Reinforced Plastics

US industry forecasts to 2013 & 2018

Publication Date	May 2009
Publisher	Freedonia Group
Product Type	Report
Pages	260
ISBN Number	not applicable
Product Code	FED00188

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Summary

Material substitution to remain key driver of US demand through 2013
Reinforced plastics demand is projected to increase 2.8 percent annually to 3.6 billion pounds in 2013. Material substitution will remain the driving force behind advances. Higher performance requirements, combined with resin, reinforcement and processing improvements, will broaden applications and enhance competitiveness with steel and aluminum. Price increases for reinforced plastics are expected to moderate following the significant price spikes experienced between 2004 and 2006, which resulted from escalating petroleum and natural gas prices.

Reinforced thermoplastics to outpace thermosets
Thermoset resins, primarily unsaturated polyester, will continue to account for nearly 60 percent of all reinforced plastics demand in 2013. Slightly faster growth, however, is anticipated for thermoplastics due to their better aesthetics and easier processing. Glass fibers, due to their low cost and good performance, will continue to be the dominant reinforcement material in 2013, but carbon fiber demand is expected to increase nearly ten percent annually through 2013. Nanomaterials are also expected to emerge commercially, presenting excellent opportunities.

US demand for reinforced thermosets is projected to expand 2.8 percent yearly to 2.1 billion pounds in 2013 driven by their low cost and performance attributes such as strength and corrosion resistance. Product innovations and improved sheet molding compounds will also spur growth. Niche opportunities are expected in areas such as wind turbine blades and pedestrian and vehicular bridge decking. Unsaturated polyester will remain the leading resin, accounting for 88 percent of all thermosets in 2013. Opportunities for reinforced epoxy are anticipated in military and commercial aircraft and aerospace applications, as well as windmill blades.

Reinforced thermoplastics demand is forecast to grow 2.9 percent annually to 1.5 billion pounds in 2013 due to their competitive cost, high performance capabilities, processing advantages and better design capabilities. Polypropylene will remain the leading thermoplastic and present above average growth based on its low cost, stiffness and dimensional stability, particularly in motor vehicle uses. Good growth is also expected for nylon and thermoplastic polyester, mainly in motor vehicle applications.

Motor vehicle applications to exhibit fastest growth
Construction and motor vehicles will together account for 60 percent of total reinforced plastics demand in 2013.
Motor vehicle applications will exhibit the fastest growth, driven by rebounding motor vehicle production levels. Construction uses will be stimulated by the low cost, durability and corrosion resistance of reinforced thermoset polyester in products such as tanks, pipe and bathroom components. The producer durable equipment market will be stimulated by heightened demand for business equipment and other electrical and electronic products due to rapid technology changes.

Content

INTRODUCTION

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

II. MARKET ENVIRONMENT
          General
        Macroeconomic Outlook
        Demographic Trends
        Consumer Income & Spending
        Motor Vehicle Outlook
        Construction Outlook
          Building Construction
          Residential Construction
           Residential Improvements & Repairs
           Housing Completions
           Nonresidential Building Construction
          Nonbuilding Construction
        Manufacturing Outlook
        Recreational Boating Outlook
        Plastic Resin Outlook
        Competitive Materials
        Processing Methods
        Pricing Trends
        Regulatory Factors
        Recycling
        International Activity

III. REINFORCEMENTS
        General
        Glass Fibers
        Carbon Fiber & Other Reinforcements
          Carbon Fibers
          Aramid Fibers
          Nanomaterials
           Nanoscale Clays
           Nanoscale Minerals
           Nanotubes
          Other

IV. RESINS
        General
        Reinforced Thermosets
          Polyester
           Markets
           Thermoset Polyester Capacity
          Epoxy
          Other Thermosets
        Reinforced Thermoplastics
          Polypropylene
           Markets
           Producers
          Thermoplastic Polyester
           Markets
           Producers
          Nylon
           Markets
           Producers
          Styrenics
           Markets
           Producers
          Polycarbonate
          Other Thermoplastics

V. MARKETS
        General
        Construction
          Resins
          Applications
           Bathroom Accessories & Components
           Pipe & Fittings
            Pipe Outlook
            Reinforced Pipe
             Markets
             Producers
           General Construction
           Panels
           Tanks & Other
        Motor Vehicles
          Resins
           Thermosets
           Thermoplastics
           Producers
          Motor Vehicle Types
        Producer Durable Equipment
          Resins
          Applications
           Electrical Equipment
            Electronic Laminates
            Wind Turbines
            Other
           Business Equipment
           Other Producer Durable Equipment
        Marine
        Consumer Durables
          Resins
          Applications
           Appliances
           Other Consumer Durables
        Other Markets
          Resins
          Applications
           Aircraft & Aerospace
           All Other Markets

VI. INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
        General
        Industry Composition
        Market Share
          AOC
          Ashland Chemical
          Reichhold
          Interplastic
          Hexion Specialty Chemicals
          Cook Composites and Polymers
          Other Firms
        Mergers & Acquisitions
        Marketing Strategies
        Channels of Distribution
        Research & Development
        Competitive Strategies
        Cooperative Agreements

Company Profiles
          Aclo Compounders Incorporated, see Citadel Plastics
           Holdings Incorporated
          AGY Holding Corporation
          Ameron International Corporation
          AOC LLC
          Ashland Incorporated
          AZDEL Incorporated, see Hanwha Group
          BASF SE
          Bayer AG
          Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated
          Bulk Molding Compounds Incorporated, see Citadel
           Plastics Holdings
          Celanese Corporation
          Citadel Plastics Holdings Incorporated
          Composites One LLC, see PolyOne & Total SA
          Core Molding Technologies Incorporated
          Crane Company
          Denali Incorporated
          Dow Chemical Company
          DuPont (EI) de Nemours
          Evonik Industries AG
          Ferro Corporation
          Fiber Glass Systems LP, see National Oilwell Varco
          Fiberex Glass Corporation
          Fulcrum Composites Incorporated
          Hanwha Group
          Hexcel Corporation                     248
          Hexion Specialty Chemicals Incorporated
          Hobas AG
          Honeywell International Incorporated
          Interplastic Corporation
          LANXESS AG
          LM Glasfiber Holding A/S
          LyondellBasell Industries AF SCA
          Matrixx Group Incorporated, see Citadel Plastics
          Meridian Automotive Systems Incorporated
          National Oilwell Varco Incorporated
          Owens Corning
          PolyOne Corporation
          PPG Industries Incorporated
          Premix Incorporated
          Reichhold Incorporated
          Rogers Corporation
          Royal DSM NV
          RTP Company
          Saint-Gobain
          Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
          Schulman (A.) Incorporated
          Strongwell Corporation
          Teijin Limited
          Ticona, see Celanese Corporation
          Total SA
          Valspar Corporation

LIST OF TABLES

          SECTION I -- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
        Summary Table

        SECTION II -- MARKET ENVIRONMENT
      1 Macroeconomic Indicators
      2 Population & Households
      3 Personal Consumption Expenditures
      4 Motor Vehicle Production & Sales
      5 Construction Expenditures
      6 Building Construction Expenditures
      7 Residential Building Construction Expenditures
      8 Residential Improvement & Repair Expenditures
      9 Private Housing Completions
     10 Nonresidential Building Construction Expenditures
     11 Nonbuilding Construction Expenditures
     12 Manufacturers' Shipments
     13 Recreational Boat Shipments
     14 Plastic Resin Supply & Demand
     15 Reinforced Plastics Resin Pricing

        SECTION III -- REINFORCEMENTS
      1 Reinforcement Materials Demand
      2 Glass Fiber Reinforcement Demand
      3 Carbon Fiber & Other Reinforcements Demand by Type

        SECTION IV -- RESINS
      1 Reinforced Plastics Demand by Type
      2 Reinforced Thermosets Demand by Resin
      3 Reinforced Thermoset Polyester Demand by Market
      4 Thermoset Polyester Capacity by Producer, 2008
      5 Reinforced Epoxy Demand by Market
      6 Other Reinforced Thermosets Demand by Market
      7 Reinforced Thermoplastics Demand by Resin
      8 Reinforced Polypropylene Demand by Market
      9 Reinforced Thermoplastic Polyester Demand by Market
     10 Reinforced Nylon Demand by Market
     11 Reinforced Styrenics Demand by Market
     12 Reinforced Polycarbonate Demand by Market
     13 Other Reinforced Thermoplastics Demand by Market

        SECTION V -- MARKETS
      1 Reinforced Plastics Demand by Market
      2 Construction Market for Reinforced Plastics by Resin
      3 Construction Market for Reinforced Plastics by Application
      4 Bathroom Accessories & Components: Reinforced Plastics
          Demand
      5 Pipe Demand
      6 Pipe & Fittings: Reinforced Plastics Demand
      7 General Construction Products: Reinforced Plastics Demand
      8 Panels: Reinforced Plastics Demand
      9 Tanks & Other Construction Products: Reinforced Plastics
          Demand
     10 Motor Vehicle Market for Reinforced Plastics by Resin
     11 Motor Vehicle Market for Reinforced Plastics by Vehicle Type
     12 Producer Durable Equipment Market
          for Reinforced Plastics by Resin
     13 Producer Durable Equipment Market for Reinforced Plastics
          by Application
     14 Electrical Equipment: Reinforced Plastics Demand
     15 Business Equipment: Reinforced Plastics Demand
     16 Other Producer Durable Equipment: Reinforced Plastics
          Demand
     17 Marine Market: Reinforced Plastics Demand
     18 Consumer Durables Market for Reinforced Plastics by Resin
     19 Consumer Durables Market for Reinforced Plastics by
          Application
     20 Appliances: Reinforced Plastics Demand
     21 Other Consumer Durables: Reinforced Plastics Demand
     22 Other Markets for Reinforced Plastics by Resin
     23 Other Markets for Reinforced Plastics by Application

        SECTION VI -- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
      1 US Reinforced Plastics Industry: Selected
          Participating Companies, 2008
      2 Selected Acquisitions & Divestitures
      3 Selected Cooperative Agreements


List of Charts

          SECTION III -- REINFORCEMENTS
      1 Carbon Fiber & Other Reinforcements Demand by Type, 2008

        SECTION IV -- RESINS
      1 Reinforced Thermoset Polyester Demand by Market, 2008
      2 Reinforced Thermoplastics Demand by Resin, 2008
      3 Reinforced Thermoplastic Polyester Demand By Market, 2008
      4 Reinforced Polycarbonate Demand by Market, 2008

        SECTION V -- MARKETS
      1 Reinforced Plastics Demand by Market, 2008
      2 Construction Market for Reinforced Plastics by
          Application, 2008
      3 Motor Vehicle Market for Reinforced Plastics by Resin, 2008
      4 Producer Durable Equipment Market for Reinforced Plastics
          by Resin, 2008
      5 Producer Durable Equipment Market for Reinforced Plastics
          by Application, 2008
      6 Consumer Durables Market for Reinforced Plastics by
          Resin, 2008

        SECTION VI-- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
      1 Reinforced Plastics Industry Flowchart
      2 US Thermoset Polyester Capacity, 2008