Abstract
Material substitution to remain key driver of US demand through 2013
Reinforced plastics demand is projected to increase 2.8 percent annually to
3.6 billion pounds in 2013. Material substitution will remain the driving
force behind advances. Higher performance requirements, combined with resin,
reinforcement and processing improvements, will broaden applications and
enhance competitiveness with steel and aluminum. Price increases for
reinforced plastics are expected to moderate following the significant price
spikes experienced between 2004 and 2006, which resulted from escalating
petroleum and natural gas prices.
Reinforced thermoplastics to outpace thermosets
Thermoset resins, primarily unsaturated polyester, will continue to account
for nearly 60 percent of all reinforced plastics demand in 2013. Slightly
faster growth, however, is anticipated for thermoplastics due to their better
aesthetics and easier processing. Glass fibers, due to their low cost and good
performance, will continue to be the dominant reinforcement material in 2013,
but carbon fiber demand is expected to increase nearly ten percent annually
through 2013. Nanomaterials are also expected to emerge commercially,
presenting excellent opportunities.
US demand for reinforced thermosets is projected to expand 2.8 percent yearly
to 2.1 billion pounds in 2013 driven by their low cost and performance
attributes such as strength and corrosion resistance. Product innovations and
improved sheet molding compounds will also spur growth. Niche opportunities
are expected in areas such as wind turbine blades and pedestrian and vehicular
bridge decking. Unsaturated polyester will remain the leading resin,
accounting for 88 percent of all thermosets in 2013. Opportunities for
reinforced epoxy are anticipated in military and commercial aircraft and
aerospace applications, as well as windmill blades.
Reinforced thermoplastics demand is forecast to grow 2.9 percent annually to
1.5 billion pounds in 2013 due to their competitive cost, high performance
capabilities, processing advantages and better design capabilities.
Polypropylene will remain the leading thermoplastic and present above average
growth based on its low cost, stiffness and dimensional stability,
particularly in motor vehicle uses. Good growth is also expected for nylon and
thermoplastic polyester, mainly in motor vehicle applications.
Motor vehicle applications to exhibit fastest growth
Construction and motor vehicles will together account for 60 percent of total
reinforced plastics demand in 2013. Motor vehicle applications will exhibit
the fastest growth, driven by rebounding motor vehicle production levels.
Construction uses will be stimulated by the low cost, durability and corrosion
resistance of reinforced thermoset polyester in products such as tanks, pipe
and bathroom components. The producer durable equipment market will be
stimulated by heightened demand for business equipment and other electrical
and electronic products due to rapid technology changes.
Study coverage
Reinforced Plastics, a new Freedonia industry study, presents historical
demand data (1998, 2003 and 2008) as well as forecasts for 2013 and 2018 by
resin (e.g., unsaturated polyester, polyester, polypropylene, epoxy, nylon),
reinforcing material and market (e.g., producer durable equipment, motor
vehicles, construction, marine). In addition, the study considers key market
environment factors, evaluates company market shares and profiles 45 industry
participants.
Freedonia' s methods involve:
- Establishing consistent economic and market forecasts
- Using input/output ratios, flow charts and other economic methods to
quantify data
- Employing in-house analysts who meet stringent quality standards
- Interviewing key industry participants, experts and end users
- Researching a proprietary database that includes trade publications,
government reports and corporate literature
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
II. MARKET ENVIRONMENT
- General
- Macroeconomic Outlook
- Demographic Trends
- Consumer Income & Spending
- Motor Vehicle Outlook
- Construction Outlook
- Building Construction
- Residential Construction
- Residential Improvements & Repairs
- Housing Completions
- Nonresidential Building Construction
- Nonbuilding Construction
- Manufacturing Outlook
- Recreational Boating Outlook
- Plastic Resin Outlook
- Competitive Materials
- Processing Methods
- Pricing Trends
- Regulatory Factors
- Recycling
- International Activity
III. REINFORCEMENTS
- General
- Glass Fibers
- Carbon Fiber & Other Reinforcements
- Carbon Fibers
- Aramid Fibers
- Nanomaterials
- Nanoscale Clays
- Nanoscale Minerals
- Nanotubes
- Other
IV. RESINS
- General
- Reinforced Thermosets
- Polyester
- Markets
- Thermoset Polyester Capacity
- Epoxy
- Other Thermosets
- Reinforced Thermoplastics
- Polypropylene
- Thermoplastic Polyester
- Nylon
- Styrenics
- Polycarbonate
- Other Thermoplastics
V. MARKETS
- General
- Construction
- Resins
- Applications
- Bathroom Accessories & Components
- Pipe & Fittings
- Pipe Outlook
- Reinforced Pipe
- General Construction
- Panels
- Tanks & Other
- Motor Vehicles
- Resins
- Thermosets
- Thermoplastics
- Producers
- Motor Vehicle Types
- Producer Durable Equipment
- Resins
- Applications
- Electrical Equipment
- Electronic Laminates
- Wind Turbines
- Other
- Business Equipment
- Other Producer Durable Equipment
- Marine
- Consumer Durables
- Resins
- Applications
- Appliances
- Other Consumer Durables
- Other Markets
- Resins
- Applications
- Aircraft & Aerospace
- All Other Markets
VI. INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
- General
- Industry Composition
- Market Share
- AOC
- Ashland Chemical
- Reichhold
- Interplastic
- Hexion Specialty Chemicals
- Cook Composites and Polymers
- Other Firms
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Marketing Strategies
- Channels of Distribution
- Research & Development
- Competitive Strategies
- Cooperative Agreements
COMPANY PROFILES
- Aclo Compounders Incorporated, see Citadel Plastics Holdings Incorporated
- AGY Holding Corporation
- Ameron International Corporation
- AOC LLC
- Ashland Incorporated
- AZDEL Incorporated, see Hanwha Group
- BASF SE
- Bayer AG
- Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated
- Bulk Molding Compounds Incorporated, see Citadel Plastics Holdings
- Celanese Corporation
- Citadel Plastics Holdings Incorporated
- Composites One LLC, see PolyOne & Total SA
- Core Molding Technologies Incorporated
- Crane Company
- Denali Incorporated
- Dow Chemical Company
- DuPont (EI) de Nemours
- Evonik Industries AG
- Ferro Corporation
- Fiber Glass Systems LP, see National Oilwell Varco
- Fiberex Glass Corporation
- Fulcrum Composites Incorporated
- Hanwha Group
- Hexcel Corporation
- Hexion Specialty Chemicals Incorporated
- Hobas AG
- Honeywell International Incorporated
- Interplastic Corporation
- LANXESS AG
- LM Glasfiber Holding A/S
- LyondellBasell Industries AF SCA
- Matrixx Group Incorporated, see Citadel Plastics
- Meridian Automotive Systems Incorporated
- National Oilwell Varco Incorporated
- Owens Corning
- PolyOne Corporation
- PPG Industries Incorporated
- Premix Incorporated
- Reichhold Incorporated
- Rogers Corporation
- Royal DSM NV
- RTP Company
- Saint-Gobain
- Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
- Schulman (A.) Incorporated
- Strongwell Corporation
- Teijin Limited
- Ticona, see Celanese Corporation
- Total SA
- Valspar Corporation
LIST OF TABLES
SECTION I -- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
SECTION II -- MARKET ENVIRONMENT
- Macroeconomic Indicators
- Population & Households
- Personal Consumption Expenditures
- Motor Vehicle Production & Sales
- Construction Expenditures
- Building Construction Expenditures
- Residential Building Construction Expenditures
- Residential Improvement & Repair Expenditures
- Private Housing Completions
- Nonresidential Building Construction Expenditures
- Nonbuilding Construction Expenditures
- Manufacturers' Shipments
- Recreational Boat Shipments
- Plastic Resin Supply & Demand
- Reinforced Plastics Resin Pricing
SECTION III -- REINFORCEMENTS
- Reinforcement Materials Demand
- Glass Fiber Reinforcement Demand
- Carbon Fiber & Other Reinforcements Demand by Type
SECTION IV -- RESINS
- Reinforced Plastics Demand by Type
- Reinforced Thermosets Demand by Resin
- Reinforced Thermoset Polyester Demand by Market
- Thermoset Polyester Capacity by Producer, 2008
- Reinforced Epoxy Demand by Market
- Other Reinforced Thermosets Demand by Market
- Reinforced Thermoplastics Demand by Resin
- Reinforced Polypropylene Demand by Market
- Reinforced Thermoplastic Polyester Demand by Market
- Reinforced Nylon Demand by Market
- Reinforced Styrenics Demand by Market
- Reinforced Polycarbonate Demand by Market
- Other Reinforced Thermoplastics Demand by Market
SECTION V -- MARKETS
- Reinforced Plastics Demand by Market
- Construction Market for Reinforced Plastics by Resin
- Construction Market for Reinforced Plastics by Application
- Bathroom Accessories & Components: Reinforced Plastics Demand
- Pipe Demand
- Pipe & Fittings: Reinforced Plastics Demand
- General Construction Products: Reinforced Plastics Demand
- Panels: Reinforced Plastics Demand
- Tanks & Other Construction Products: Reinforced Plastics Demand
- Motor Vehicle Market for Reinforced Plastics by Resin
- Motor Vehicle Market for Reinforced Plastics by Vehicle Type
- Producer Durable Equipment Market for Reinforced Plastics by Resin
- Producer Durable Equipment Market for Reinforced Plastics by Application
- Electrical Equipment: Reinforced Plastics Demand
- Business Equipment: Reinforced Plastics Demand
- Other Producer Durable Equipment: Reinforced Plastics Demand
- Marine Market: Reinforced Plastics Demand
- Consumer Durables Market for Reinforced Plastics by Resin
- Consumer Durables Market for Reinforced Plastics by Application
- Appliances: Reinforced Plastics Demand
- Other Consumer Durables: Reinforced Plastics Demand
- Other Markets for Reinforced Plastics by Resin
- Other Markets for Reinforced Plastics by Application
SECTION VI -- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
- US Reinforced Plastics Industry: Selected
- Participating Companies, 2008
- Selected Acquisitions & Divestitures
- Selected Cooperative Agreements
LIST OF CHARTS
SECTION III -- REINFORCEMENTS
- Carbon Fiber & Other Reinforcements Demand by Type, 2008
SECTION IV -- RESINS
- Reinforced Thermoset Polyester Demand by Market, 2008
- Reinforced Thermoplastics Demand by Resin, 2008
- Reinforced Thermoplastic Polyester Demand By Market, 2008
- Reinforced Polycarbonate Demand by Market, 2008
SECTION V -- MARKETS
- Reinforced Plastics Demand by Market, 2008
- Construction Market for Reinforced Plastics by Application, 2008
- Motor Vehicle Market for Reinforced Plastics by Resin, 2008
- Producer Durable Equipment Market for Reinforced Plastics by Resin, 2008
- Producer Durable Equipment Market for Reinforced Plastics by Application,
2008
- Consumer Durables Market for Reinforced Plastics by Resin, 2008
SECTION VI-- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
- Reinforced Plastics Industry Flowchart
- US Thermoset Polyester Capacity, 2008
