The North American Market for Plastics Compounding

The North American Market for Plastics Compounding

Report Scope:

This report covers the compounding of major thermoplastic resins. The high-volume commodity resins include high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and thermoplastic polyesters (primarily PET). Engineering thermoplastics (ETPs) covered include polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), nylons (polyamides), polycarbonates, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymers (ABS) and some real specialties like polyacetals and polysulfones. This report also includes an introduction to thermoplastic elastomers and some biocompounds—plastics that are made from plants instead of hydrocarbons. It excludes thermosetting resins since they have different chemistries and are usually processed differently.

The plastics compounding market is segmented by each of the above resins and by each of the three plastics compounding groups. Applications and markets by volume in pounds or value in dollars are estimated for the years 2016 and 2017 and a five-year forecast to 2022. Major resin producers, key plastics processors and independent compounders are identified. We discuss the activities, product lines and other information for the major independent compounders.

Our market estimates are based on manufacturers’ total revenues and are mostly for markets for the United States or North America. Other features in this report include the following:
- Review of key plastics additives used in plastics compounding.
- Important information on major fillers/reinforcements.
- Developments in carbon fiber and carbon nanotubes for reinforcement of thermoplastics.
- Advances in natural fiber reinforcements.
- Regulatory and environmental developments shaping compounds, ranging from phthalate plasticizers to halogenated flame retardants.
- Key suppliers of plastics additives and fillers/reinforcements.
- Notes of some recent advances in plastics compounding and machinery.

Report Includes:

- 21 data tables and 16 additional tables
- An overview of the global plastics compounding market
- Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2016 and 2017, and projections of CAGRs through 2022.
- Coverage of the major thermoplastic resins and thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs); resins, including high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), polypropylene, polystyrene, and engineering thermoplastics (ETPs): the major representatives being nylons, polycarbonates, polyacetals, PET, and PBT; the report also includes bio compounds, or plastics that are made from plants instead of hydrocarbons.
- Identifications of major resin producers, key plastics processors, and independent compounders, along with activities, product lines, and estimated sales for the major independent compounders.
- Reviews of key plastics additives used in plastics compounding and advances in plastics compounding equipment.
- Information on major fillers/reinforcements.
- Developments in carbon fibre and carbon nanotubes, and advances in natural fibres.
- Company profiles of major key players in the market, including Advanced Composites Inc., Basf Corp., Clariant International Ltd., The Dow Chemical Co., ExxonMobil Chemical Co., Plastics Plus Inc. and Polymer Resources Ltd.