未来3年,全球热塑性弹性体（TPE）需求预计将以5.5%年均增速继续增长，2017年需求将达580万吨。
业内人士指出，生产商持续的产品创新，使TPE不断取代传统弹性体和热塑性塑料；全球范围内的汽车减重趋势，北美和西欧发达地区经济前景改善，以及新兴市场增长都在推动TPE需求增长。
2017年前，亚太地区将继续是TPE的最大市场，将占全球需求的近一半。从数量上看，中国是世界上最大的TPE消费国，其需求将继续强劲增长。相比于2007~2012年经济衰退期，北美和西欧的TPE需求将显著改善。世界其他地区，特别是非洲/中东地区TPE需求增速将显著高于世界平均增速。从应用行业来看，汽车占世界TPE市场的最大份额。受发达地区建筑支出反弹影响，未来3年，TPE增速最快的应用将出现在沥青和屋面市场。黏合剂/密封胶/涂料市场预计将有不错的增速。
Worldwide demandfor thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) is forecast to rise 5.5% pa in 2017, as perFreedonia. Advances will be driven by ongoing product innovation on the part ofTPE manufacturers, allowing these materials to further displace traditionalelastomers and thermoplastics in a variety of applications. In addition, TPEdemand will benefit from the ongoing push to reduce motor vehicle weight,particularly as automotive fuel economy standards worldwide become morestringent. Healthy growth will also be fueled by an improved economic outlookin developed regions such as North America and Western Europe, while gains inemerging markets will benefit from further adoption of TPEs over competingmaterials. The Asia Pacific region will continue to be the largest market forTPEs through 2017, rising at an above average pace to account for nearly halfof global demand in 2017. China, the world’s largest consumer of TPEs in volumeterms, will continue to see strong annual growth in demand. Regional gains willalso benefit from robust expansion in India and Southeast Asia, althoughcontinued sluggishness in the sizeable Japanese market will limit growth. TPEdemand in North America and Western Europe will exhibit substantial improvementcompared to the recession-plagued 2007-2012 period. Over the long term,however, these regions are expected to account for an increasingly smallershare of global TPE demand. Other world regions will enjoy above-average gainsin demand through 2017, particularly the Africa/Mideast region, where currentTPE consumption per capita is the lowest worldwide. Styrenic block copolymers(SBCs) will remain the leading TPE product type through 2017. However, SBCdemand will rise at a below average pace compared to TPEs overall, limited by ahigh degree of market saturation in many large volume applications. The fastestgrowth is expected for polyolefin elastomers (POEs), a relatively new TPEproduct class that is gaining rapid acceptance as a performance additive forplastics and packaging adhesives. Strong gains are also forecast forthermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs), which are penetrating new applications inmotor vehicle, consumer, and medical product markets. A resurgent motor vehicleindustry will spur demand for thermoplastic polyolefins (TPOs), althoughadvances will be restrained by maturity in applications such as automotivebumper fascia. Motor vehicles account for the largest portion of the world TPEmarket, with one-third of total demand in 2012. Gains will be fueled by animprovement in the TPE-intensity of automotive industries in North America andWestern Europe, as well as increased TPE usage in emerging markets. The mostrapid growth will be seen in the asphalt and roofing market, driven by arebound in developing world construction spending. The adhesive/sealant/coatings market will also see good growth, as TPEs continue to displaceother resins in adhesive formulations.
TheThermoplastic Elastomers market will be driven by ongoing product innovation onthe part of manufacturers, allowing TPEs to continue to displace traditionalelastomers and thermoplastics in a variety of applications. In major industriesthere has been a major shift from PVC to TPEs which is expected to drive themarket forward in the next 10 years. There is significant growth in the MedicalTPEs market expected in the next years because of the increase in demand fornon-latex alternative products. TPEs are often used for medical applicationsrequiring a PVC free or non-latex alternative. TPEs have an added advantage inthis field because they are cost effective as an alternative to silicone. Morematerials and uses are being found for TPEs which will continue to grow themarket rapidly in the next 10 years. For example there have been manydevelopments in the use of 'soft touch TPEs', which are found in car interiors,razors, telephones and pens. They are a very diverse material and theirproperties means they can be used in a number of products so end uses are numerous.This is why Visiongain forecasts the Thermoplastic Elastomers market is set togrow significantly in the next ten years - in 2013, the market will reach US$14.96 bln.
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