The Freedonia Group has just released a study that forecasts a 2% per year growth in international US glass fibre demand to reach almost £7BN by 2007. In the largest product segment, glass wool insulation, demand is expected to increase £1.4BN by 2007, the same growth as in the period 1997 to 2002. The advances will be stimulated by growing residential aftermarket demand and a buoyant non-residential building construction sector but slowed down by a slow residential building activity which accounts for more than 70% of overall fibreglass insulation value. Textile glass fibre demand is forecast at a growth rate of 2.5% per year to £2.8BN in 2007. Increases will reflect opportunities in reinforcement plastics applications in construction and electrical equipment areas. A copy of the 293 page report can be obtained from Freedonia (US$3,900) on email: pr@freedoniagroup.com
