Foam plastics are resins used in manufacturing polymer foams, which are used in various end-use industries such as building & construction, furniture & bedding, packaging, and automotive among others. The market size for Foam plastics is projected to grow from USD 51.6 billion in 2020 to USD 65.4 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 4.8%. Foam plastics are largely used in building & construction, packaging, and furniture & bedding. The polyurethane segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the overall market due to its properties such as low heat conduction coefficient, low density, low water absorption, relatively good mechanical strength, and good insulating properties.

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Building & construction segment accounted for the largest share of the foam plastics market in 2019

Foam plastics are used to make foams used in the building & construction industry for forging, doors, roof board, and slabs. PU is the dominant resin used in the building & construction industry for insulation. It has low heat conduction coefficient, low density, low water absorption, and relatively good mechanical strength and insulating properties, which are helpful in the building & construction sector. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected various end-use industries, and almost all divisions of the supply chain continue to be affected, which also includes the construction industry. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), US, the GDP growth rate during the first two quarters is expected to be negative. This decline can be compared to the aftermath of the global performance of the 2008 Great Recession. However, the fourth quarter of 2020 is expected to be a rebound period.

Recent Developments

In March 2019, BASF enhanced its regional innovation capabilities with new facilities at the Innovation Campus Shanghai to further strengthen collaboration with the automotive industry and to offer new process catalysts to the chemical industry. With an investment of approximately USD 38.0 million, the new 5,000-square-meter facility includes the Automotive Application Center and the Process Catalysis Research & Development (R&D) Center. One of the innovations includes polyurethane (PU) integral foam solutions with an open cell structure offering unique performance, which are light-weight and have excellent sound insulation and flame resistance.

APAC is the leading market for foam plastics. The growth in the region is fueled by the booming economies of China, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam. PU resin based foams are preferred choice in the building & construction industry in APAC. It is in high demand, as it is a low-cost material that provides low heat conduction coefficient, low density, low water absorption, relatively good mechanical strength, and good insulating properties. APAC is a rapidly developing region with growth opportunities for companies willing to invest in high-growth markets.

The key players profiled in the foam plastics market report are BASF SE (Germany), Covestro (Germany), Huntsman International LLC (US), The Dow Chemical Company (US), and Wanhua Chemical Group Co., Ltd. (China).