Global market for adhesives, sealants will expand

Consistent growth, diverse international content and several layers of ownership characterize the adhesive and sealants market. Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, and Latin America hold greater potential for growth. Global market for adhesives is projected to exceed US$30.5 billion, while worldwide sealant sales volume is poised to reach 2.3 billion pounds by 2010.

Several adhesives manufacturing plants are under construction in developing areas with an increasing portion of production being shifted to these sites. Regional trading areas (RTAS) such as NAFTA and SAFTA, and the proactive role of WTO in facilitating global trade has enhanced the reach of adhesives and sealants across all geographies.

The adhesives and sealants market in the United States has lost some ground to China, as some producers migrated their facilities to China, but the region continues to play a dominant role in the adhesives market, with volume sales estimated at over 7.8 billion pounds and valued at more than US$7.5 billion for 2007. Europe accounted for an estimated 30 percent share of the worldwide sealants market, in terms of volume sales, for 2007. Poised to expand at a compounded annual growth rate of over 4 percent, over the period 2001-2010, Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing region for sealants, in terms of value sales. Extensive demand in developing countries of Asia-pacific including China, India, Korea, Malaysia, and Vietnam is driving the global adhesives and sealants market. The march is being led by China, which is witnessing a substantial growth of over 10 percent per annum, spurred by rising investment in infrastructure development and construction projects in the country.

The use of high-performance adhesives and sealants in medical applications is growing at a tremendous rate, especially in surgical settings. Cyanoacrylate adhesives are used for both internal (ophthalmology, pulmonary and vascular surgeries) and external (consumer settings and medical surgery) applications. Solvent-free adhesives are eco-friendly and possess greater resistance compared to solvent-based adhesives and are also increasingly being used in special textile, industrial, foam, and fabric laminations.

Paving way to technological advancements, mechanical fasteners are losing ground to sophisticated adhesives, which can do the same job of a fastener with greater efficiency. However, structural adhesives such as toughened epoxies, resilient polyurethanes and high-strength methacrylates are finding increasing uses in providing good bonds in metal, thermoplastic and composite parts. Some of the prominent end-users of adhesives and sealants are the construction and heavy engineering and advanced industries such as aerospace and industrial assembly. Besides automotive, wood related and packaging also form core end-user sectors of adhesives and sealants.

The report titled "Adhesives and Sealants: A Global Strategic Business Report" published by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., provides a comprehensive review of market trends and issues, competition, drivers, technology trends, product overview, product introductions/innovations, and recent industry activity. The study also analyzes market data and analytics in value and volume sales for regions such as United States, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of World by the following chemical types - Styrene Butadiene Rubber, Phenolic, Polyolefin, Epoxy, Acrylic, Polyvinyl Acetal, Polyurethane, Anaerobic, Polyurethane, Silicone, Polysulphide, Butyl Rubber, Polyvinyl Chloride-Based, and others.

Key players dominating the global adhesives and sealants market include 3M Company, Adhesives Research, Ashland Specialty Chemical Company, Avery Dennison Corporation, BASF AG, Bayer MaterialScience AG, Beardow and Adams (Adhesives) Ltd., Bolton Group, Bostik, Covalence Adhesives, Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Dow Automotive, Dynea International Oy, Eastman Chemical Company, ExxonMobil Chemical Company, Ferro Corporation, Forbo Adhesives Switzerland, Georgia-Pacific Resins, H.B. Fuller Company, Henkel Corporation, Hernon Manufacturing, Hexion Specialty Chemicals, Hindustan Adhesives Limited, Huntsman Polyurethanes, ICI Group, ITW Performance Polymers Consumer Division, Konishi, LORD Corporation, MACtac, Mapei S.p.A., PPG Aerospace, Pidilite Industries Ltd., Power Adhesives Ltd., Quilosa (Industrias químicas Lowenberg, SL), Rohm and Haas Company, RPM International, Scapa Group Plc, Sika AG, Specialty Minerals, Shurtape Technologies, Super Glue Corporation, Tesa AG, Vagnone & Boeri Srl, and Wisdom Adhesives Company.

For more details about this research report, visit http://www.strategyr.com/Adhesives_And_Sealants_Market_Report.asp.