Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) Market Trends

Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene market overview

Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) Market is projected to be worth USD 367.4 Million by 2027, registering a CAGR of 7.89% during the forecast period (2021-2027). ETFE-based coatings are highly durable and weatherable. They last for around 30 years, far longer than traditional paints or coatings- 10 years for conventional paints). They can be cured at room temperature, ideal for outdoor and on-site applications. ETFE has the ability to handle a variety of temperatures and weather conditions, which makes it a popular choice for coatings in the automotive industry. ETFE coatings have even been used for building the pneumatic panels on the exterior of the Beijing National Aquatics Center and other buildings, including the New Atlanta Stadium, the US Bank Stadium in the United States, Eden Project, and others like the National Space Centre in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong’s Green 18 in the Hong Kong Science Park, Allianz Arena in Germany, and the Forsyth Barr Stadium in New Zealand.

ETFE is considered ideal for any applications involving radiation resistance, and these abilities make it fit for common usage in the chemicals industry. Sometimes, it is used as a dual laminate and bonded to fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP) in tanks and pipes. It is also used for electrical applications and commonly covers electrical wiring, especially for wires in spacecraft or aircraft. However, the growth of various growing industries provides potential opportunities for propelling the demand for the ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) market in the coming years.

Key Players

3M (US), AGC Inc. (Japan), Hubei Everflon Polymer CO., Ltd. (China), DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, Ltd. (Japan), Vector Foiltec. (Germany), DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (US), Li Chang Technology (Ganzhou) Co., Ltd. (China), and Ensinger (Germany).

Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene is a fluorine-based copolymer of ethylene and Tetrafluoroethylene (TFE). It is known for its high-performance characteristics, such as excellent strength and high resistance over a wide temperature range. In addition to this, ETFE is lightweight and exhibits high light transmittance thus is widely used as an attractive replacement for glass in outdoor constructional activities. For instance, some of the well-known structures that have ETFE material in their construction are Allianz Arena in Munich, Eden Project in the UK, and Beijing Olympic swimming stadium. Moreover, it also finds applications in other end-use industries such as automotive, nuclear, and medical.

The global market is expected to be driven by increased demand for ETFE in construction applications such as roofing for courtyards, shopping malls, and commercial buildings. This is primarily attributed to the increased use of the material on account of its high radiation resistance and aesthetic appearance. In addition, ETFE owing to its exceptional dirt and wear resistance and high durability is also used in solar panel applications. Moreover, the material is recyclable and does not cause any hazardous emissions in the environment, thus making it suitable use in sustainable buildings. This is further fueling the demand for the product in the global market.

Furthermore, the surging demand for ETFE due to its high-performance applications in the automotive and medical industry are further creating lucrative opportunities for the players operating in the global ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) market.

However, the acoustic transparency of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene is likely to hamper its growth in the global market. Additionally, despite its high strength, ETFE can be punctured easily, thus is generally not used in exterior walls and window applications. This further poses a limitation to the growth of the global market.

Global Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene Market Share, by Region, 2018 (%)  

Source: MRFR Analysis

Regional Analysis

The Global Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene Market is analyzed for five major regions, namely, North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.

The market in Asia-Pacific dominates the global ethylene tetrafluoroethylene market and is projected to register highest the CAGR during the forecast period owing to the rapidly growing industrialization and constructional activities in the region. The increased use of ETFE material in the automotive sector of emerging economies of countries in Asia-Pacific is further expected to drive the regional market demand. China, followed by India and other South-East Asian countries, emerged as the largest consumer of global ethylene tetrafluoroethylene market. Additionally, the rising product innovations to subdue the growing product demand from end-use industry is further boosting the regional market growth. For instance, in 2015, AGC Inc., a world-leading manufacturer of glass, chemicals and high-tech materials, launched a new product of Fluon LM-ETFE AH series named Fluon LM-ETFE LH 800 for automotive fuel hose systems exhibiting excellent adhesion properties and wide temperature range of 200-300 degree Celsius. This product launch has helped the company to deliver high value-added products across the global markets and expand its global footprint.

North America accounted for a substantial market share in 2018. The growing demand for ETPE material in construction applications and the rising residential and commercial activities in the US is expected to drive the market. In addition, the use of the product owing to its high mechanical toughness, in aircraft and spacecraft wiring applications is further augmenting the demand in the region.

Europe is also expected to register significant growth during the forecast period due to a shift towards environment-friendly products on account of rising environmental concerns in the region. Germany, Belgium, and France are the major countries contributing the regional market growth.

Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are expected to show healthy growth during the forecast period owing to the increasing construction activities and expanding the automotive industry in the regions.

Segmentation

The Global Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene Market has been segmented based on technology, application, end-use industry, and region.

Based on technology, the global market is divided into extrusion and injection.

Based on product form, the global market is bifurcated into pellets/granules and powder.

Based on application, the global market has been classified into films & sheets, wires & cables, tubes, and coatings

Based on end-use industry, the global market has been classified into automotive, construction, aerospace & defense, nuclear, medical, and others

By region, the market has been categorized as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.

Recent Development

Production capacity of ETFE films and membranes in Germany for Vector Foiltec GmbH was expanded as announced on June 2023. It expects to finish the expansion in 2024 so that it can increase the company’s yearly production by 50 percent.

In May 2023, Daikin Industries, Ltd., a Japanese chemical company, announced the development of a new type of ETFE film that is more resistant to UV radiation. This new film is expected to find use in roofing materials, greenhouses and sports stadiums, among others.

In April 2023, Solvay (a Belgian chemicals firm) declared opening their new ETFE plant in China. The total annual capacity of this facility will equal ten thousand tons.

An American multinational conglomerate called 3M Company disclosed recently in March 2023 about its innovative line of roofing membrane under the brand name ETFE, which can be applied both in greenhouses and sports arenas.

The French-based chemicals giant Arkema revealed its agreement with Dongyue Group, a Chinese producer of ETFEs films, around February 2023. This purchase will boost their presence within the global market for ETFEs.