was recognized for meeting recyclability standards. TOYOBO has licensed this technology globally, including to the world's largest PET producer, Indorama Ventures Pcl.
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Zhejiang Lixing Technology: Currently holds 3,000 tons of Ti-based capacity and plans to expand this significantly to 15,000 tons, signaling confidence in the future of Ti-based technology.
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Sinopec: Its subsidiary SRIPT has developed and operates a kiloton-level production unit for Titanium-based catalysts, primarily serving internal polyester production companies like Sinopec Yizheng Chemical Fibre.
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Tonggu Eryuan, Luoyang Haihui, Changsha Yexing, Hunan Chenzhou, Jiangsu Dakang: These companies represent significant capacity in traditional Tin-based (Sn) and Antimony-based catalysts, reflecting the current installed capacity base.
| Manufacturer (Selection) | Estimated Capacity (Tons/Year) | Catalyst Type |
| Yongan Pharmaceutical (China) | 58,000 (2024 capacity) | N/A |
| Zhejiang Lixing Technology | 3,000 (Ti); 4,000 (Sn) | Ti, Sn |
| Tonggu Eryuan Chemical | 6,000 | Sn |
| Luoyang Haihui New Material | 8,000 | Sn |
The market's future will be defined by the successful commercialization of highly stable and high-performance Titanium and Aluminum catalysts capable of competing with the cost and efficiency of traditional Antimony systems.