GoingToMeet

Global demand for thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) is forecast to increase 6.3% per year through 2011 to 3.7 million metric tonnes, according to The Freedonia Group. Although global TPE sales will remain concentrated in the developed markets of the US, Western Europe and Japan, particularly for high performance materials such as copolyesters (COPEs) and thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs), growth prospects through 2011 will be strongest in developing countries where markets have initially focused on low cost styrenic block copolymers (SBCs). China is forecast to expand its share of the world market from under 30% in 2006 to over 33% in 2011, and is significantly diversifying into thermoplastic polyolefins (TPOs) and thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs).

The TPE market continues to go from strength to strength, and with this in mind, Smithers Rapra is pleased to announce the eleventh international thermoplastic elastomers conference, to take place in Prague, Czech Republic from 12-13 November 2008.