LONDON—The amount of polyurethane products made in the Americas grew 3.6 percent to 3.98 million tons in 2013 compared to 3.84 million tons in 2012, according to a new report from IAL Consultants.
Researchers predict a production record of 4.78 million tons by 2018 for the region, equivalent to an average growth of 3.7 percent per year.
The report, Polyurethane Chemicals and Products in the Americas (North America and South America), is the company's first investigation of North American markets and includes updates to its 2012 study of South American markets.
According to the report, flexible and rigid foam production is the dominant segment with shares of 36 percent and 30 percent respectively.
‘The polyurethane industry remains larger by far in North America, which is dominated by the USA, but expected growth rates are strongest in the developing South American market, at 4.7 percent over the forecast period,' states the report.
Compiled from interviews with industry drivers, it details both PU product production and raw material consumption figures for 2013 as well as market forecasts to 2018.
Alongside raw materials the report focuses on CASE applications, rigid foam, flexible foam, binders and end-use markets.