CLEVELAND (Jan. 17, 2008) — Demand for thermoplastic elastomers is predicted to grow 6.3 percent per year globally to 3.7 million tons through 2011, according to a recent report from Freedonia Group.
Part of that growth will come from China, the report said, which will expand its share of the world TPE supply from 30 percent to 33 percent, including an expansion in the production of footwear, motor vehicles, housewares, appliances, sporting goods, hand and power tools, and industrial machinery.
The U.S. will remain the leader in manufacturing some products, such as olefin-based TPEs, the report said.
According to the report, TPEs will continue to primarily be used for replacing natural and synthetic rubber, rigid thermoplastics and metals, with sales remaining strong in the U.S., Western Europe and Japan. Developing nations will see the most potential for growth, however, the report predicts.