PODCAST: Downcast sentiment on European demand at PU event

LONDON (ICIS)–Market players expressed bearish views on consumption throughout value chains at the recently concluded polyurethanes (PU) exhibition and conference UTECH Europe held on 23-25 April in Maastricht, the Netherlands.

Zubair Adam, ICIS’s editor of European toluene diisocyanate (TDI), methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and polyols, and Umberto Torresan, ICIS senior analyst for isocyanates and polyols, attended the event. They share their engagements and discuss future developments that will shape demand in Europe for these products.

Polyols are reacted with isocyanates to make PUs, which are used to make mattresses, foam insulation for appliances, refrigerators and freezers, home and automotive seats, elastomeric shoe soles, fibres and adhesives.

The two main isocyanates, polymeric PMDI and TDI, are used mainly for the production of PU rigid and flexible foams used in insulation, construction, upholstery, mattresses and automotive seats.