GVR Report cover Europe Polyurethane Market Size, Share & Trends Report

Europe Polyurethane Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product, By End-use, By Region (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Russia, The Netherlands, Rest Of Europe), And Segment Forecasts, 2016 - 2024

  • Report ID: 978-1-68038-922-7
  • Number of Pages: 203
  • Format: Electronic (PDF)

Industry Insights

The Europe polyurethane market was valued at USD 15.42 billion in 2015. Stringent regulations pertaining to energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction in the region is anticipated to be the major driving factor over the forecast period.

The industry in Europe expected to be driven by growing investment in construction across the U.K., Germany, Poland, and Sweden. Total construction spending in the European Union amounted to EUR 1.37 trillion in 2014, a 7% increase as compared to the spending in 2013.

Germany polyurethane (PU) market

Since 2012, Germany, France, and the UK have been the three largest construction markets in Europe. These countries represent 54% of the total construction investment recorded in 2014. Polyurethane (PU) discovery dates back to over eight decades by Otto Bayer and his co-workers at the I.G. Farben laboratory in Germany.

They form a group of plastics that can be either thermosetting or thermoplastic and can be tailored to become either rigid or flexible forms. Therefore, making it a material of choice for numerous end-use industries such as building insulation, refrigerators & freezers, furniture & bedding, automotive components, and coatings & adhesives.

As per ISOPA, the European Diisocyanate & Polyol Producers Association, buildings currently waste a large amount of the energy being provided to them resulting in heating up of the earth instead of homes. Polyurethane contributes majorly towards resources as well as energy conservation in buildings owing to its superior insulation properties. Durability and abrasion resistance are its inherent characteristics providing long life to the products.

Eastern European countries such as Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia are anticipated to witness significant growth regarding construction spending which in turn is expected to drive rigid polyurethane foam demand. Recovery of the automobile sector in countries such as Germany, Italy, Spain, and France is another factor expected to complement demand.

Polyurethane consumption is expected to be driven by its versatility as a product in new applications and its uses and characteristics such as sustainability and lightweight coupled with the growth of major end-use industries such as automotive components and construction, particularly in the UK.

Rigid foams were the leading products, with rigid foam witnessing the highest demand in Europe. Segment demand was estimated at 1,563.1 kilo tons in 2015 and is expected to reach 2,331.6 kilotons by 2025, growing at an estimated CAGR of 4.1% from 2016 to 2025. Rising sustainability concerns and increasing regulatory pressure to lower carbon emissions has led to the development of sustainable PU rigid foam. Flexible foam demand was estimated at 1,768.1 kilo tons in 2015, which is expected to reach 2,596.6 kilotons by 2025, growing at the highest CAGR of 3.9% over the forecast period.

We have estimated Europe polyurethane (PU) market by segmenting it into three levels including product, end-use, and region. On the basis of product, the market has been segmented into rigid foam, flexible foam, coatings, adhesives & sealants, elastomers, and membrane materials, laminates, fibers, and composites. On the basis of end-use, the market has been segmented into furniture & bedding, construction, electronics & appliances, automotive & transportation components, footwear, packaging, and textiles & apparel among others. On the regional level, country-level analysis is provided for Germany. The U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Russia, and the Netherlands.

Product Insights

Flexible PU foam accounted for over one-third of the overall volume in 2016. Flexible foam is a widely used material because it provides a unique combination of form and function. Foam can easily be cut or molded to almost any shape. It is expected to gain market share and accounts for 35.0% by 2024.

Rigid polyurethane foams accounted for 30.6% of the total market volume in 2016 and are expected to gain market share over the forecast period. Rigid polyurethane foam is one of the most efficient, high-performance insulation material, enabling effective energy savings with minimal occupation of space.

In addition to the low thermal conductivity, rigid polyurethane foam is stable and durable. Increasing regulatory intervention regarding insulation in buildings along with wide application scope in the refrigeration industry is anticipated to drive industry growth over the next seven years.

End-Use Insights

Construction emerged as the leading end-use segment in 2015 accounting for over 35.0% of the overall volume. Stringent regulations about inculcating energy-efficient parts in the buildings are expected to drive the construction industry in the region.

The 2020 Action Plan undertaken by the European Union to curtail its GHG emission levels is anticipated to drive construction further in the region. Superior insulating properties make PU foams ideal for roofs and walls in new houses. Foams used in houses help to maintain uniform temperature and reducing noise levels. This property helps in a lot of energy consumption and saves money in extreme temperature regions.

Europe Polyurethane (PU) market

The European furniture industry promises considerable growth over the forecast period owing to its creative capacity for new designs and responsiveness to increasing demand. Two out of every three furniture products sold across the globe are manufactured in Europe. Increasing migration in the region towards Nordic countries is has prompted the need for furniture. Such a trend is expected to positively impact PU demand over the forecast period.

Regional Insights

Germany was the second-largest market with over 17.0% share in 2015, which is anticipated to lose some share to other emerging nations in the region. Russia is anticipated to emerge as the fastest-growing region with a CAGR of 4.5% over the forecast period. The region is expected to take advantage of low crude oil prices and a recovery in its economic growth in recent years. The government has also introduced schemes to improve existing infrastructure and networking to improve trade.

Italy offers a well-established economic and social climate in which to invest. Italy is considered to be a strong economy and as a member of the G8 industrialized nations. Despite a relatively stagnant economy in recent years, the region is finally witnessing growth with the plunge in oil prices, which is bringing some relief to impoverished Italian households. The government has also set up an ambitious reform agenda for tackling structural deficits within the economy, which is expected to boost investments.

Europe Polyurethane Market Share Insights

The presence of a large number of manufacturers, as well as distributors in Europe, makes it a highly competitive market with innovation as the key to sustainability. Key companies operating in the market include Covestro, Huntsman Corporation, British Vita Limited, BASF, DuPont, and The Dow Chemical Company. Some of the independent distributors include Ellsworth Adhesives, Stepan Co., IMCD, and Archway Sales, Inc.

Report Scope

Report Attribute

Details

Base year for estimation

2015

Actual estimates/Historical data

2010 - 2014

Forecast period

2016 - 2024

Market representation

Volume in kilotons, revenue in USD million, and CAGR from 2016 to 2024

Report coverage

Revenue forecast, competitive landscape, growth factors and trends

Country Scope

Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Russia, The Netherlands, and Rest of Europe

15% free customization scope (equivalent to 5 analyst working days)

If you need specific information, which is not currently within the scope of the report, we will provide it to you as a part of customization

 

gvr icn

GET A FREE SAMPLE

gvr icn

This FREE sample includes data points, ranging from trend analyses to estimates and forecasts. See for yourself.

gvr icn

NEED A CUSTOM REPORT?

We can customize every report - free of charge - including purchasing stand-alone sections or country-level reports, as well as offer affordable discounts for start-ups & universities. Contact us now

Certified Icon

We are GDPR and CCPA compliant! Your transaction & personal information is safe and secure. For more details, please read our privacy policy.