No. 1031 - Miljøstyrelsen

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by far the largest producer of the World with production facilities in many
countries. In Western Europe Wacker Group (Germany), Degussa AG
(Germany) and Rhodia S.A. (France) are main producers.
The total consumption of silicones in Western Europe is according to Will et
al. about 296,000 t. The breakdown by application is shown in Table 1.2.
The consumption breakdown is by the authors of the report designated
"somewhat tentative", but is considered to provide a general view of the market.
In this report the breakdown of the Western European consumption will be
used as basis for a first rough estimate on the use of silicones in Denmark if
nothing more specific is known. Denmark accounts for 1.2% of the W. European
population, but for 1.4% of the total industry-related GDP (Gross Domestic
Product). For the first estimate the per-capita ratio of 1.2% will be
used. For most consumer products and products used in the building industry
the consumption pattern of siloxanes in Denmark is most probably not
very different from the common W. European market. Differently, the consumption
of siloxanes in industrial processes will be very dependent on the
extent to which the industrial processes, in which siloxanes are used as processing
aids, take place in Denmark. The actual consumption may thus be
quite different from the common W. European use pattern.
The information on the W. European market will be combined with information
about siloxanes registered in the Danish Product Register and information
obtained from providers and users of silicones in Denmark.