SINGAPORE (September 25, 2007) -- Thermoplastic products are enjoying strong demand growth, largely driven by the automobile industry, which is replacing existing plastic products, says Sam Angove, associate of the Nexant ChemSystems Inc.

The global average annual growth for polyolefin-based thermoplastic elastomers (POE) is projected at 10.3 percent a year between 2006 and 2011, he said at Innovation in Thermoplastic Elastomers, a conference held September 10-11 in Singapore.

This year’s thermoplastic elastomer demand is projected at 412,000 metric tons, up from 365,000 metric tons last year and 307,000 metric tons in 2005, according to Angove.

Demand growth for compounded thermoplastic polyolefins (TPOs) is forecast at 4.5 percent through to 2011, he said. Compounded TPO demand will reach 604,000 metric tons this year, from 576,000 metric tons last year and 554,000 metric tons in 2005.

Thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) demand is projected to grow by 7.6 percent per year between 2006 and 2011. TPV demand is projected to be 231,000 metric tons this year, up from 210,000 metric tons last year and 191,000 metric tons in 2005.

Likewise, the in-situ thermoplastic olefinics demand is projected to grow by 4.2 percent per year during the 2006-2011 period. Angove said in-situ thermoplastic olefinics demand is projected to reach 376,000 metric tons this year, up from 360,000 metric tons last year and 343,000 metric tons in 2005.

Angove said 50 percent of TPV demand in 2006 came from the automotive sector, 20 percent from building and construction, 10 percent from consumer goods, 5 percent from wire and cable and the rest from miscellaneous applications.