Market Trends of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) Industry
Increasing TPU Usage in the Footwear and Apparel Industries
- With the fast rise of the population and the ongoing expansion of many economies, the demand for leather is growing at a healthy rate. The conventional leather sector includes high consumption and causes pollution. The public's attention to environmental concerns poses significant difficulties for the leather business.
- TPU film possesses the essential properties of other plastics and rubbers, making it widely utilized in footwear and clothes.
- The production technology of TPU film and its composite products saw significant growth with the advancement of science and technology, generating ideal conditions for adopting TPU film and its composite products. Producers introduced numerous innovations lately in the footwear and apparel industries.
- For instance, Lubrizol unveiled a prototype shoe made entirely of TPU. This 100% TPU prototype shoe can deliver improved "circularity" solutions. TPU waste can be reused by shoemakers during manufacturing and ease the post-consumer recycling process.
- Huntsman's Specialty Elastomers' expertise led to the creation of IROGRAN A 85 P 4394 HR, a novel thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) grade. It is ideal for providing a waterproof, breathable layer in demanding performance garments (including gloves and footwear).
- Most of the global footwear production is concentrated in the Asia-Pacific region and occupies a share of over 85% in production volume. Apart from Asian countries, Mexico, brazil is among the major footwear manufacturers in the world. According to the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados), Brazil's footwear production volume reached 863 million pairs in 2022.
- With a surge in footwear and apparel production and technological advancements making TPU a more flexible and preferable material for the footwear and apparel sectors, the demand for TPU films is expected to grow considerably during the forecast period.
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Asia-Pacific Region to Dominate the Market
- Asia-Pacific accounted for the largest regional thermoplastic polyurethane market. Due to the increasing automotive demand and demand for textile and footwear, TPU-based adhesives and sealants are expected to witness a healthy growth rate in the region.
- The Chinese footwear industry is the largest in the world, with a robust network of domestic sales and exports to major countries. As leather footwear accounts for the largest share of the footwear industry in China, the demand for TPU adhesives is estimated to be the strongest in China compared to other parts of the world.
- The rising household income levels and the population migrating from rural to urban areas are expected to continue to drive the demand for the market studied in China.
- The Asia-Pacific region is home to some of the world's most valuable vehicle manufacturers. Developing countries such as China, India, Japan, and South Korea are working hard to strengthen the manufacturing base and develop efficient supply chains for greater profitability.
- According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), China includes the largest automotive production base in the world, with a total vehicle production of 27 million units in 2022, registering an increase of 3.4 % compared to 26 million units produced last year. Further, in the first 7 months of 2022, the country produced 14.57 million units of cars, registering a growth rate of 31.5% Year on Year. Furthermore, in July 2022, the number of battery-powered electric vehicles increased by 117.2% compared to January-July in 2021. In July 2022, the country's electric vehicle sales were estimated at around 617,000 units.
- Moreover, in India, during FY 2021-22 (April 2021 to March 2022), according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the country's automotive industry produced a total of 22.93 million vehicles compared to 22.66 million units during April 2020 to March 2021. Further, according to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), car production increased to 193.63 thousand units in July 2022 from 169.52 thousand units in June 2022. Such factors are likely to increase the demand for the studied market.
- In India, the government's investment target of USD 120.5 billion for developing 27 industrial clusters is expected to boost commercial construction in the country.
- All these factors are expected to boost the region's thermoplastic polyurethane market during the forecast period.
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