Chinese Markets for Melamine (Publication Date: 9/99 Price: $3300 Pages: 116)

China's demand for melamine has been growing 18.7% over the past decade. By the year 2003, demand will advance to 50,000 metric tons. Melamine output will increase 13.5% annually to nearly 90,000 metric tons by 2003. In the last decade, melamine exports from China have grown significantly. At present, exports account for over 50% of China's total output. The country will continue to remain a large exporter of melamine through the early next century due to surging output and rapidly-expanding production capacities. The booming construction and automobile markets have been the driving force to fuel the strong growth of the melamine industry. Demand for laminates, molded plastics, coatings and adhesives are rising rapidly. Melamine consumption in laminates will continue to lead the melamine consumption growth. The fast- growing Chinese automobile sector will be a key driver to fuel the increasing consumption of melamine through the early next century. In China, other markets have been developing at a rapid pace as melamine applications continue to expand.