Textile reinforcement demand to grow 4.5% a year to 2010

Amherst, Massachusetts - Global demand for textile reinforcements used in the rubber industry will reach 1.5 million tonnes a year by 2010, according to "Tire Cord World Data Book 2005," published this month by Notch Consulting Group.

That represents growth of 4.5 percent a year from the 1.2 million tonnes of demand in 2004, according to the forecast. Notch Consulting based the estimate on projected tyre production of 1700 million tyres in 2010.

Demand for tyre cord fabric will grow slightly faster than tyre production because of a movement toward the production of more high performance tyres and larger-diameter light truck and sport-utility vehicle tyres, as well as a trend toward the use of more plies per tyre, the study said.

Tyre cord accounted for about 86 percent of the textile reinforcement used in the rubber industry in 2004, with the rest used in mechanical goods such as conveyor belts, V-belts and reinforced hose, according to the report.

The report is available for $4950 in either print or PDF versions from Notch.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)

Website of Notch Consulting