CLEVELAND (Sept. 10, 11:40 a.m. ET) — U.S. demand for fluoropolymers will increase 5.3 percent annually to $2.4 billion in 2016, with volume totaling 198 million pounds, according to study by Cleveland-based Freedonia Group Inc.
Polytetrafluoroethylene will continue to be the most popular fluoropolymer. A large part of demand will come from the industrial processing market, as well as emerging applications such as chemical processing and industrial filtration.
However, polyvinyl fluoride and polyvinylidene fluoride will show stronger growth, the study said. Demand for PVF will be fueled by growth in the photovoltaic module segment, while PVDF will benefit from rebounding growth in the architectural coating segment.
Demand from the construction segment show strongest growth — 10.4 percent over the 2011-16 period. Growth will increase 6.5 percent in electrical and electronics, 5.7 percent in transportation, 4.1 percent in industrial processing and 3.9 percent in all other markets.