World demand for thermoplastic elastomers to reach 6.7 million metric tons in 2019

摘要

Global demand for thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) is forecast to rise 5.2 percent per year to 6.7 million metric tons in 2019, valued at more than US$24 billion, according to World Thermoplastic Elastomers, a study from The Freedonia Group, Inc. Advances will be driven by ongoing product innovation on the part of TPE manufacturers, which will allow these materials to continue to displace traditional elastomers and thermoplastics in a variety of applications. Additionally, TPE demand will benefit from the ongoing push to reduce motor vehicle weight, particularly as fuel economy standards around the world become more stringent. Growth will also be boosted by an improved economic outlook in North America and Western Europe, while advances in developing countries will benefit from increased adoption of TPEs over competing materials. Limiting further gains, however, will be a high degree of maturity in slower growing markets such as footwear and motor vehicle bumpers.