The US market brings unlimited business opportunities for polyurethane foam plastics

2025/8/11 16:05:06

HC360 Plastic Network News: Polyurethane foam plastics are divided into flexible and rigid types. With the change of market situation, the demand for foam plastics is constantly increasing, which brings a good opportunity to the foam plastic industry.

    In recent years, the demand for foam plastics in the packaging field has been increasing. According to the latest report published by the Freedonia Group, the demand for foam plastics in the United States will grow at an annual rate of 4.1%, reaching 8.6 billion pounds by 2017, with a value of up to 24.7 billion US dollars.

    Affected by the economic crisis, the US foam plastic market was sluggish from 2007 to 2012, but it will gradually get rid of the downward trend and recover healthily in the future. Bridget Mc Murtrie, an analyst at Freedonia, pointed out: "We expect the construction industry to grow strongly, which provides a great opportunity for foam insulation products." By 2017, packaging will still be the main outlet for plastic foam, accounting for about 1/3 of the total demand.

    Foam plastic is an important category of plastic products with a wide variety and extensive applications in industry, agriculture, construction and daily life. With the rapid development of petrochemical industry and plastic products industry, the output of PUR foam plastics in China has increased rapidly. According to the resolution of the Copenhagen International Conference on banning freon foaming agents, China must accelerate the pace of finding alternatives and realize full substitution as soon as possible. At the same time, it is necessary to develop high flame-retardant and low-smoke PUR foam plastics, strengthen the development and promotion of structural foaming and high-load PUR foam plastics, so as to provide strong support and guarantee for the development of various industries in the new century.

    The increase in new housing projects and the rise in consumer spending will promote the application of foam plastics in household products, such as bedding, furniture and home appliances. In the automotive market, the increase in automobile production and the improvement of requirements for safety and comfort will also boost the demand for foam plastics.

    Flexible polyurethane foam plastics will still be the main product type of this resin. By 2017, the demand for flexible polyurethane foam plastics will exceed that of rigid polyurethane foam plastics. Due to its cushioning performance, the demand for this product in the bedding and carpet underlay markets will grow rapidly.

    At the same time, the healthy recovery of the construction industry and changes in building regulations (building structures will have higher requirements for energy conservation) will also drive the demand for rigid polyurethane foam plastics. Rigid polyurethane foam plastics can be used for roof and wall insulation, door and window heat insulation and bubble shielding and sealing. However, polyurethane foam insulation materials will continue to compete with glass fiber and PS foam plastics.

    PSoccupies 2/5 of the total demand for foam plastics due to its excellent protection, heat insulation, moisture resistance and low cost, and its market share will still be large from 2017. However, in the overall packaging field, the problem of solid waste disposal caused by the use of disposable foam plastic products will restrict the demand for foam plastics, and the competition from paper materials will also have a certain impact.

    The nature of foam plastics and market demand have led to the rapid development of the foam plastic industry, but the hidden dangers behind the development cannot be ignored. The failure to properly dispose of used foam plastics will bring troubles and burdens to the environment and society. This way of development, which is like drinking poison to quench thirst, is not a long-term solution.

    Under the call of national green environmental protection, energy conservation and emission reduction, if foam plastics are to develop stably for a long time and avoid being replaced by other products, it is necessary to solve the problem of recycling and degradation after use. While bringing more convenience to the people, more efficient and low-energy recycling will become the development goal of the foam plastic industry.