CLEVELAND, OH, February 27, 2015-

Global demand for flame retardants is projected to expand 4.6 percent per year through 2018 to 2.8 million metric tons, valued at $7.0 billion. Gains will be stimulated by an acceleration in electronic product, motor vehicle, and wire and cable production, particularly in the US, Western Europe, and Japan as they recover from the recession-impacted 2008-2013 period. In industrializing countries, the stricter enforcement of building codes will increase the market penetration for flame retardants in building materials, fueling sales increases. Alumina trihydrate (ATH) was the most widely used flame retardant in 2013, accounting for nearly one-third of global demand, and is expected to retain its dominance in the product mix. These and other trends are presented in World Flame Retardants, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry market research firm.

China will post the fastest growth in demand of any major national market and retain its position as the largest, accounting for nearly one-third of 2018 global flame retardant consumption. India and Thailand will also post strong demand gains. According to analyst Zoe Biller, "Rising urbanization, along with climbing personal incomes in these nations, will stimulate a heightened awareness of fire safety and more strictly enforced building codes." Central and South America and the Africa/Mideast region will also record above average sales increases for flame retardants. Demand in North America will rise at a faster pace than other developed areas due to a rebound in the US construction market, but will remain below the global average. Flame retardant markets in Western Europe and Japan, while returning to growth after 2008-2013 declines, will nevertheless trail the world pace of advance by considerable margins.

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