According to a research study conducted by the US company BCC Research, the global production of WPC products (wood-plastic composites) is set to reach 4.6 million tons by 2016 as against 2.4 million tons in 2011, with an average growth of approximately 14% a year. The building sector will account for most of this increase, reaching a total of 3.2 million tons (+12% average growth), followed by automotive components with 0.8 million tons (+17%).
The United States represent a major market for wood-plastic composites and the pickup of the building industry should push the demand to about 1.2 million tons over the next three-year period. In Europe instead, the production might reach 0.36 million tons, with an average of 13% a year.