U.S. demand for flame retardants to reverse decline to 2013: study

U.S. demand for flame retardants is expected to reverse its decline and is forecast to expand 2.7 per cent per annum to 950 million pounds in 2013, valued at US$900 million, as the result of trends away from halogenated flame retardants due to health and environmental concerns.

This conclusion is part of a new study, entitled “Flame Retardants”, released by market research firm the Freedonia Group.

The study examines the U.S. market for flame retardants, including alumina trihydrate, phosphorus compounds, brominated and chlorinated compounds, antimony oxide, boron compounds and other smaller-volume products such as magnesium hydroxide and melamine derivatives.  

The study also concludes that alumina trihydrate will continue to be the most widely used flame retardant type, while best growth is expected for phosphorus-based flame retardants. Growth will be driven by non-halogenated phosphorus grades, which have a more benign environmental footprint than brominated compounds.

For more information on the study, click on this link.