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Labour Shortages and the EU Ban: New Challenges for the Palm Oil Market

palm oil
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Labour Shortages and the EU Ban: New Challenges for the Palm Oil Market

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IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘World – Palm Oil – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends, and Insights.’ Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

While Indonesia, planning to expand production, fights for the EU’s recognition of palm oil as a biofuel, Malaysia is faced with an acute shortage of labor due to the outflow of guest workers after the pandemic. Despite the challenges in these two countries, which produce 85% of the world’s palm oil, the global demand remains high. As the economies of the main importers, China and India, recover, the previous growth in demand is expected to continue.

Key Trends and Insights

In March 2021, the futures price for crude palm oil reached its highest level of 954 US$/MT in 13 years, according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Council, March 23. This is due to limited supply from manufactures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Malaysia, the world’s second-largest palm oil producer, faces severe labor shortages. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the country has stopped hiring foreign workers, and the former migrants have returned to their homeland. Malaysian suppliers have asked the government to fill a 50,000 labor shortage, which could lead to a 20% drop in palm oil production. They also ask to cut product taxes and invest additional funds in the industry.

Over the next two years, the rising demand from the world’s two largest importers, India and China, is expected to become the main driver for the palm oil market growth. These economies recover, and rapid urbanization contributes to an increase in the need for food products.

Falling production and rising prices for sunflower oil, as a result of the sunflower harvest failure last year, could further fuel demand for palm oil.

Increasing tariffs for container transportation and a planned reduction of palm oil consumption in Europe could hamper market growth. The Renewable Energy Directive (RED) II and other food safety regulations could decrease palm oil imports to the European Union and phases out the use of palm oil as biodiesel. In 2017, the European Parliament adopted a resolution that bans palm oil for biofuel production due to the large-scale deforestation and labor rights violations in Indonesia and Malaysia. Also, in 2019, the European Union imposed an import duty on Indonesian biodiesel.

Indonesia Dominates the Market and Continues to Expand Production

Global palm oil production rose remarkably to 76M tonnes in 2019, picking up 6.4% against 2018. The total output volume increased at an average annual rate of +5.4% from 2012 to 2019.

Indonesia (44M tonnes) is the world’s largest producer of palm oil, comprising approx. 57% of the global volume. Moreover, Indonesia’s palm oil production exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest producer, Malaysia (20M tonnes), twofold. The third position in this ranking was occupied by Thailand (3M tonnes), with a 4% share (IndexBox estimates).

From 2012 to 2019, the average annual growth rate in Indonesia totaled +7.7%. The remaining producing countries recorded the following production growth rates: Malaysia (+0.8% per year) and Thailand (+7.9% per year).

Driven by increasing demand for palm oil worldwide, the market is expected to continue an upward consumption trend over the next decade. Market performance is forecast to decelerate, expanding with an anticipated CAGR of +3.1% for the period from 2019 to 2030, projected to bring the market volume to 106M tonnes by the end of 2030.

India and China to Remain as the Top Importers

In 2019, global palm oil imports rose markedly to 50M tonnes, picking up by 7.2% on the previous year. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.8% over the period from 2012 to 2019.

In value terms, palm oil imports amounted to $30.5B (IndexBox estimates).

In 2019, India (9.7M tonnes), distantly followed by China (5.5M tonnes), Pakistan (3.2M tonnes), the Netherlands (2.8M tonnes), and Spain (2.7M tonnes) represented the key importers of palm oil, together creating 47% of total imports. The U.S. (1.6M tonnes), Italy (1.5M tonnes), Bangladesh (1.5M tonnes), Egypt (1.1M tonnes), Malaysia (1.1M tonnes), Russia (1.1M tonnes), Myanmar (1M tonnes), and Kenya (0.9M tonnes) followed a long way behind the leaders.

From 2012 to 2019, the biggest increases were in Spain, while purchases for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest palm oil-importing markets worldwide were India ($5.4B), China ($3.4B), and Pakistan ($1.8B), together comprising 35% of global imports.

Source: IndexBox AI Platform

polyethylene
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The Polyethylene Market to Grow Rapidly Despite the Shutdown of the U.S. Plants

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IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘World – Polyethylene In Primary Forms – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends, and Insights.’ Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

Global polyethylene production is set to grow rapidly due to the launch of new capacities in Asia. The construction of new plants for the processing of recycled polyethylene becomes urgent. The shutdowns of the U.S. plants affected by the storm and increased freight rates led to higher polyethylene costs on the stock exchanges.

Key Trends and Insights

High demand for packaging and containers was supporting the polyethylene market during the pandemic. In China, the world’s largest polyethylene consumer,  the demand was growing steadily throughout 2020.

Recently, U.S polyethylene manufacturing has suffered not only from lockdown consequences but also from force majeure circumstances. In February 2021, LyondellBasell, ExxonMobil, Ineos Olefins and Polymers, and Formosa Plastics halted their polyethylene production lines affected by severe storms in Texas. The total capacity of the shutdown Texas facilities was about 19 million tonnes. The current high congestion of the U.S. seaports has led to delivery times violation.

Stable oil prices after the shocks of 2020 create preconditions for the polyethylene prices equilibrium. However, the rise in freight rates leads to higher prices for polyethylene. The cost of container transportation at the beginning of 2021 increased by 1.5 times compared to those of 2020. It was caused by a shortage of containers and ships, as in 2020, the transportation of consumer goods from China to the U.S. increased significantly.

The global polyethylene market expansion should occur mainly due to the new capacities in Asia, most of which are to be located in China. The expected increase in China’s domestic production exceeds 700 thousand tonnes in 2021.

As the polyethylene market keeps on growing, more and more plastic waste needs to be recycled. Building new plastic recycling plants becomes an urgent need to follow the course of the European Green Deal.

China to Expand the Domestic Production to Meet the Growing Demand While Saudi Arabia to Focus on Export

With 33M tonnes, China remains the largest polyethylene-consuming country worldwide, accounting for 37% of total volume. Moreover, polyethylene consumption in China exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest consumer, the U.S. (7.5M tonnes), fourfold. India (6.6M tonnes) ranked third in total consumption, with a 7.4% share (IndexBox estimates).

From 2012 to 2019, the average annual rate of growth in China amounted to +9.2%. In other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: the U.S. (+2.2% per year) and India (+3.5% per year).

In value terms, China ($69.9B) led the market alone. The second position in the ranking was occupied by the U.S. ($9.9B). It was followed by India.

In 2019, the amount of polyethylene in primary forms exported worldwide reached 49M tonnes, with an increase of 5.2% against 2018. The total export volume increased at an average annual rate of +3.1% from 2012 to 2019. In value terms, polyethylene exports fell to $55B (IndexBox estimates) in 2019.

In 2019, Saudi Arabia (9.2M tonnes), distantly followed by the U.S. (5.7M tonnes), Singapore (2.8M tonnes), Belgium (2.8M tonnes), Iran (2.6M tonnes), and the United Arab Emirates (2.3M tonnes) were the major exporters of polyethylene in primary forms, together committing 52% of total exports. South Korea (2.1M tonnes), Thailand (2M tonnes), Germany (1.9M tonnes), Qatar (1.7M tonnes), Canada (1.7M tonnes), Malaysia (1.4M tonnes), and the Netherlands (1.4M tonnes) followed a long way behind the leaders (IndexBox estimates).

From 2012 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments amongst the key exporting countries was attained by Malaysia, while exports for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Saudi Arabia ($9.3B), the U.S. ($7B), and Belgium ($3.6B) appeared to be the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2019, together accounting for 36% of global exports. These countries were followed by Singapore, Germany, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Thailand, Canada, Qatar, the Netherlands, and Malaysia, which together accounted for a further 40%.

Source: IndexBox AI Platform

pvc
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Robust Growth in the Asian Construction Sector to Stimulate the PVC Market

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IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘World – Polyvinyl Chloride (In Primary Forms) – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends, and Insights.’ Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

The negative impact of the COVID crisis on the PVC market is offset by growing demand in the Asian construction industry and the global packaging market.

Key Trends and Insights

The main factor behind the PVC market growth is the high demand from the automotive and construction industries. Both were stagnating during the lockdown. However, according to Eurostat and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the construction sector began to recover since the second half of 2020.

Concerning environmental trends, PVC is an attractive promising material. The use of PVC in the automotive industry reduces vehicle weight, thereby improving fuel economy and minimizing carbon dioxide emissions.

The rapidly expanding construction industries in China and India to become the main drivers of PVC consumption growth over the medium term. In India, construction growth has been accelerated significantly due to the government’s “Housing for All” program. Domestic PVC production cannot fully meet the high demand in India, so more than half of the consumed PVC is imported. (IndexBox estimates)

Despite falls in the per capita income in many countries and the likelihood of the next COVID wave lockdown, the demand for flexible PVC packaging is steadily increasing since e-commerce develops rapidly.

Market performance is forecast to decelerate, expanding with an anticipated CAGR of +1.7% for the period from 2019 to 2030, projected to bring the market volume to 47M tonnes by the end of 2030.

Consumption by Country

The countries with the highest volumes of polyvinyl chloride consumption in 2019 were China (8.9M tonnes), India (6.4M tonnes), and the U.S. (4.3M tonnes), with a combined 50% share of global consumption.

From 2012 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of polyvinyl chloride consumption amongst the leading consuming countries was attained by India, while polyvinyl chloride consumption for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest polyvinyl chloride markets worldwide were China ($8B), India ($6B), and the U.S. ($4.4B), together comprising 49% of the global market.

Global Production

In 2019, the amount of polyvinyl chloride (in primary forms) produced worldwide was estimated at 37M tonnes, remaining constant against the previous year’s figure. In value terms, polyvinyl chloride production fell modestly to $35.2B in 2019, estimated at export prices.

The countries with the highest volumes of polyvinyl chloride production in 2019 were China (9M tonnes), the U.S. (6.8M tonnes), and India (2.3M tonnes), together accounting for 49% of global production.

Global Imports

In 2019, the amount of polyvinyl chloride imported worldwide rose slightly to 16M tonnes, surging by 1.6% compared with the year before. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +3.6% from 2012 to 2019.

In value terms, polyvinyl chloride imports declined modestly to $16.1B (IndexBox estimates) in 2019.

India was the key importing country with an import of around 4.1M tonnes, which accounted for 25% of total imports. It was distantly followed by China (934K tonnes), constituting a 5.8% share of total imports. Italy (670K tonnes), Germany (646K tonnes), Turkey (628K tonnes), Belgium (517K tonnes), Canada (501K tonnes), Viet Nam (406K tonnes), Brazil (392K tonnes), Poland (388K tonnes), Mexico (349K tonnes), Bangladesh (319K tonnes) and the U.S. (310K tonnes) held a little share of total imports.

India was also the fastest-growing in polyvinyl chloride imports, with a CAGR of +20.2% from 2012 to 2019.

In value terms, India ($3.8B) constitutes the largest market for imported polyvinyl chloride (in primary forms) worldwide, comprising 24% of global imports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by China ($991M), with a 6.1% share of global imports. It was followed by Germany, with a 4.1% share.

In India, polyvinyl chloride imports expanded at an average annual rate of +18.0% over the period from 2012-2019. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: China (-5.5% per year) and Germany (-2.2% per year).

The average polyvinyl chloride import price stood at $995 per tonne in 2019.

Source: IndexBox AI Platform

spice
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The Spice Market to Be Supported by Rising Household Demand During the Pandemic

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IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘World – Spices – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends, and Insights.’ Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

The pandemic forced us to change the way we live. People started to eat more at home, which caused some changes in the distribution channels of spices. During the lockdown, the drop in demand from retail was offset by a sharp surge in household demand.

The most exported spices in 2020 were chili pepper (2.6 million tonnes were exported) and caraway (1.53 million tonnes). There were also increases in cardamom exports (up to 369% as compared to 2019) and turmeric (up to 42%). The growing popularity of these spices during the pandemic was associated with a widely held view on their ability to increase human immunity. During the year, there were sharp jumps in the prices of some spices, such as ginger. (IndexBox estimates)

The leading exporter and producer of spices, India increased exports of these products by 19% between April and September 2020 compared to the same period the previous year. In the first 3 quarters of 2020, India exported over 800 thousand tons of spices. The total Indian exports reached over 900 thousand tons in 2020.

Driven by increasing demand for spice worldwide, the market is expected to continue an upward consumption trend over the next decade.

Global Spice Exports to Keep on Growing

For the fourth consecutive year, the global market recorded growth in spices’ overseas shipments, which increased by 1% to 3.4M tonnes in 2019. The total export volume increased at an average annual rate of +3.3% over the period from 2012 to 2019; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations observed in certain years. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2014 when exports increased by 14% year-to-year. Over the period under review, global exports hit record highs in 2019 and are likely to see gradual growth in years to come.

In value terms, spice exports contracted to $10.1B (IndexBox estimates) in 2019. The total export value increased at an average annual rate of +4.0% from 2012 to 2019; the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations recorded throughout the analyzed period. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2014 when exports increased by 18% year-to-year. Global exports peaked at $10.5B in 2018 and then reduced modestly in the following year.

India (905K tonnes) and China (798K tonnes) represented roughly 51% of spices’ total exports in 2019. It was distantly followed by Viet Nam (277K tonnes), creating an 8.2% share of total exports. The following exporters – Indonesia (128K tonnes), the Netherlands (109K tonnes), Brazil (106K tonnes), Spain (87K tonnes), Thailand (82K tonnes), Peru (58K tonnes), and Turkey (56K tonnes) – together made up 19% of total exports.

In value terms, India ($1.8B), China ($1.3B), and Viet Nam ($824M) were the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2019, together comprising 39% of global exports. These countries were followed by Indonesia, the Netherlands, Spain, Brazil, Turkey, Peru, and Thailand, which accounted for a further 19%.

Source: IndexBox AI Platform

data center
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Data Center Server Market is Projected to Reach 100 Billion by 2027

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According to a recent study from market research firm Global Market Insights, Growing demand for high-performance servers worldwide is expected to boost the data center server market size in the coming years. There has been a high demand for advanced data center infrastructure solutions in recent years across many industries. Driven by increasing demand, numerous data center business operators are expanding their presence into untapped regions. Industries across the Asia Pacific and North America are increasingly relying on cloud data centers. As per a report published by Global Market Insights, the global data center server market is expected to exceed USD 100 billion by 2027.

Key players functioning in the data center server market are focusing on launching new innovative solutions to strengthen their market position. They are also offering supporting software solutions for remote monitoring of servers. For instance, Chinese technology major, Lenovo Ltd. offers servers that provide easy setup, firmware, and remote server management with the latest Intel Active Management Technology.

Notably, the recent adoption of digitalization in healthcare has also played a major role in surging the demand for data center servers. Healthcare organizations are gradually accepting online methods of payment like the adoption of POS terminals for contactless transactions. To employ an integrated platform that controls payment transactions, the healthcare sector is edging towards the use of cloud POS software solutions across premises.

Elaborated below are some of the key trends driving data center server market expansion:

1) Rising demand for tower servers

Tower servers are witnessing a high demand as they deliver versatile storage configurations and powerful performance in a small footprint for SMBs to big institutions. These servers have the capacity for high optimization and customization, hence allowing firms to adopt a server configuration that fits to their requirements. Compared to other servers, tower servers ensure quiet operations. The agility and scalability provided by tower servers can propel their demand by expanding and emerging businesses.

2) Increasing adoption in the healthcare sector

Several healthcare organizations are using POS terminals to allow contactless transactions and accept digital payments during the pandemic. They are adopting cloud POS software solutions to employ an integrated platform that controls payment transactions throughout the whole premise. The industry is also using technologies like telemedicine and video conferencing, in order to enable remote consultations. The growing presence of digitalization is likely to fuel the demand for data center infrastructure solutions for efficiently managing data.

3) Presence of key automotive manufacturers in Europe

The promising manufacturing sector along with the rising adoption of advanced digital technologies is expected to boost the demand for data center servers for networking and data storage. Major automotive manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW AG are using sophisticated technologies including IoT and machine learning, in their production centers to accelerate productivity. A surge in data traffic could drive the demand for advanced IT infrastructures which can efficiently help transfer and store vast volumes of data.

Key Companies covered in the data center server market are Acnodes, AsusTek Computer Inc., ATOS SE, Cepoint Networks LLC, Cisco Systems Inc., Dell Technologies Inc., Fujitsu Ltd., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Hitachi Ltd., Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., IBM Corporation, Inspur Group, Intel Corporation, Lenovo Group Ltd., NEC Corporation, Nvidia Corporation, Oracle Corporation, Panaro Tech Private Ltd., Premio Inc., Super Micro Computer Inc.

Source:  https://www.gminsights.com/pressrelease/data-center-server-market

Ferrosilicon
Archives, Global Trade Daily, Imports/Exports

Ferrosilicon Consumption to Continue Rising Due to the Growth of Solar Energy

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IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘World – Ferro-Silicon – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

Last year, the pandemic hit hard the ferrosilicon-consuming industries, primarily the automotive and metallurgy sectors. The market experienced a short-term oversupply, which, coupled with falling production costs, led to a decline in ferrosilicon prices. However, this did not last long. The rapid recovery of the Chinese economy and rising logistics costs have swung the price pendulum in the opposite direction. As the global economy returns to normal, the demand for ferrosilicon will continue to grow. The development of the solar power industry in China and the United States is expected to be a key driver, as is the shift to electric vehicles.

Global ferrosilicon exports are estimated at $3.5B, according to IndexBox data. Its value increased at an average annual rate of +3.9% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period.

Based on 2019 figures, exports increased by +37.0% against 2016 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2010 with an increase of 48% against the previous year. Over the period under review, global exports hit record highs at $4.2B in 2011; however, from 2012 to 2019, exports remained at a lower figure.

Exports by Country

China (616K tonnes), distantly followed by Russia (381K tonnes), Malaysia (271K tonnes), Norway (199K tonnes), the Netherlands (197K tonnes) and Brazil (135K tonnes) represented the largest exporters of ferrosilicon, together making up 66% of total exports. France (102K tonnes), Iceland (95K tonnes), Poland (75K tonnes), Germany (72K tonnes), Ukraine (57K tonnes), Canada (48K tonnes), and South Africa (47K tonnes) followed a long way behind the leaders.

From 2009 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the leading exporting countries, was attained by Malaysia, while exports for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, China ($811M), Russia ($459M), and Malaysia ($286M) constituted the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2019, with a combined 45% share of global exports.

Among the main exporting countries, Malaysia recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

The average ferrosilicon export price stood at $1,268 per tonne in 2019, which is down by -12.8% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the export price recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 when the average export price increased by 19% year-to-year. Over the period under review, average export prices hit record highs at $1,557 per tonne in 2011; however, from 2012 to 2019, export prices remained at a lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2019, the country with the highest price was Canada ($1,583 per tonne), while Malaysia ($1,053 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2009 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Malaysia, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Imports by Country

In 2019, Japan (440K tonnes), followed by South Korea (260K tonnes), Germany (242K tonnes), India (221K tonnes), the U.S. (197K tonnes), the Netherlands (128K tonnes), Spain (127K tonnes) and Italy (124K tonnes) were the main importers of ferrosilicon, together achieving 64% of total imports. The following importers – Belgium (111K tonnes), Turkey (97K tonnes), Austria (59K tonnes), China (47K tonnes), and Indonesia (44K tonnes) – together made up 13% of total imports.

From 2009 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of purchases, amongst the key importing countries, was attained by China, while imports for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Japan ($595M), South Korea ($301M), and Germany ($300M) were the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2019, with a combined 36% share of global imports. The U.S., India, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Turkey, Spain, Austria, Indonesia, and China lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 41%.

Among the main importing countries, China recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

In 2019, the average ferrosilicon import price amounted to $1,233 per tonne, dropping by -16.9% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the import price recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2018 when the average import price increased by 18% year-to-year. Over the period under review, average import prices hit record highs at $1,657 per tonne in 2011; however, from 2012 to 2019, import prices remained at a lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by the country of destination; the country with the highest price was the U.S. ($1,492 per tonne), while Spain ($631 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2009 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Turkey, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox AI Platform

heat pump
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3 Major Trends Characterizing Global Heat Pump Market Outlook Between 2020-2026

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The global heat pump market is anticipated to observe heavy growth owing to rising environmental concerns across the globe. In addition, the implementation of heating technologies that are energy-efficient is further likely to shape the market growth over the coming years.

Apart from environmental concerns, the growing installation of reliable and cost-effective heating technologies throughout the commercial and residential sectors is slated to be the major factor augmenting the overall market demand.

Additionally, increasing consumer awareness around energy optimization coupled with growing urbanization across the globe will further proliferate the industry share through 2026. Favorable initiatives introduced by the government along with decreasing component prices are likely to create new business chances for market players, thereby augmenting the overall industry share.

According to a research report by Global Market Insights, Inc., the global heat pump market is projected to exceed 16 million units by 2026.

Below are the top trends that are expected to help the industry reach the aforementioned level of growth.

Favorable regulatory initiatives: 

The heat pump market is slated to observe considerable growth owing to supportive regulatory incentives and schemes globally. In addition, expanding efforts to reduce carbon footprints as well as growing energy prices should majorly outline the market growth through 2026.

Citing an instance, as per the NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority), the new incentive initiated for the whole house system having $1,000 per ton cooling capacity, single-family home is expected to get about $3,000 to $4,000 as financial assistance.

WSHP to gain major traction:

The water source heat pump (WSHP) product segment is projected to observe heavy growth owing to its advantages over ground source or air source heat pumps. In addition, strict regulatory norms to tackle greenhouse gases are likely to outline the water source heat pump’s growth through 2026. These pumps use very little energy as compared to other sources.

The WSHP needs a water source, including rivers and lakes, that are heated by the sun with some support from a small amount of electricity. WSHP boast of a high level of efficiency having a CoP of approximately five, which means each unit of electricity gives five units of heat.

Furthermore, WSHP units don’t need any deep excavations which are required in ground source heat pumps. Longer life and quieter operations are better offered by WSHP units, which should augment their growth in the future.

Mounting deployment across Europe:

The growing need for heating appliances in the residential sector is anticipated to augment the European heat pump market share. Extreme climatic conditions in the region have led to the growth in the sales of heating pumps. The market is projected to observe the growth of more than 5% through 2026. Additionally, heat pumps help in the reduction of carbon footprints, which might add up to their market demand in the future.

Increasing deployment in the residential sector and stringent government norms to curb carbon emission are some of the major factors indicating a definitive growth opportunity for heat pump market players. The competitive landscape of the heat pump market is inclusive of players such as Danfoss, Glen Dimplex, Bosch Thermotechnology, Viessmann, Trane, and Valliant Group among others.

nonwoven clothing
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Growing Awareness Regarding Workplace Safety Likely to Increase Demand for Nonwoven Protective Clothing

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Nonwovens are well-bonded, web-structured fabrics that are produced using chemical, mechanical or thermal processes. They are excellent in resisting abrasions, ignitions and are repellant to liquids and airborne particles. Nonwovens also produce breathable clothing whilst having excellent tensile strength.

Driven by the aforementioned attributes, nonwoven protective clothing market size is poised to witness appreciable proceeds in the coming years. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has increased the importance of personal protective equipment in the healthcare industry. Nonwoven fabrics are used for creating a protective layer to the PPE’s which can protect healthcare workers from hazardous chemicals, bacteria, and pathogens.

The rising number of patient admissions has increased the importance of protective apparel in hospitals, thereby increasing its production. In fact, as per a report by the China Global Television Network, a factory in Foshan is producing over 80 tons of nonwovens every day which can be used for making over one million surgical masks or over 400,000 protective suits. These factors clearly justify the insistence regarding nonwoven fabrics in the PPE manufacturing industry.

Speaking of which, polypropylene, a single-use plastic nonwoven material, has been widely used in recent times for making PPEs like face masks, shields, gowns, goggles, shoes, and headcovers for healthcare workers. Similarly, polyethylene has garnered significant importance in protective clothing production in the Asia Pacific region. For instance, in India, researchers at IIT Kanpur developed polythene PPE kits for healthcare staff to protect them from contracting the Sars-Cov-2 virus.

Polyethylene-based equipment is cost-effective and can be produced in large volumes at local factories. Usage of these materials has benefitted the healthcare organizations operating in underdeveloped and developing nations in effectively fighting the COVID outbreak. Such a soaring demand is likely to increase the production of nonwoven protective clothing across the world.

The nonwoven fabric industries have initiated to produce cost-effective products with the integration of paper, pulp technologies. The supply chain sector of this industry has improved over the years with automated converting being at the fulcrum. With the growing usage of automation for producing large volumes of fabrics at low per-unit production costs, the demand for nonwoven protective clothing is likely to expand over the coming years.

Talking about advancements, the integration of printing technology in the nonwoven clothing industry has improved the quality of protective apparel at lower production costs. The printed nonwoven fabric has the potential of replacing many conventional structures. It will significantly reduce production costs by replacing hundreds of traditional looms with accurately sized nonwoven fabric machinery. This shall also reduce the overall power consumption, lowering carbon footprints. Such environment-friendly advancements will possibly expand the nonwoven clothing industry.

The market for nonwoven protective clothing in North America has significantly increased over the years. This is primarily due to the rising number of healthcare institutions and increased awareness pertaining to worker safety. Government organizations have implemented regulations regarding the importance of using protective gear in different sectors like oil & gas, healthcare, which will possibly increase the demand for nonwoven protective clothing in the region.

Similarly, the Asia Pacific region is likely to showcase rapid growth in the coming years. There has been a soaring rise in the number of life-threatening workplace incidents in countries like Japan, India and China. Governments have initiated regulatory actions for promoting awareness regarding workplace safety, increasing the usage of protective apparel in hospitals, manufacturing plants, automotive factories, etc.

Many manufacturers are taking initiatives in producing protective clothing using nonwovens. To support this statement with an instance, Dupont has started a program named #TyvekTogether under which they have produced over 100 million PPE kits to be provided to frontline and healthcare workers. Furthermore, Dupont has produced a new type of fabric, Tyvek 1222A for bolstering the production of PPE kits. Ferra manufacturing of New York joined this initiative and started using the fabric for producing isolation gowns and they have manufactured over 400,000 isolation gowns.

Such initiatives by key manufactures are likely to promote the usage of protective clothing, helping these players in establishing their market position across the nonwoven protective clothing industry.

MDF
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Hampered by the Pandemic, the Global MDF Market to Pursue Only Measured Growth

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IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘World – MDF – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

The global MDF market declined slightly to $45.9B in 2019, which is down by -4.8% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers’ margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). The market value increased at an average annual rate of +1.4% from 2013 to 2019; the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations being observed in certain years. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2018 with an increase of 13% y-o-y. As a result, consumption reached the peak level of $48.2B and then fell modestly in the following year.

Consumption by Country

China (53M cubic meters) Fremains the largest MDF consuming country worldwide, accounting for 52% of total volume. Moreover, MDF consumption in China exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest consumer, the U.S. (4.6M cubic meters), more than tenfold. The third position in this ranking was occupied by Turkey (4.4M cubic meters), with a 4.3% share.

In China, MDF consumption remained relatively stable over the period from 2013-2019. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: the U.S. (+3.4% per year) and Turkey (+0.7% per year).

In value terms, China ($24.5B) led the market, alone. The second position in the ranking was occupied by the U.S. ($2.9B). It was followed by Turkey.

The countries with the highest levels of MDF per capita consumption in 2019 were Belarus (178 cubic meters per 1000 persons), Poland (89 cubic meters per 1000 persons) and Turkey (53 cubic meters per 1000 persons). Moreover, MDF per capita consumption in Belarus exceeded the figures recorded by the world’s second-largest consumer, Poland, twofold.

Market Forecast to 2030

Taking into account the vulnerability of the construction sector to the pandemic, as well as reduced investment and consumer spending, it is expected that in 2020, global consumption of MDF declined somewhat against 2019. in the medium term, as the global economy recovers from the effects of the pandemic, the market is expected to grow gradually, driven by rising population and recovering incomes. Overall, market performance is forecast to pursue a slightly upward trend over the next decade, expanding with an anticipated CAGR of +1.1% for the period from 2019 to 2030, which is projected to bring the market volume to 115M cubic meters (IndexBox estimates) by the end of 2030.

Production

In 2019, the amount of MDF produced worldwide reduced slightly to 102M cubic meters, leveling off at 2018 figures. The total output volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.3% from 2013 to 2019; the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations in certain years.

Production by Country

China (55M cubic meters) constituted the country with the largest volume of mdf production, accounting for 54% of total volume. Moreover, MDF production in China exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest producer, Turkey (4.8M cubic meters), more than tenfold. Brazil (4.5M cubic meters) ranked third in terms of total production with a 4.4% share.

In China, MDF production remained relatively stable over the period from 2013-2019. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: Turkey (+1.9% per year) and Brazil (+1.5% per year).

Imports

Global MDF imports dropped to 14M cubic meters in 2019, shrinking by -8.1% on the previous year. In general, imports, however, showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 with an increase of 8% year-to-year. As a result, imports attained the peak of 16M cubic meters and then shrank in the following year. In value terms, mdf imports dropped to $6.5B (IndexBox estimates) in 2019.

Imports by Country

In 2019, the U.S. (1.5M cubic meters), followed by the UK (581K cubic meters), Italy (573K cubic meters), Japan (524K cubic meters), the Netherlands (495K cubic meters), Poland (478K cubic meters), France (469K cubic meters), Germany (445K cubic meters), Saudi Arabia (406K cubic meters), the United Arab Emirates (378K cubic meters), Belgium (374K cubic meters), Uzbekistan (364K cubic meters) and Mexico (361K cubic meters) were the major importers of mdf, together comprising 49% of total imports.

Imports into the U.S. increased at an average annual rate of +5.3% from 2013 to 2019. At the same time, Poland (+24.6%), Uzbekistan (+19.9%), Belgium (+8.3%), the Netherlands (+3.9%), Germany (+2.8%) and the UK (+1.2%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Poland emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in the world, with a CAGR of +24.6% from 2013-2019. Italy, Japan and the United Arab Emirates experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, Mexico (-4.2%), France (-4.3%) and Saudi Arabia (-9.0%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period.

In value terms, the U.S. ($895M) constitutes the largest market for imported mdf worldwide, comprising 14% of global imports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by the UK ($341M), with a 5.3% share of global imports. It was followed by France, with a 4.6% share.

From 2013 to 2019, the average annual rate of growth in terms of value in the U.S. totaled +6.3%. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: the UK (+3.1% per year) and France (-1.8% per year).

Import Prices by Country

The average MDF import price stood at $452 per cubic meter in 2019, remaining constant against the previous year. Overall, the import price showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2017 an increase of 4.8% against the previous year. Over the period under review, average import prices hit record highs at $476 per cubic meter in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2019, import prices failed to regain the momentum.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2019, the country with the highest price was France ($629 per cubic meter), while Uzbekistan ($242 per cubic meter) was amongst the lowest.

From 2013 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by France, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox AI Platform

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Spunbonded Fabric to Remain in the Mix for PP Nonwovens Market

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Technical advancements in nonwoven processing and fabric finishing have prompted leading companies to expand their penetration in the global staples PP nonwovens market. Nonwovens have become one of the most prevalently used textile products in an ocean of end-use industries, including feminine hygiene, baby diapers, wipes, automotive, medical, industrial, and geotextiles.

As the demand for polypropylene nonwovens soars for wet filtration in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, PP spun-bonded fabrics have become immensely popular in geotextiles, diaper linings, and agriculture. Spunbonded nonwovens have gained ground for the outer layer of a range of medical masks which are breathable and can protect the inner layer maintaining the mask integrity.

Geotextile makers are profoundly favoring staple PP nonwoven owing to greater flexibility, latitude, and higher tear resistance under impact load. Globally, staples PP nonwovens market size is estimated to grow at a considerable rate by 2026.

Traction for meltblown PP nonwovens has become noticeable in manufacturing products in the automotive, medical, personal hygiene, and electrical and electronics sectors. Pressing use of polypropylene nonwoven fabric made from chemical or thermal web bonding has mustered up the confidence of meltblown nonwovens manufacturers.

Amidst the COVID-19 fallout, staple PP nonwoven fabric in surgical masks with high bacterial filtration efficiency has surged in traction. Not to mention, the middle layer of surgical gowns made of meltblown polypropylene has gained impetus among the masses.

Medical industry players have exhibited increased traction for nonwovens for superior efficiency, better protection, increased performance, and less potential for cross-contamination. Nonwoven textiles will continue to play a pivotal role in the manufacturing of medical products, including dressings, surgical pads, implantable textiles, and filtration materials.

The emergence of nonwovens has triggered the development of a cost-effective alternative and can minimize the problem of cross-contamination immensely. Staples PP nonwovens are expected to be the material of choice for several wound care and surgical applications.

ExxonMobil joined hands with the Nonwoven Institute (NWI) in May 2020 to help rev up face mask production for front lines amidst the pandemic. Reportedly, NWI is supplying the meltblown and spunbond nonwoven fabrics to medical masks’ manufacturers. ExxonMobil is said to have donated around 146,00 pounds of PP and PP-based performance polymers to NWI.

SABAIC teamed up with Fibertex Personal Care in October 2020 to come up with nonwovens using recycled plastics. They claim it to be what they call the world’s first nonwovens range based on recycled plastic in the hygiene market. SABAIC’s circular polypropylene is all set to be used to make the new nonwovens, while they assert the new material could be used as a drop-in solution for keeping up with consumer safety and purity.

The automotive sector has become one of the major revenue-generating hubs following the trend for lightweight cars with aesthetics and improved comfort. Prevalence of staples PP nonwovens in the construction and design of transportation means, including trains, airplanes, boats, satellites, and spacecraft has augured well for the industry size expansion.

Expanding penetration of PP nonwovens in car components, including fuel filters, air filters, doors, seats, and trims has triggered growth in the landscape. It is worth noting that the footfall of nonwoven fabrics will remain pronounced to meet the demand for non-flammable textiles.

Nonwovens that improve acoustical performance and boost weight reduction are likely to remain in the mix, with the use of polypropylene nonwovens fostering sound absorption at lower frequencies to reduce weight, cost, and interior noise levels.

Industry players are expected to infuse funds in North America staples PP nonwovens industry following the roll-out of PP nonwoven surgical masks to combat coronavirus. The medical sector is touted to be one of the major recipients of PP nonwovens. With the footprint of nonwovens in automotive sectors in the U.S. become more palpable than ever before, stakeholders project a bullish outlook in the region.

Asia Pacific is expected to be a major consumer of nonwovens in the wake of the growing popularity of meltblown and spun-bonded fabrics in hygiene, medical and furniture applications. A notable uptick in the birthrates in emerging economies in the region has accentuated the demand for diapers and hygiene products, auguring well for leading companies vying to bolster their footholds in APAC.

Considering the trend for staples PP nonwovens among end-markets, new entrants are likely to be witnessed in the next five years. The presence of advanced healthcare systems in North America, Europe, and APAC will be a growth-stimulator, while stakeholders will potentially emphasize sustainability and innovation-focused trends.