(1888PressRelease)
May 19, 2007 - Feedstock supply is tight. In 2005, the share of the imports of polyesters was 51.3%, while the isocyanates import share topped 100%.
In 2006, the global annual demand for isocyanates grew by 7% driven mainly by the agitation on the European construction market and by additional demand demonstrated by Asia, Middle East, and Africa. The situation was also brightened by the new regulatory standards in construction.
Currently, global isocyanates market grows by 5% a year, stimulated primarily by the polyurethane output expansion.
Isocyanates are the raw materials from which all polyurethane products are made. Isocyanates are widely used in the manufacture of flexible/rigid foams, fibres, coatings (paints and varnishes), and elastomers.
Diisocyanates are increasingly used in the automobile industry, auto body repair and building insulation materials.
The most industrially significant diisocyantes are toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and methylene bisphenyl isocyanate (MDI).
The average annual demand for TDI shows the following growth rates by 2009: 7.5% in North-East Asia, 7.0% in South-East Asia, 5.1% in North America and 2.9% in Europe.
The manufacture of flexible and rigid polyurethane foams represents the major diisocyanate-consuming sector. Thus, about 90% of produced TDI is used for the manufacture of flexible polyurethane foams, while 85% of produced MDI is consumed to make rigid polyurethane foams.
This market research report also features the following information:
Global isocyanate market situation;
Isocyanate production technologies;
Main consumers of isocyanates in Russia and other CIS countries;
etc.
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