Flexible foams and elastomers are the fastest growing sectors

Flexible foams and elastomers are the fastest growing sectors

Flexible foams and elastomers are the fastest growing sectors for polyurethane in India, with annual growth rates of 13.3% and 8.5% respectively, according to IAL Consultants.

The major applications for all PU products in both India and Pakistan are furniture and bedding (with a combined 33% market share), refrigeration (17%) and automotive (13%).

IAL said the demand for flexible foam would be larger except for the strong competition from cheap domestically produced materials such as cotton and coir. Total Indian PU production in 2003 was 108,730 tonnes and IAL forecasts this to rise by 55% to 168,901 tonnes by 2008. In Pakistan production was 23,040 tonnes in 2003 and is forecast to rise to 27,365 tonnes in 2008.