GVR Report cover Brazil Rigid Polyurethane Foam Market Report

Brazil Rigid Polyurethane Foam Market Analysis Report By Application (Construction, Appliances, Automotive), By Product (Slabstock Polyether, Slabstock Polyester), And Segment Forecasts, 2018 - 2025

  • Report ID: GVR-2-68038-617-2
  • Number of Pages: 54
  • Format: Electronic (PDF)

Industry Insights

The Brazil rigid polyurethane (PU) foam market size was valued at USD 239.2 million in 2017. It is characterized by high demand from end-use industries such as building and construction, automotive, and appliances. In recent years, the country registered a shift towards bio-based alternatives in an attempt to curb environmental deterioration. This trend is led by the government as well as regulatory authorities such as IBAMA and MMA to drive performance-based product formulations in the country to build a sustainable business model.

Volatility in crude oil prices may reflect turbulence in raw material prices as well as availability in the country. This may further impact the production process flow and the cost of rigid PU foam in the market. Entry of new manufacturers in the country is anticipated to be limited during the forecast period due to the high level of competition among existing multinational companies as well as unexpected monetary turbulence due to fluctuations in crude oil availability.

Brazil rigid PU foam market

Brazil received huge investments in the past couple of years by key companies, such as BASF SE, Bayer, the Dow Chemical Company, and Huntsman Corporation to meet future demands of the product arising from the flourishing construction and appliances industries.PU molded parts are increasingly being used in the country for aircraft design and in automobiles to reduce weight and significantly minimize CO2 emissions.

Rigid polyurethane (PU) foam is formulated with ingredients, including isocyanates, catalysts, polyols, blowing agents, and surfactants among others. These raw materials are physically tested and performance is measured by flame retardants and flammability. Their applications and processing technologies include flotations, pour-in-place, continuous and discontinuous panels, and spray and bun-stock.

The majority of manufacturers in the country have tied-up up long-term relationships with their suppliers, which include companies such as Chemline, Univar, and Huntsman Quimica Brazil Ltda. They depend on these suppliers due to their ability to explore new market opportunities, strategize product positioning, and more. Some of the well-known products in the country are Reactint - D by Univar, Elastocool and Lupragen N107 by BASF Corporation, and Acoustiflex by Huntsman Corporation.

Product Insights

Slabstock polyether is a high portion of polyether polyols in combination with TDI. Concentrations of Standard Polyether slabstock foams contrast under 10 kg/m³ for textile and quilt applications to above 100 kg/m³ for special applications such as shoe insoles. With the use of correct additives, flawless slabstock product is enabled in uninterrupted machine manufacturing.

They are used for cushioning purposes across a variety of commercial and consumer goods, which includes furniture, bedding, automotive interiors, packaging, and carpet underlay. Slabstock polyether is the fastest-growing segment in terms of revenue during the forecast period due to a significant increase in its demand from end-use applications such as the bedding, furniture, and automotive industries.

Cooling and heating costs amount to 50-70% of the energy used in the average Brazilian home, as per the U.S. Department of Energy. To maintain a uniform temperature, reduce costs, and lower noise levels in homes and commercial properties, builders turn to rigid PU foam, which acts as one of the most effective insulations, air barrier sealants, and insulated windows and doors. Slabstock polyester is broadly used in this application scope due to its resistance to moisture, ability to reduce energy transfer and maintain dimensional stability. The segment is estimated to account for a sizeable share in the Brazilian rigid PU foam market during the same period.

Molded foam parts are manufactured either through direct injection expanded molding or injection molded foam. It is a formulating procedure that produces soft products directly from the compound into the finished product. This method eradicates steps essential for compression molding and die-cutting, as it produces foam and product at the same time. These parts give more support than typical slab counterparts, have longer durability and better appearance than the finished upholstered pieces, and are cost-effective.

Application Insights

Polyurethanes are essential components in most of the major appliances that consumers use on a daily basis. One of the common applications of PU is rigid foams for freezer and refrigerators thermal insulation systems. This is a cost-effective and essential material that is used for meeting energy ratings in consumer freezers and refrigerators. Properties of thermal insulation of these result from a mixture of cell gases and a fine, closed-cell structure that resist heat transfer. At present time, households demand high-performance materials that are lightweight; strong, easily installable; reliable, versatile, and long-lasting. PU helps preserve the environment and protect natural resources by reducing the usage of energy.

Brazil rigid PU foam market share

With insulation properties, excellent strength-to-weight ratio, versatility, and durability, PU is broadly used in building & construction applications. Its applications in the building & construction industry comprise PU sandwich elements - PU insulation materials for passive and low energy buildings, vacuum insulation panels (VIP) with a PU core, and a wide range of pipe insulation materials. PU foam injection systems for thermal insulation in roofs also play a significant role in the building & construction industry. The segment is expected to dominate the market throughout the forecast horizon.

Brazil Rigid PU Foam Market Share Insights

Companies such as BASF have handed over their small and medium-scale customer base to reputed third-party distributors to enhance their brand and product visibility as well as accessibility. These local distributors have product assortment spaces and multiple warehouses to cater to a broader range of customers in lesser time.

Conversely, companies such as Huntsman Corporation use mass distribution strategies to capture a broader market share. The concept behind mass distribution is only focused on rigid PU foam-based products that require less technical assistance in line with their application scopes, which also simultaneously aids the company in reducing overall distribution costs across the country.

Major multinational companies such as Dow Company, Huntsman Corporation, and BASF are in-lining their production to recent trends. As a result, they are eliminating multiple elements for their sustainability and toxicity concerns such as chlorinated fluorocarbon blowing agents. TDI is also increasingly being replaced with less volatile polymer isocyanates in order to reduce hazards associated with TDI usage and exposure.

LEED has been constantly working with green building projects in Brazil, with over 120 already certified by 2013. Green building projects in Brazil are diversified across residential housing projects, commercial spaces, museums, warehouse and logistics centers, schools, hospitals, and restaurant chains. Construction projects shrunk to a slight extent in the duration of 2011 to 2015, thereafter gaining momentum and the trend is likely to stay the same till 2020.

Report Scope

Attribute

Details

Base year for estimation

2017

Actual estimates/Historical data

2014 - 2016

Forecast period

2018 - 2025

Market representation

Volume in Kilo Tons, Revenue in USD Million & CAGR from 2018 to 2025

Report coverage

Revenue forecast, company share, competitive landscape, growth factors and trends

Country Scope

Brazil

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Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at a country level and provides an analysis of the industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2014 to 2025. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the Brazil rigid PU foam market report on the basis of product and application:

  • Product Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

    • Slabstock Polyether

    • Slabstock Polyester

    • Molded Foam Parts

    • Others

  • Application Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

    • Appliances

      • Refrigerator

      • Others

    • Building & Construction

      • Sandwich Panels

      • Insulating Boards

      • Spray Foam

      • Others

    • Automotive

    • Others (Marine, Oil & Gas, Rail)

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