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Global demand for thermoplastic elastomers forecast to increase till 2009 |
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Global demand for thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) is forecast to increase 6.2% pa through 2009, reaching 3.1 mln metric tons, according to Freedonia. In the same time period, value gains will expand an even stronger 7.4% pa. This will be due to the increasing number of applications that require costlier types of TPEs and high energy prices, which will raise the TPE production costs. TPEs will continue to find the majority of their use as replacements for natural and synthetic rubber, as well as for rigid thermoplastics and metals. TPEs will continue to gain new applications in which they are overmolded onto rigid plastic or metal components to enhance ergonomic or soft touch features on a wide range of products.
Through 2009, China's TPE market (the world's largest market in metric tons) will expand and diversify rapidly based on the country's significant positions in the production of many of the key products manufactured with TPE parts and components. Currently, a large portion of TPE demand in China is devoted to the country's massive footwear industry. Nevertheless, with the notable exception of China, global TPE sales will remain concentrated in the developed markets of the U.S., Western Europe and Japan, particularly for higher performance materials such as copolyester elastomers (COPEs) and thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs).Growth prospects through 2011, however, will be strongest in developing countries. Most developing markets have initially focused on low-cost styrenic block copolymers (SBCs) due to their existing positions in styrene-butadiene and polybutadiene rubber (which also helps domestic production of SBCs), but some such as China are also significantly diversifying into compounded thermoplastic polyolefins (TPOs) and thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs).
Motor vehicles will remain the largest market for TPEs at the global level, with sustained solid gains attributable to the development of new products for exterior (e.g., body seals) and interior (e.g., door panel and instrument skins) applications at the expense of ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Though all major generic types of TPEs are gaining new applications in motor vehicles, TPOs will remain the largest volume segment. The smaller consumer and sporting goods sector will remain the fastest growing market for TPEs through 2011. Gains will primarily be attributable to expanding uses in sporting goods and personal care goods, where TPEs will benefit from the continued displacement of traditional materials such as thermoset rubber and thermoplastics (particularly PVC). In these applications, TPEs are primarily valued for their durability, easy processing, colorability and weather resistance.
The sustained solid gains forecast for TPEs in this market are attributable to the development of new products at the expense of ethylene-propylene dienemonomer EPDM and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). TPOs will remain the largest volume segment, as these materials bolster an already formidable position in exterior applications with rising use in interior applications. The smaller consumer and sporting goods sectors will remain the fastest growing market for TPEs through 2009. Gains will be primarily attributable to expanding uses in sporting goods and personal care goods according to the study.
| World TPE demand ('000 mt) |
% annual growth |
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| |
1999 |
2004 |
2009 |
04/99 |
09/04 |
North America |
493.8 |
628.7 |
785.5 |
4.9 |
4.6 |
Western Europe |
389.1 |
503.4 |
608.0 |
5.3 |
3.8 |
China |
390.0 |
690.0 |
1,052 |
12.1 |
8.8 |
Japan |
126.5 |
153.0 |
183.5 |
3.9 |
3.7 |
Other regions |
214.6 |
324.0 |
471.0 |
8.6 |
7.7 |
Total world |
1,614 |
2,300 |
3,100 |
7.3 |
6.2 |
It is evident that the current economic turndown continues to have a serious effect on the sales of TPE's. However, there are signs that the crisis is starting to bottom out and that the situation should begin to improve by the end of the second half of 2009. It is therefore essential to prepare for this turnaround by taking advantage of any recent technical developments in the TPE sector. The European market for TPEs has suffered a setback, along with all other industry sectors. This was not only due to the overall economic downturn, but also to the continuing shift to Asia, of a number of applications. All markets and all material groups were affected, without exception. A feast of plenty awaits processors of TPEs or those soon to try these materials. Demand for them in Europe sank from 2007 to 2008 but should leap upwards once the automotive and building and construction markets stabilize, as per a study by Patrick Ellis. Though the current economic turndown continues to have a serious effect on the sales of TPEs, but there are signs that the crisis is starting to bottom out and that the situation should begin to improve by the end of the second half of 2009. The new report expands on the previous one in that it now also includes information on high-performance TPEs, as well as an examination of existing and recently developed raw materials needed to produce TPEs. This is particularly true in the case of emerging metallocene/single-site catalyst materials, which are starting to come onto the market. The choice of these raw materials used will be discussed, particularly PP and EPDM. The European market for TPEs proved a victim not only of the economic downturn but also of the shift of manufacturing of a number of applications to Asia. The principle markets for TPEs are still automotive and building and construction (B&C), mainly due to the continued replacement of materials such as thermoset rubbers and PVC, Ellis says. These two end-use markets also were the principle markets hit by the recession. Estimates are that the European market for TPEs receded from just more than 620,000 tons in 2007 to 590,000 tons in 2008, and Ellis considers it unlikely to return to much more than 590,000 tons in 2012. Eastern European markets were generally less affected than those in the West and appear to show some signs of early recovery.
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