Bouncing back

European thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) companies are growing steadily in many of their key markets, and this growth is currently highest in the regulated products sector. The market has perceptibly modified its distribution and consumer purchasing patterns due to several structural changes during 2001-2004.

Some of these structural changes include US companies entering into alliances with European suppliers, Asian organisations continuing to make inroads into the European market and European suppliers entrenching themselves in Asia. For instance, ExxonMobil Chemical is building strategic alliances to promote Santoprene in China, India and Southeast Asia and Noveon has begun building a new plant to meet local demand for its thermoplastic polyurethane (TPUs) near Shanghai.

These trends have created a more global TPE market as well as multi-region business structures in leading companies. There is a shift to more regional sourcing from global suppliers and a greater role for direct sales at the expense of independent distributors.