The market for alkylamines continues to witness unabated research and development efforts, which are leading to new discoveries in innovative application areas. alkylamines assume importance as major intermediates used in the production of pesticides, solvents, surfactants and rubber processing chemicals. Some other unusual end-use markets include pharmaceuticals, explosives, agricultural, chemicals and water-treatment areas.

Methylamines represents the basic chemicals that provide building blocks for several chemical products. Agricultural chemicals (primarily pesticides), solvents, water treatment, and surfactants are the largest markets for methyl and higher amines, accounting for about 60 to 65% of the total consumption. Derivatives of Methylamine include aonomethylamine, dimethylamine, and trimethylamine. Recent research initiatives have brought to light several groundbreaking results, pointing towards far reaching consequences. For instance, researchers in the US discovered that Methylamine has a unique ability to imitate insulin-like activity, thereby making it a better antidiabetic drug, compared to mafenide. Methylamine simulates insulin-releasing activity in both in-vivo and in-vitro conditions, and thereby helps in controlling diabetes. However on the flip side, adverse effects from exposure to methylamines such as skin burns, irritation in the respiratory tract, eyes and skin have led to stringent governmental stipulations. As methylamines are usually stored in steel containers in open air, proper care is obligatory while performing storage activities. This is particularly true for anhydrous methylamine and its aqueous solutions, which are flammable in nature, and mandate extreme care and precautions. Azo dyes, suspected to have carcinogenic potential, have been banned in Germany. The banned dye's usage is proved when the individual amine's content is more than 30mg/kg.

India is one of the largest consumers of chemicals and presents huge growth potential with a population of over one billion, as well as favorable government policies. The Indian chemical industry has witnessed growth over the last decade prompted largely by the country's economic liberalization, which encouraged the development of local production. With specific reference, China is one of the largest and fastest growing production hubs for methylamine, accounting for more than 33 percent of the total production worldwide. China is witnessing a steady rise in demand for various amines, including alkylamines and ethylene amines. With respect to size, the US dominates over other regional markets for alkylamines and is set to grow at a moderate pace, mainly fueled by new end-use applications such as wood preservatives, personal care products, detergents and glyphosate herbicides. Specialty amine, the largest segment in terms of market value, is also set to witness growth due to increased demand in plastics and gas sweetening applications. Diethylamines consumption in the US is expected to remain more or less stable, with primary end users being N, N-diethylaminoethanol, rubber processing chemicals, pesticides and insect repellents.

The United States represents the single largest regional market for alkylamines as stated by the new market research report on Alkylamines. In terms of growth, Asia-Pacific, led by China and India among others is forecast to expand at the overall fastest compounded annual growth rate of over 3.0% for the analysis period. The Methylamines product group clearly dominates with a lion's share of the total alkylamines market in 2010. The market is also projected to sail ahead at the fastest CAGR through 2015, spurred by rapid growth in the Monomethylamines and Trimethylamines segments.

Key market participants profiled in the report include Air Products and Chemicals, Inc, Akzo Nobel Functional Chemicals AB, Alkyl Amines Chemicals Ltd, Arkema Group, Ashland Inc, BASF SE, BorsodChem MCHZ s.r.o., Daicel Chemical Industries Ltd, E. I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company, Dow Amines, Huntsman International LLC, Koei Chemical Company Limited, LCY Chemical Corp, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company Inc., Taminco NV, among others.