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Copolyester-ether elastomer markets and production are still predominantly concentrated in the United States, Europe and Japan. However, the fastest growing market is in Asia (excluding Japan), where demand is currently growing at approximately 10% per year and is forecast to grow at 7–10% per year through 2012.
Copolyester-ether elastomers are used in automotive, hose and tubing, medical, and wire and cable applications. Consumption of copolyester-ether elastomers in the United States is fairly mature and is expected to grow at a moderate rate during 2007–2012. In Europe, consumption is projected to grow at a slightly faster rate. Under-the-hood automotive applications, where there is an increasing need to meet higher temperature requirements, will promote this growth. In Japan, where consumption is also driven by automotive applications, growth will be moderate from 2007 to 2012. In Other Asia consumption will be driven by increasing use in all applications, particularly automotive, hose and tubing, and wire and cable.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of copolyester-ether elastomers:
DuPont is the world’s largest producer of copolyester-ether elastomers, with plants in the United States, Luxembourg and Japan. Other important producers include Eastman Chemical and Ticona (a business of Celanese Corporation) in the United States, DSM Engineering Plastics in the Netherlands, P Group in Italy, and Toyobo Co. and Mitsubishi in Japan. |
