Modest Growth In Emulsion Polymer Markets
Emulsion polymer demand in the US is forecast to grow 3.1 percent per annum to 5.3 billion pounds in the year 2002, valued at $4.4 billion. New product introductions and continued shifts from solvent-borne to waterborne systems will stimulate advances. Styrene-butadiene latex and acrylic emulsions will remain dominant because of their leading positions in the large paper and paperboard, paint, and carpet and rug markets. Coating functions will remain the leading application. These and other trends are presented in Emulsion Polymers, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industrial market research firm.
Styrene-butadiene latex will continue to be the largest emulsion polymer type, driven by growing paper and board and specialty applications. Paper and paperboard coatings will provide the primary growth impetus due to greater demand for high quality printing and writing papers including label stock, glossy commercial printing grades and paperboard packaging. Better growth, however, is anticipated in other specialty applications for styrene-butadiene latex such as roofing and flooring felts, sheathing, shingles, paper saturation (e.g., abrasive papers) and asphalt modification.
Acrylic emulsion polymers demand will provide the best opportunities and increase 3.7% annually to the year 2002. Growth will continue to be spurred by greater use of acrylics in coatings, adhesives, and paper and textile finishes, due to their compatibility with waterborne products. The largest volume application for acrylic emulsions continues to be the manufacture of architectural paints and coatings, where product reformulation has nearly reached saturation levels. Opportunities will therefore be centered in industrial and specialty coatings, where reformulation has lagged due to higher performance requirements.
Paint and paper and paperboard coating markets will continue to account for one-half of total emulsion polymer demand. Advances in architectural and industrial paint uses will result from opportunities in traditional solvent-borne interior trim, industrial and high gloss exterior paints. Paper and paperboard markets will be stimulated by needs for high quality glossy and other papers, as well as enhanced graphic capabilities for cartons and other board products used to package beverages and food products. Other areas of opportunity include packaging and construction adhesives, and printing inks.
For more information: Corinne Gangloff, The Freedonia Group, Inc., 767 Beta Drive, Cleveland, Ohio 44143-2326. Tel: 440-684-9600. Fax: 440-646-0484.