Demand for engineering plastics with specific properties has been higher than for that of common plastics for several years, and the trend is likely to continue, according to a new report.
Germany-based market research company Ceresana highlighted that almost 20.3 million tonnes of ABS, PC, PA, PMMA, POM, PBT, SAN, and fluoropolymers were sold in 2015.
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) was the most frequently used engineering plastic, accounting for about 40% of the total demand, said Ceresana, with more than six million tonnes being processed in 2015 in the Asia-Pacific region alone.
Around 25% of global demand came from each of the largest market sectors of electrical and electronic applications and consumer goods, with the transportation industry being the third largest individual market.
The transportation segment accounts for 35% of polyamide consumption, while consumer goods are the major sales market of ABS.
Ceresana said it expected the highest growth in the upcoming years to come in the transportation market.
Meanwhile at rates of 2.5% and 2.9% per year respectively, applications in the construction industry and in consumer goods were likely to exhibit a weaker development, the research company said.
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