The Chemicals, Coatings & Plastics Industry More Malleable Than Usual, 7-23-2006
While the chemicals industry can be cyclical, gaining and losing ground with changes in the global economy, many trends in the world today point to rapidly increasing demand for many types of chemical products. A worldwide construction boom is fueling rapid growth for chemicals used in building products of all types, from paints to vinyl siding to PVC plumbing parts to vinyl flooring. The extremely rapid industrialization and commercialization of markets in China and India, two nations where an immense proportion of the world's population live, is creating demand for industrial and consumer chemicals. Watch for rapid changes within the chemicals sector, as many factors with the potential for driving the industry in new directions are at work. The most important of these factors are all detailed in a recent report by Plunkett Research, Ltd. Some of the most exciting examples include:
- Plastics Production in the Middle East Booms.
Another threat to U.S. plastic exporters is the emergence of plastics producers in the Middle East. High prices for crude oil and natural gas, the basic building blocks for plastics, are putting strain on U.S. producers.
- New Technology in Plastics and Coatings Impacts the Automotive Industry.
Breakthroughs in hybrid molding technology are revolutionizing the way in which vehicles are made and substantially increasing the amount of plastic used. Hybrid technology creates composite pieces made of plastic and metal parts locked together via injection molding or extrusion.
- Polymers and Nanotechnology Point to New Photovoltaic Technologies for Cheaper Solar Power.
Thin, highly efficient, flexible photovoltaic panels may be one of the most efficient and cost-effective ways to harness solar power for the production of electricity. Polymers offer a perfect material for this application. Flexible solar panels using polymers have already been proven capable of capturing light from the visible spectrum.
To find out more about these exciting trends and more, check out Plunkett's Chemicals, Coatings & Plastics Industry Almanac 2007, just released, or go to www.plunkettresearch.com and sign up for a subscription to Plunkett's completely up-to-date online database!
About Plunkett Research, Ltd.
Plunkett Research, Ltd. is a leading publisher of complete business research and analysis resources, designed to enable professionals in marketing, research and finance to access complete trends analysis, statistics, technology analysis and financial analysis of the world's most exciting industries. For more information, visit www.plunkettresearch.com, or call 713.932.0000.