FSK 19: Europe set for PU Growth to 2021

Reutlingen, Germany – The European polyurethane market is set to expand to 2021, but some countries will grow, and others could shrink, Angela Austin of Labyrinth Research & Markets told delegates to the meeting here.

'The outlook for Europe,'is 1.9% compound annual growth from 5.45 MT in 2017.'

But she warned that the size of 'Germany may fall because of imports of foam from Poland and other countries. Poland could take market share in Asia too,' she said. Poland is seen in Asia as producing European quality foams at a competitive price. 

Taking Europe as a whole, 'There is overcapacity in the flexible slabstock production, and there could be consolidation in the next few years, she said.

Austin estimated that the volume of polyurethane materials produced world-wide in 2018 was around 24.6 MT and it will rise to around 27.8 MT/year by 2021. She explained that the numbers may appear higher than the sum of polyol and diisocyanate production, but this is because they include the weight of fillers and other additives used in market such as CASE, shoe soles and spandex fibres.

She predicted growth of 4.2% compound in the period which is 'in line with typical PU industry growth, GDP plus 1% or 2%,' she said.