Growth in downstream demand for polyurethane is driving global polymer polyols higher

GlobalIndustryAnalyst, a leading market research firm, recently reported that the market for polyols, a polymer used in automobiles, construction, furniture and other terminal applications of PU downstream, is improving. Global demand for the material is expected to exceed 33 billion pounds by 2020.

Polyols have been an important raw material for PU, coatings, thermoplastic elastomers, plastic additives, artificial leather and other products for many years.

Thanks to the rapid development of plastic industry, some developing countries have become the main consumer of polymer polyol market in recent years. In order to further expand domestic demand and stimulate consumption, many southeast Asian and Latin American countries are implementing expansionary monetary policies. As a result, the polyol market in these regions is booming.

Geographically, the Asia Pacific region is currently the world's largest market for polymer polyols. Demand for the material in the region will grow at a compound annual rate of 9.6% over the next five years. Market participants say rapid population growth, accelerating industrialisation and rapid growth in the construction and automotive sectors are key factors driving the asia-pacific polymer polyol market.

Green and sustainable development is a major trend in the global polymer polyol market in the future, according to GlobalIndustryAnalyst. In order to better meet the needs of the majority of customers, a variety of innovative green production technologies emerge endlessly in the market. Polyols from carbon dioxide are particularly popular. To better save costs and reduce pollution to the environment, more and more manufacturers are choosing to use smokeless carbon dioxide as raw material instead of petrochemical materials.

At present, the world's large polyol producers mainly include basf of Germany, dow chemical of the United States, hensmai of the United States, royal Dutch shell and so on.