New study pegs glass fiber demand at 8.1 billion lb in 2011

A new market report from The Freedonia Group Inc. (Cleveland, Ohio) projects total glass fiber demand in the U.S. will grow 2.3 percent annually and reach 8.1 billion lb (3.67 million metric tonnes) in 2011, with a total value of $7 billion (USD). That number is smaller than it could be, says the report, because textile glass fiber growth is expected to slow as nanomaterials displace them in the maturing composites market and because there will be downward pressure on fiber prices as lower-cost glass enters the world market from Asia.

Textile glass fiber growth is forecast to be 1.2 percent per annum, while glass wool growth - for insulation and filtration applications - will grow about 3 percent annually. According to Freedonia, subdued growth is anticipated in some construction applications (e.g., asphalt shingles) because of the decline in single-family housing starts. Gains in glass wool fiber for insulation will reflect rebounding demand in commercial and office building markets, however. Composite applications like insulative gaskets and thermal sleeving for wire and hose should be robust.

The report is available from The Freedonia Group. For more information, visit the group´s Web site: www.freedoniagroup.com.