World Flame Retardants

World demand for flame retardant additives is forecast to rise over 6 % per year to 2.2 million t in 2014, according to the industry study World Flame Retardants, published by the Freedonia Group. The Asia/Pacific region will continue to be largest and fastest-growing market for flame retardants, accounting for 49 % of world demand by 2014, followed by North America (23 %), Western Europe (19 %), and other regions (9 %). Gains will represent a substantial acceleration from the pace of the 2004 – 2009 period, during which demand was impacted by the effects of a global economic slowdown, especially in the mature markets of the USA, Western Europe, and Japan. In addition to an improved economic outlook, flame retardant demand will also benefit from trends toward more stringent safety and flammability standards, particularly in developing countries, and the rising use of plastic products instead of less flammable materials.

Concerns over the possibly damaging environmental and health effects of halogenated flame retardants have begun to cause a considerable shift in the product mix. Alumina trihydrate was the leading flame retardant product by volume in 2009, and is also expected to see above-average gains in demand through 2014. Even more rapid advances, however, are forecast for phosphorus compounds and other flame retardants such as magnesium hydroxide. Although brominated flame retardants are being phased out of a number of applications, demand for these products will remain healthy going forward, says Freedonia.