United States. According to a recent market study, U.S. demand for adhesives and sealants is projected to increase 2.8% per year to 6.4 million pounds in 2019, worth $12.8 billion. A turnaround in construction activity, coupled with the expansion of the use of adhesives and sealants in manufacturing and assembly, will support demand gains.
According to analyst Carolyn Zulandt, "Adhesive bonding technologies will make further inroads into applications historically dominated by mechanical fasteners and other alternative bonding systems." Progress will be limited by trends toward formulations with high solids content and low-weight applications. Market maturity and slow growth in paper packaging and other key markets will further restrain increases, according to the study by The Freedonia Group Inc.
Emulsion and dispersion adhesives and sealants will continue to be the leading product type. The continued displacement of solvent-based products would support the increase as end users strive to comply with emissions regulations through the adoption of high water-based solids formulations.
The fastest annual growth through 2019 is expected to be for reactive adhesives and sealants, driven by growing demand in major markets and trends favoring higher value materials. Silicone and polyurethane adhesives and sealants will generate the fastest gains among reagent types, supported by their superior performance characteristics.
