Detailed look at developing markets

By David Reed, UT EditorLondon-Market growth in polyurethanes in eastern Europe, at more than 6 percent per annum, will outpace that in the rest of Europe where growth will average just 2.2 percent a year over the coming few years, a recent report from IAL Consultants says. Further east, the polyurethanes business in India is set to double in size from its present 130 ktpa in the next five years, speakers at the recent PU TECH meeting there said, while the People's Republic of China - spurred by major additions of raw material capacity in the first half of 2006 - will see growth only just under 10 percent per annum, reaching 4 million tonnes before the end of this decade, making it the second largest market in the world.All of these developments, and more, will come under scrutiny during the Plenary Session of the three-day UTECH Europe 2006 conference, running on the opening morning of 28 March 2006 at the Maastricht Exhibition and Conference Centre, the Netherlands. This session, Developing markets: The opportunites and possible pitfalls, will give delegates a chance to understand where the main growth in the polyurethanes business is expected to happen, geographically.The session will open with a wide-ranging survey of the gloabl polyurethanes buysiness, presented by Angela Austin of IAL Consultants Ltd of London (pictured) and focused on the most rapidly growing markets. Other presentations in the session, by Martin Casey, vice president of strategy with Huntsman Polyurethanes, Zoltán Demjen, managing director of Elastogran Kemipur Ltd in Hungary, and KA Shah, whole-time director with Narmada Chematur, India's sole maker of TDI (toluene diisocyanate), will provide in-depth analysis of the prospects and potential difficulties in each of these key growth markets.These various speakers will aim to set the scene for possible inward investment/external sourcing by firms active in the polyurethanes sector, highlighting the prospects and difficulties these areas might face in the short to medium term. Delegates attending this session should come away with a clear idea of where the opportunities lie, and how to avoid any of the potential pitfalls.Companies and individuals active in the polyurethanes sector will find this an ideal opportunity to hear of the latest opportunities in the world's fastest-growing markets.The UTECH Europe 2006 conference will also include a half-day session on environmental, health and safety matters, organised by ISOPA (the European Isocyanate and Polyol Producers Association), and eight sessions with more than 50 technical presentations on all key sectors of the business.For further details, including the full conference programme and on-line registration, please visit www.utech-2006.com, or Email: [email protected] SESSION, 28 March 10:00-13:00Global Overview of the Polyurethanes Industry: Prospects and Possibilities, Angela Austin, IAL Consultants Ltd, LondonEastern Europe: Opportunities and Challenges for Polyurethanes, Zoltan Demjen, BASF Kemipur Ltd, HungaryIndia: The Elephant Begins to Rise, KA Shah, Narmada Chematur Petrochemicals Ltd, IndiaThe People's Republic of China: Will the Boom Continue? Martin Casey, Huntsman Polyurethanes, Belgium"