The global foamed plastics market is estimated to hit 10.5 million tons by 2017. Post recession, recovery and stronger demand from critical end-use industries including building construction, furniture/bedding and transportation equipment is expected to enthuse the market for insulation materials, in turn fueling growth for foamed plastics.
The global furniture/bedding industry represents the largest end-use market for polyurethane foams, with markets of Europe and Asia-Pacific offering enormous growth opportunities for the segment. An aging health conscious population is driving significant changes in the beddings market.
Polyurethane foam plays a significant role in the construction of mattresses due to its effectiveness in relieving pressure points. An increasingly significant role is being played by foamed plastic in the furniture market, especially in areas of mass transportation, medical and office seating.
The trio of Europe, Asia-Pacific and US corner a significant chunk of the worldwide foamed plastics market. The Asia-Pacific region, buoyed by the robust Chinese, Indian and Hong Kong markets, represents the fastest growing foamed plastics market in the world, forecast to expand at a robust pace of about 6% through 2017.