18 October 2006 – US research group Freedonia is expecting a “marked improvement” in US demand for engineering plastics.
It forecasts 3.5% growth over the five years to 2010, when demand should reach 5.44 billion pounds (2.47 million tonnes). This compares with demand growth of only 0.8% between 2000 and 2005.
Freedonia said: “The turnaround will be driven by a resurgent electrical and electronics market, the largest outlet for engineering resins, and by increasing per vehicle usage in the large motor vehicle market.”
Polycarbonate will increase at a 4.2% annual rate, from 1.13 billion pounds in 2005 to 1.39 billion pounds in 2010. This will be fuelled by solid gains in business machines, medical products and skylight and glazing applications.
ABS and polyacetal will experience slower growth, said Freedonia, but small volume engineering plastics will see faster rates. The latter include polyphenylene sulphide, polyimides and polysulfones.
