Fastest-growing materials expected to exceed 15% a year

Fastest-growing materials expected to exceed 15% a year

Consumption of high temperature plastics will continue to expand at GDP-busting rates. The fastest-growing materials are expected to grow at rates above 15%, according to the latest market analysis. Jonathan Duff, sales and marketing manager at Kline Europe, told delegates at today’s High Temperature Plastics conference in Brussels that HTP consumption grew by at least 7.5% during the recession of 2001 to 2003.

He said materials would grow at different rates: while polymers such as PAI and PTFE are likely to see 5% annual grow, liquid crystal polymers might expand by as much as 15%. Duff estimated the global consumption of HTPs in 2002 to be 255,000 tonnes or $4.5bn (E3.7bn). Nearly half of global HTP consumption is in the US; Europe accounts for 21%.