The Global Market for Long Fiber Thermoplastics (LFT) is Projected to Reach 480.7 Thousand Metric Tons by 2022
Focus on Automotive Lightweighting Fuels Global Demand
for Long Fiber Thermoplastics (LFT), According to a New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
GIA launches comprehensive
analysis of industry segments, trends, growth drivers, market size, share and
demand forecasts on the global Long Fiber Thermoplastics (LFT) market. The global market for Long Fiber Thermoplastics (LFT) is
projected to reach 480.7 thousand metric tons by 2022, driven by growing automobile production, regulatory
requirements to improve fuel efficiency in automobiles, expanding applications
and technological advancements.
Long Fiber Thermoplastics
(LFT), also known as Long fiber reinforced thermoplastics (LFRTs), are
engineered polymers, which fall between short fiber thermoplastics and
continuous fiber thermoplastics, and bridge mass market and advanced composite
applications. LFTs provide superior mechanical properties pertaining to
strength, crashworthiness, fatigue endurance, creep, and stiffness when
compared with short fiber thermoplastics, which an ideal substitute for metals
in a number of structural and semi-structural applications and conventional
reinforced thermoplastics in various applications. In addition to these
inherent material benefits, the market for LFT is driven by strong demand from the
automotive sector, the single largest application market. The trend towards
replacing metals with composites in various end-use applications to reduce
weight yet retain strength is driving demand for LFT. The growth in the market
is also driven by increasing technological advancements, development of novel
applications, and growing demand for hybrid products and LFTs with higher
performance characteristics.
Glass and carbon represent
the fibers that are used in making LFT. While demand for both fiber and glass
based LFT is strong, demand for long glass fiber thermoplastics is expected to
gain faster growth due to its predominant use in the automotive industry as
well as increasing adoption in electrical/electronic applications. One of the
major growth restraints is the prohibitively higher price of LFT, particularly
for certain applications. LFTs that combine the glass and carbon fibers to form
a composite/hybrid LFT represent new technological advancements in the market,
which promise to address this problem as cost reduction is one of the major
benefits of the material. Hybrid LFT, hence, are expected to drive significant
growth in the market as lower cost of material makes them attractive for
several existing and new applications. Additionally, low-cost natural fiber reinforcements, which are derived by blending wood or natural
fibers, such as jute, flax, hemp, and kenaf with polymers such as
polypropylene, polyethylene or PVC, are finding increasing applications among
major end-use industries.
As stated by the new
market research report on Long Fiber Thermoplastics (LFT), Europe represents the largest market worldwide,
supported by strong demand for lightweight composite materials from a wide
range of end-use sectors. Rest of World, comprising the Middle East and Africa,
ranks as the fastest growing market with a CAGR of 10.8% through the analysis
period. The automobile industry represents the largest end-use market, while
polypropylene-based LFT or Long Glass Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene represents the largest product market.
Major players covered in the
report include Celanese Corporation, Daicel Polymer Limited, PlastiComp Inc.,
PolyOne Corporation, PPG Fiber Glass, RTP Company, SABIC, Solvay, Sumitomo
Chemical Company Ltd. and TechnoCompound GmbH among others.
The research report titled
“Long Fiber Thermoplastics (LFT): A Global Strategic
Business Report” announced by Global
Industry Analysts Inc., provides a comprehensive
review of market trends, issues, drivers, mergers, acquisitions and other
strategic industry activities of global companies. The report provides market
estimates and projections for Long Fiber Thermoplastics (LFT) in value terms
for all major geographic markets such as United States, Canada, Japan, Europe
(France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China,
India and Rest of Asia-Pacific), Latin America (Brazil and Rest of Latin
America) and Rest of World. Global market for LFT is also analyzed by
applications – Automotive (Door Modules, Front-End Modules, Instrument Panels,
Underbody Shields and Other Automotive Applications) and Non-Automotive
(Industrial & General Goods and Other Non-Automotive Applications). Global and
regional market for Long Fiber Thermoplastics is further analyzed by the
following resin types – Polypropylene and Others.
Global Industry Analysts, Inc. 6150 Hellyer Ave., San Jose CA 95138, USA,
All Rights Reserved.
Comments
Post a Comment