Healthy growth in construction spending will boost demand for insulation, coatings, adhesives and sealants and drive expansion in the US polyurethane market, according to a new report released by market research firm Freedonia (Cleveland, Ohio / USA; www.freedonia.com). The report – “Polyurethane Market in the US by Raw Material, Type and Market” – said flexible and rigid PU foams will remain the largest segments, each accounting for more than 30% of all demand in 2020.

The best growth prospects will be in sealants, fuelled by rising demand in construction applications such as joints, glass insulation and air infiltration as well as increased usage in automotive applications.

For flexible PU, the success of viscoelastic, or memory, foam in mattresses has revived a mature bedding segment and gains will also be seen in carpet and flooring applications where PU is used as padding, spurred by rising expenditures in residential construction. Further advances will be constrained by mature key markets such as furniture and textiles, both of which face strong competition from imports.

Demand from the construction market will also support coatings consumption, particularly for wood and concrete, which will outperform other types of coatings. In addition, said Freedonia, innovation in waterborne PU dispersions will further stimulate demand in coatings and adhesives.

The 173-page analysis of the USD 24.5 bn US industry gives demand forecasts for 2020 and 2025 for various PU products, their raw materials and end-markets. It also evaluates companies’ market shares and provides a competitive analysis.