Sustainable energy efficient future a goal for NAFTA

While there are clear signs that 2009 will be a very difficult year for all sectors and all geographic regions, as the effects of the global economic crisis continue to bite, there are some bright spots as far as the polyurethanes sector is concerned.

• While US residential construction has seen a considerable slowdown in the last couple of years, commercial construction has been less affected, and new building codes will encourage higher use of polyurethane insulation.

• There seems to be a base level of demand for MDI for rigid insulation, which keeps sales going.

• Now that the US automotive sector has received financial support from the government, some stability and confidence may also be on the way back in this crucial sector, which is a major user of polyurethanes.

• NAFTA’s 2007 production of polyurethanes was 7170 million lbs (data from IAL Consultants), making it second only to China as the single largest production region globally. Some 3000 million pounds of this was in the CASE (coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomer) market, a business with good growth potential in high-tech, high-value outlets. Despite current difficulties, long-term prospects for the polyurethanes industry remain positive.

• Polyurethanes in North America remains a huge sector: specialists believe that the general economic situation in the world will show some return to stability before the end of 2009 and that prospects for 2010 will be better.

UTECH North America 2010 anticipates these new circumstances. So should you!

Exchanging information, networking with all the top industry professionals, hearing the buzz about future trends, at a business-to-business event such as UTECH North America 2010 is not just a good idea in such a climate -
it becomes a clear strategic necessity!