In Germany, nova-Institute published a report covering all aspects of succinic acid, including an overview on existing technologies and corresponding feedstock, the wide range of applications, and the key advantages of succinic acid and other biobased polymers like polybutylene succinate in the different applications. The report notes that the U.S. Department of Energy classified succinic acid (SA) as one of the twelve most promising bio-based building blocks for the future and that the demand for succinic acid is growing quickly due to how cost competitive it is to conventionally produced alternatives. Succinic acid is very versatile and can be used for a wide range of applications in food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and the chemical, plastic and textile industries.
The total succinic acid market demand is estimated around 50,000 metric tonnes in 2016 and is expected to reach 94,000 metric tonnes at the end of 2025 with an annual growth rate of 6.5%, according to the report. All producers of succinic acid are presented in detail with their technology platforms and production capacities. The report is 35 pages long and includes 11 figures and tables.