The polyurethane additives market size is projected to reach USD 4.5 billion by 2025 at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2020. The demand for polyurethane additives in emerging economies, such as APAC and South America, is increasing owing to the growing construction industry. The volatility in raw material prices and the recyclability of polyurethanes is hindering the polyurethane additives market. The demand for polyurethane additives is increasing, owing to the growing demand for innovative and cost-effective additives. This increase in demand for bio-based polyurethane additives provides growth opportunities to the market. On the other hand, the increasing regulatory pressure towards the usage of bio-based products is the major challenges for the market.
Driver: Increasing demand for innovative and cost-effective additives
Flexible polyurethane foam is an important material finding usages in mattresses, furniture cushioning, bedding, carpet underlay, automotive interiors, etc. These being highly cellular polymers are easily ignitable. This characteristic limits their greater use in areas that require them to pass certain fire regulations as fire hazards are associated with the use of these polymeric materials, which can cause loss of life and property, are of particular concern among government regulatory bodies, consumers, and manufacturers alike. This further drives the demand for innovating new additives such as flame retardants to reduce the flammability of polyurethanes. A large range of flame retardants such as inorganic phosphorus, organophosphorus, nitrogen, halogen, and phosphorus-halogen based compounds are used to meet the demand for the required additives.
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Restrain: Volatility in the raw material prices Raw materials used for manufacturing polyurethane are primarily extracted from crude oil. According to the US EIA (Energy Information Administration), in 2020, Brent crude oil spot prices averaged USD 40 per barrel in June, up to USD 11 per barrel from May and up to USD 22 per barrel from the multiyear lows from April. Prices rose as OPEC+ producers agreed to extend the deepest production cuts through July, and many locations, previously on lockdown, demanded more liquid fuels. Given supply reductions and rising demand, the EIA estimated that global oil inventories declined in June 2020 for the first time since December 2019. The global oil inventory averaged 8.4 million barrels per day, which caused crude oil prices to drop sharply. Owing to such fluctuating crude oil prices, raw material prices of polyurethane additives are volatile.
Opportunity: Emerging market for environment-friendly polyurethane additives A few polyurethane additives are hazardous, and their application is limited owing to negative effects on polymer mechanical properties. Accordingly, identifying materials that are environmentally friendly and harmless to humans has become urgent. There are a few alternative polyurethane additives that are gaining research interest. Those are natural and recyclable resources that can enhance the flame retardant properties of other polymers. Room for improvement is always present as the related technology is continually developed. Hence, the growing demand for environment friendly polyurethane additives is creating a growth opportunity for the market.
Challenge: Increasing regulatory pressure on the usage of eco-friendly products Various measures have been adopted across different countries to create a sustainable environment. There are various regulations that put pressure on chemical manufacturers to produce environmentally friendly products. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has banned a few chemicals that are hazardous to the environment. Extensive research is conducted to develop environment-friendly products. Moreover, the regulations are stricter in various countries of Europe and in California (US). Hence, it is building pressure on chemical manufacturers to produce environment-friendly alternatives that provide the same quality and performance as of the chemicals that are not environment friendly. APAC is projected to be the fastest-growing market for polyurethane additives. The rising population, increased demand for automobiles, growing disposable income, rapid industrialization, and increased urbanization are driving the APAC polyurethane additives market. China is the largest market for polyurethane additives in the region. China is also a major producer and consumer of polyurethane additives in the region as it has a huge manufacturing base. Apart from China, India and South Korea are projected to grow at a decent rate during the forecast period. The key players in the non-phthalate plasticizers market include Evonik Industries (Germany), BASF (Germany), Huntsman Corporation (US), Covestro (Germany), Dow Inc. (US), Lanxess AG (Germany), lbemarle Corporation (US), Tosoh Corporation (Japan), Momentive (US), and BYK (US). These players have established a strong foothold in the market by adopting strategies, such as expansion and new product launch. Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=121317889
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