The global demand for white oils is estimated at 1.6 million tonnes in 2015 and has been increasing only moderately over the past four years, finds the forthcoming Global White Oils: Market Analysis and Opportunities report by international market research and management consulting firm Kline. Asia-Pacific is the largest white oils-consuming region, followed by North America and Europe. South America witnessed a dip in its white oil demand since 2011 due to Brazil’s demand contraction as a consequence of economic crisis.

The split of lubricant consumption by region tracks the division of global installed capacity. China is the largest market for lubricants used in wind energy, accounting for 34% of total demand, followed closely by the United States with 21%. Germany and India account for an approximate share of 6% each. However, Germany’s demand is slightly more than that of India according to the recent Lubricants for Wind Turbines: Global Market Analysis and Opportunities report by global market research and management consulting firm Kline.

With an estimated 20% of adults suffering from pain globally, consumers’ choice for at-home treated pain relief has expanded from analgesics to a combination of devices that were once found only in doctors’ or physical therapists’ offices. According to Kline’s recently published Pain Management Devices: Global Market Analysis and Opportunities report series, the consumer market for these devices has grown at a rate of nearly 10% to reach $2 billion in 2015.

Accounting for almost 25% of the global market share, China is the second largest consumer of synthetic latex polymers after North America, according to the just-published China chapter report from Kline’s continuous program Synthetic Latex Polymers: Global Business Analysis and Opportunities. A considerably higher GDP growth compared to the developed world, low industry regulations, and stability in raw material prices appeals to multinational corporations and domestic suppliers, increasing market rivalry dramatically.

In January 2014, Kline & Company, a worldwide consulting and research firm serving needs of organizations in the lubricants and base stocks industry, introduced its monthly Base Stock Margin Index, a characterization of recent cash margin contributions in the U.S. base oil market over the past 24 months.

The improving quality of finished lubricants and the burgeoning supply of high quality basestocks continue to create greater pressure on Group I basestocks to exit the market in the face of stagnant overall demand. In 2015, Group I basestocks account for less than half of the global basestock demand, down from over two-thirds a decade earlier, according to the recently published Global Lubricant Basestocks: Market Analysis and Opportunities report by global market research and management consulting firm Kline.

Industrial surfactants scattered among a number of applications, such as food, paints and coatings, crop protection, and oil and gas, take up an important one-third of the global surfactants market, but have been lacking comprehensive coverage up until now. Spanning multiple regions, Kline’s imminent Industrial Surfactants: Multi-regional Market Analysis and Opportunities report finds that these industrial applications driven by complex drivers respective to each application offer myriad of growth opportunities.

Driven by consumer interest in all things natural, the market for natural OTCs increases by a strong 11.4%, compared with the overall OTC market that grew 4.2% in 2015. Natural nutritional products, including supplements for heart and brain health, grow at the fastest pace of over 30% in 2015. The natural cough/cold/immunity market, the largest category, accounting for approximately 40% of the total natural OTC market, is also growing at high single digits and according to Kline’s recently published study, Natural OTCs: Impact of Non-drug Products on the U.S. OTC Market.

Kline, a respected provider of world-class consulting services and high-quality market intelligence, announced that Ian Butcher has decided to retire as Kline Senior Vice President of Global Business Development within the Chemicals and Petrochemical industries after 35 years with the company. Frances Davidson in North America and Hardeep Parmar in Europe have currently replaced Butcher, both in positions of Director in the Chemicals Practice of Kline’s Management Consulting business. Butcher will continue working for Kline as a senior advisor to help make a smooth transition.

North America is the largest synthetic latex polymers consuming market globally, accounting for nearly 30% of the total market share in 2015. Acrylic emulsions, most of which are produced locally, are the most consumed polymers in the region, according to Kline’s continuous program Synthetic Latex Polymers: Global Business Analysis and Opportunities, which covers North America, China, and India in its second year.