The Catalyst Review December 2019 - 1

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVES

The views expressed are those of the individual author and may not reflect those of The Catalyst Review or TCGR

Business Model Changes and Technology Shifts in Catalysis
By Mark V. Wiley
Remaining competitive in the catalytic process industries in 2020 and beyond requires insights into business model shifts and will
depend on difficult, yet critical decisions related to technology position and market participation.
Technology is changing rapidly, so staying up with market trends is essential to remaining relevant in
the industry and to your customers. One must identify, understand and keep pace with the changes
in the market and in technology. Executives must be willing to embrace and/or develop new business
models and approaches in order to compete in the market, deliver profits, and plan for uncertain
futures. Such shifts could encompass moving into a new customer segment or business space, or
even developing new revenue streams and letting go of older ones which may become irrelevant.
Knowledge is power and industry insights offer the roadmap.
To help their clients keep pace with changes and shifts in technology and markets in the catalytic
process industries, The Catalyst Group Resources (TCGR) announced the launch of the 18th biennial
edition of The Intelligence Report: Business Shifts in the Global Catalytic Process Industries, 20192025. Scheduled for completion in May 2020, TCGR's report will provide competitive insight and
analysis vital to catalyst manufacturers, process licensors, and end-users across the value chain:
refining, petrochemical/chemicals, polymers, specialty/fine chemicals and environmental markets.
The industry has been on a macroeconomic upswing for almost a decade, yielding gains from strategic restructurings made back
in 2008-09. While there remain opportunities for above-average growth, focused and dedicated approaches will be required for
success. But business models and customer needs are changing, based on pressures from the competitive environment and as well
as local and national regulations. The following will be key drivers as we enter the 2020-2025 forecast period:
*

The timing and nature of a general, macro-economic slowdown, expected during the 2020-25 forecast period, will determine the
impacts on specific industries/end uses.

Some rationalization/consolidation will be justified in catalyst production/supply and process licensing. Key factors - like degree
of integration, market share, and production costs - will determine targets/acquirers.

The movement towards "oil-to-chemicals" (O-t-C) will increase and intensify, with competitive implications for both leaders and
laggards as well as those producing fuels vs. those making aromatics/olefins.

The utilization of abundant natural gas (NG) and natural gas liquids (NGLs) as fuels and feedstocks will expand the advantage
over less competitive sources of energy and olefins/aromatics (e.g., coal, naphtha, etc.).

The role to be played by Industry 4.0, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and artificial intelligence (AI) in industry operations
and planning will increase, with capabilities spreading from external (3rd party) suppliers to internal resources.

Climate change impacts, including circularity and sustainability, will increasingly affect catalyst industry applications and industry
participants (as covered in the report's "Special Feature" section)

The way that catalyst suppliers and process technology licensors address these changes, and which ones strategically position
themselves for the future, are critical considerations for the 2020 edition of The Intelligence Report. These are challenging and
exciting times for all industry participants - visionary thinking is required. TCGR will inject some interesting dynamics for 2020 and
beyond via this biennial edition!
For further information, including the complete study proposal, the preliminary Table of Contents and the
Order Form, please contact John J. Murphy at +1.215.628.4447 or John.J.Murphy@catalystgrp.com or go to:

http://www.catalystgrp.com/multiclient_studies/the-intelligence-report-business-shifts-in-the-global-process-industries-2019-2025/.
The Catalyst Review

December 2019

http://www.catalystgrp.com/multiclient_studies/the-intelligence-report-business-shifts-in-the-global-process-industries-2019-2025/

The Catalyst Review December 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Catalyst Review December 2019