With strong demand in the downstream market, the TPU material industry will usher in a period of rapid development

TPU material, also known as thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, is a polymer synthetic material with a wide range of hardness, outstanding mechanical properties, high transparency, degradability, and strong processability, and has a wide range of applications. There are currently many types of TPU products on the market, which can be subdivided into polyester TPU, polyether TPU, etc. according to different application fields and performance requirements.

The upstream of the TPU material industry chain is the raw material supply layer. The main raw materials of TPU materials are polyols, diisocyanates, chain extenders, etc. There are a large number of domestic suppliers and sufficient market supply, which is beneficial to the TPU material industry in reducing production costs. The middle reaches of the industrial chain is the manufacturing link. TPU material production processes are divided into two types: phosgene method and non-phosgene method. Among them, the non-phosgene method has the advantages of environmental protection, energy saving, and good product quality, and is the main process used by Chinese enterprises for production. TPU materials are rich in variety and have excellent properties, and are widely used in downstream end markets of the industrial chain such as leather, automobiles, electronics, and medical care.

According to the “China TPU Material Industry Market In-depth Assessment and 2023-2027 Investment Feasibility Consultation Report” released by the Industrial Research Center, The shoemaking industry has particularly strong demand for TPU materials. TPU material has excellent wear resistance, slip resistance, elasticity and other properties. It is highly matched with the needs of the shoemaking industry and is widely used in sports soles, insoles and other aspects. In addition, with the development of technology, the application value of TPU materials in automobiles, electronics, medical and other fields has been continuously explored, providing a broad market space for the development of the TPU material industry.

TPU materials belong to the field of polymer synthetic materials, and the development of the industry is strongly supported by national policies. In February 2023, the State Council issued the “Outline for Building a Quality Power”, which focused on promoting the intelligent development of polymer synthetic material technology, strengthening the application of polymer synthetic materials, and expanding the application fields of polymer synthetic materials. Against this background, the TPU material industry is developing rapidly. In addition, the country vigorously promotes environmental protection policies and urges various industries to carry out green production, prompting the TPU material industry to improve the environmental performance of products, reform the production process, and promote the high-quality development of the TPU material industry in the direction of environmental protection and intelligence.

At present, domestic TPU material companies include Meirui New Materials, Yinuowei, Xinhongli, Huntsman, Wanhua Chemical, etc. Among them, Meirui New Material has been deeply involved in TPU materials for many years and is a leading company in the domestic market. According to the company’s annual report, Meirui New Material’s TPU material sales will reach 1.4 billion yuan in 2022. In 2023, two foreign chemical giants, BASF and Covestro, announced that they would build a TPU material production base in my country, which is expected to inject fresh vitality into my country’s TPU material market.

Industry analysts said that due to the strong demand in the downstream market, the TPU material industry will usher in a period of rapid development. my country’s TPU material companies should seize the opportunity, increase investment in technological innovation and R&D, optimize production technology, improve product quality, and improve production efficiency. At the same time, they should strengthen the connections between upstream and downstream enterprises in the industry chain, coordinate development, and jointly create a complete TPU material industry chain. In addition, TPU material companies should also increase publicity efforts to enhance public awareness of TPU materials and expand potential market demand.