- 8 October 2008 -
Modest growth for US engineering resins

According to a new technical market research report, Engineering Resins, Polymer Alloys and Blends from BCC Research, the North American market for engineering resins and polymer alloys/blends reached 1.5 billion kg (3.3 billion pounds) in 2007. This is expected to increase to 1.54 billion kg (3.4 billion pounds) in 2008 and reach more than 1.77 billion kg (3.9 billion pounds) in 2013, for a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1 per cent.

The market is broken down into polycarbonates, nylons, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyacetals, polycarbonate acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene alloy/blends (PC/ABS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyphenylene oxide high-impact polystyrene (PPO/HIPS) and others. Of these, polycarbonates have the largest share of the market, with 402 million kg (887 million pounds) in 2007. This is expected to increase to 414 million kg (912 million pounds) in 2008 and 500 million kg (1.1 billion pounds) in 2013, a CAGR of 3.1 per cent. BCC Research adds that the second largest segment is nylons, with 363 million kg (801 million pounds) used in 2007 and an estimated 374 million kg (825 million pounds) in 2008. This should increase to 433 million kg (954 million pounds) in 2013 for a CAGR of 3.0 per cent. PBT is the third largest material by volume, with 186 million kg (410 million pounds) used in 2007. This is expected to increase to 192 million kg (423 million pounds) in 2008 and nearly 227 million kg (500 million pounds) in 2013, a CAGR of 3.2 per cent.

BCC Research; www.bccresearch.com