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South African UPR Market Trends and Forecast
Lucintel finds that the future of the South African UPR market looks promising with opportunities in construction, pipe and tank, marine, transportation, and electrical and electronics end use industries. South African UPR market is expected to grow with a CAGR of 2% 2025 to 2031. The major driver for South African UPR market is increasing demand for UPR in the construction industry as there is an increasing use of light weight materials, and advanced properties of UPR as compared to other materials.
Most of the South African UPRs are made from raw materials like glycols (e.g., propylene glycol, diethylene glycol), unsaturated acids or anhydrides (e.g., maleic anhydride, fumaric acid), and saturated acids or anhydrides (e.g., phthalic anhydride, isophthalic acid). To reduce viscosity and enable crosslinking during the curing process, typically a reactive diluent such as styrene monomer is used. Additionally, there are inhibitors (such as hydroquinone) used to control the polymerization process and fillers or additives in order to improve particular properties of resins.
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Lucintel forecasts construction will remain the largest end use industry by value and volume due to increasing increased demand for infrastructure development and urbanization. Transportation is expected to witness highest growth over the forecast period.
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Hand layup & spray up is expected to remain the largest manufacturing process segment because it is the most basic and versatile process among all the fabricating processes.
Emerging Trends in the South African UPR Market
Emerging trends in the South African UPR market shaping its future applications and market dynamics:
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Growth in Construction Industry: The growth of the construction industry in South Africa is significantly impacting the UPR (Unsaturated Polyester Resin) market. As infrastructure development and building renovations ramp up, there is a rising demand for materials that are durable, lightweight, and cost-effective. The increasing focus on affordable housing and public infrastructure projects in South Africa supports this demand. The construction sector's need for composites in applications such as roofing, flooring, and wall panels is increasing, as these materials improve both structural integrity and energy efficiency. This trend highlights the expanding role of UPRs in meeting the evolving needs of the South African construction market.
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Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Trends: There is a shift toward more sustainable and environmentally friendly resins. Bio-based UPRs are beginning to gain traction, providing a more sustainable alternative to traditional resins derived from petroleum. The increased focus on recycling composite materials and resins is also emerging as a key trend. This involves recycling composites made from unsaturated polyester resins and reusing them in new manufacturing processes.
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Increased Focus on Industrial and Marine Applications: The marine sector remains a strong user of UPRs, particularly for boats, yachts, and other watercraft due to the material's resistance to corrosion from saltwater. UPRs continue to be used in the production of tanks, pipes, and other equipment in the chemical, oil & gas, and wastewater industries.
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Technological Advancements: Advances in resin formulations have led to improvements in the performance of UPRs, such as enhanced strength, durability, and fire resistance. These innovations make UPRs even more attractive for use in a wider range of industries. New formulations with reduced volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and faster curing times are being introduced to meet stricter environmental regulations and improve manufacturing efficiency.
Recent Developments by the South African UPR Market
Recent developments in the South African unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) market include:
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Sustainability Focus: Companies like NCS South Africa have introduced eco-friendly products, such as the Earth Kind brand, which emphasizes sustainability, recyclability, and reducing environmental impact.
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Partnerships and Market Expansion: Scott Bader formed key partnerships, such as with Bodotex Company in December 2023 and Allied Fibreglass in September 2023, to strengthen its presence in South Africa and Denmark, enhancing access to premium composites and adhesives.
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Growth in Construction Sector: The rising demand for durable, lightweight materials in the construction industry is driving the need for UPRs, especially for infrastructure projects and building renovations.
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Technological Advancements: The market is witnessing innovations in manufacturing processes like pultrusion, which offers superior strength-to-weight ratios for structural applications, and the use of lightweight composites in various industries.
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Enhanced Focus on Marine Industry Applications: There have been developments aimed at expanding the use of UPR in the South African marine industry. Resins are used extensively in boat and yacht manufacturing due to their resistance to corrosion from saltwater. The sector has experienced growth as more emphasis is placed on leisure and commercial marine activities, further driving the demand for UPR products.
These developments highlight the evolving nature of the UPR market in South Africa, with a focus on sustainability, local production, and performance-driven innovations to meet both domestic and international demands.
Strategic Growth Opportunities for South African UPR Market
Strategic growth for the unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) market in South Africa involves several approaches that companies can leverage to navigate both opportunities and challenges. Here are key strategies that businesses in the sector can adopt for long-term growth:
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Sustainability and Green Solutions: Investing in research and development of bio-based unsaturated polyester resins can respond to the need for environmentally friendly materials. Introduction of recycling schemes for UPR composites can help reduce environmental impact and save costs.
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Demand for light weight components: Designing light weight components using UPR for automotive industry, so as to enhance fuel economy and reduce emissions. Entering the electric vehicle market by supplying composites made from UPR for battery enclosures and lightweight structures.
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Construction and Infrastructure Development: Nurturing growth of smart cities in South Africa by offering sustainable UPR based construction materials that are also durable and lightweight. Creating high performance UPR resins for use in infrastructure such as bridges, highways among others thus increasing lifespan and reducing maintenance costs
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Technological Innovation and Product Diversification: Investment on advanced fire resistant, chemical resistant, mechanically stronger formulations; these properties make these resins more suitable than others in a number of applications. Customizing made-to-order resin solutions for specific sectors viz. marine, aerospace among others.
By combining these strategic growth initiatives, companies in South Africa's unsaturated polyester resin market can better position themselves to take advantage of emerging opportunities while addressing the challenges they face in the dynamic and evolving landscape.
South African UPR Market Drivers and Challenges
South African UPR market is pivotal in industries requiring corrosion-resistant storage solutions. Driven by benefits like durability and design flexibility, it faces challenges such as high initial costs and logistical complexities. This discussion explores key drivers propelling its growth and significant challenges hindering broader market adoption.
The factors responsible for driving the South African UPR market include:
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Growth in the Construction and Automotive Industries: The demand for unsaturated polyester resins are significantly driven by the growth of the construction and automotive sectors. UPR is widely used in applications like fiberglass-reinforced plastics (FRP), which are used in automotive parts, construction materials, and infrastructure projects. The expansion of these industries in South Africa directly impacts the demand for UPR.
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Rising Industrialization and Manufacturing Capabilities: South Africa is experiencing growth in industrialization, particularly in manufacturing sectors that require composite materials. The need for high-performance resins in the production of advanced materials, such as composites for wind energy turbines, electrical enclosures, and marine components, drives the demand for unsaturated polyester resins.
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Government Initiatives and Investments in Infrastructure: South Africa's government has been focusing on large-scale infrastructure projects, including road construction, water management, and renewable energy. These projects often involve materials such as UPR composites, further boosting demand within the market.
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Increasing Demand for Lightweight Materials:
UPR is valued for being lightweight yet durable, making it ideal for use in transportation, infrastructure, and consumer goods. As industries seek to reduce weight while maintaining strength and durability, there is a growing preference for UPR in applications such as boats, sports equipment, and automotive components.
Challenges in the South African UPR market include:
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Environmental Concerns: Traditional UPRs when produced or used pose significant environmental problems and health risks due to emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as well as hazardous chemicals. There have been increasingly stringent environmental regulations and public awareness leading to industry’s desire for eco-friendly alternatives which may be more costly and technologically challenging.
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Raw Material Price Volatility: Raw material price volatility is a significant challenge in the UPR market, as fluctuations in the cost of key ingredients like polyester resins, glass fibers, and additives can directly impact production costs. This unpredictability makes it difficult for manufacturers to forecast expenses and maintain consistent pricing, leading to potential profit margin squeezes. Additionally, sudden price hikes may result in delayed project timelines or the need to find alternative materials, complicating procurement and supply chain management. Volatility in raw material prices can also affect the overall stability of the market, making it harder for companies to plan for long-term growth.
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Competition from Alternative Materials: UPR faces competition from epoxy resins, thermoplastics, and metals with superior recyclability or mechanical properties. Some industries prefer thermoplastics for sustainability benefits. To stay competitive, UPR manufacturers must innovate, enhance durability, and promote UPR’s corrosion resistance and cost-effectiveness to differentiate against alternative materials.
The UPR market in South Africa is aided by the development of robust infrastructure and the automotive sector, as well as renewable energy growth; nevertheless, it confronts obstacles from environmental concerns and fluctuations in the prices of raw materials. The critical drivers are innovation in green UPR formulations and technology upgrade.
UPR Suppliers and Their Market Shares
In this competitive market, several key players such as NCS South Africa, KZN resins, Atlin Chemicals, and Scott Bader, dominate the market and contribute to industry’s growth and innovation. These players capture maximum market share. To know the current market share of each of major players contact us.
Companies in the market compete on the basis of product quality offered. Major players in this market focus on expanding their manufacturing facilities, R&D investments, infrastructural development, and leverage integration opportunities across the value chain. Through these strategies UPR companies cater increasing demand, ensure competitive effectiveness, develop innovative products & technologies, reduce production costs, and expand their customer base. Some of the South African UPR companies profiled in this report include.
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NCS South Africa
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KZN Resins
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Atlin Chemicals
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Scott Bader Co. Ltd.
These companies have established themselves as leaders in the South African UPR market, with extensive product portfolios, South African presence, and strong research and development capabilities. They continually strive to enhance their market positions through strategic partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, and product innovations.
The market share dynamics within the South African UPR market are evolving, with the entry of new players and the emergence of innovative South African UPR market technologies. Additionally, collaborations between material suppliers, manufacturers, and end-users are fostering technological advancements and expanding market opportunities.
South African UPR Market by Segment
The construction and transportation segment are the major growth areas for the South African UPR market, owing to increased urbanization as well as government projects. Also, corrosion-resistant properties are why marine and transportation sectors are increasingly adopting UPR materials. The study includes a forecast for the South African UPR market by end use industry, product type, and manufacturing process as follows:
By End Use Industry [Value ($M) and Volume (M lbs.) Analysis for 2019 – 2031]:
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Pipe and Tank
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Transportation
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Construction
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Marine
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Electrical and Electronics
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Others
By Product Type [Value ($M) and Volume (M lbs.) Analysis for 2019 – 2031]:
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Orthophthalic
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Isophthalic
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DCPD and Other Product Types
By Manufacturing Process [Value ($M) and Volume (M lbs.) Analysis for 2019 – 2031]:
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Hand Layup & Spray-Up
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Filament Winding
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Compression Molding
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RTM/Injection Molding
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Pultrusion
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Other Manufacturing Processes
Country wise Outlook for the South African UPR Market
The South African UPR market is witnessing substantial growth, driven by increased demand from various industries such as construction, transportation, and pipe and tank. Major players in the market are expanding their operations and forming strategic partnerships to strengthen their positions.
Features of South African UPR Market
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Market Size Estimates: South African UPR market size estimation in terms of value ($M) and volume (M lbs).
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Trend and Forecast Analysis: Market trends (2019-2024) and forecast (2025-2031) by various segments.
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Segmentation Analysis: Market size by end use industry, product type, and manufacturing process.
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Growth Opportunities: Analysis of growth opportunities in different end use industry, product type, and manufacturing process for the South African UPR market.
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Strategic Analysis: This includes M&A, new product development, and competitive landscape for the South African UPR market.
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Analysis of competitive intensity of the industry based on Porter’s Five Forces model.
FAQ
Q1. What is the growth forecast for South African UPR market?
Answer: South African UPR market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2% from 2024 to 2031.
Q2. What are the major drivers influencing the growth of the South African UPR market?
Answer: The major driver for South African UPR market is increasing demand for UPR in the construction industry as there is an increasing use of light weight materials, and advanced properties of UPR as compared to other materials.
Q3. What are the major applications or end use industries for South African UPR?
Answer: Construction and transportation are the major end use industries for South African UPR.
Q4. What are the emerging trends in South African UPR market?
Answer: Emerging trends, which have a direct impact on the dynamics of the South African UPR market, includes growth in the construction industry, sustainability and eco friendly trends, increased focus on industrial and marine applications, and technological advancements. .
Q5. Who are the key South African UPR companies?
Answer: Some of the key South African UPR companies are NCS South Africa, KZN Resins, Atlin Chemicals, and Scott Bader Co. Ltd. etc.
Q6. Do we receive customization in this report?
Answer: Yes, Lucintel provides 10% Customization Without any Additional Cost.
This report answers following 11 key questions
Q.1 What are some of the most promising potential, high growth opportunities for the South African UPR market by end use industry (pipe and tank, transportation, construction, marine, electrical and electronics, and others), product type (orthophthalic, isophthalic, and DCPD and others), manufacturing process (hand-lay up & spray-up, filament winding, compression molding, RTM/injection molding, pultrusion, and other manufacturing processes)?
Q.2 Which segments will grow at a faster pace and why?
Q.3 What are the key factors affecting market dynamics? What are the drivers and challenges of the market?
Q.4 What are the business risks and threats to the market?
Q.5 What are the emerging trends in this market and the reasons behind them?
Q.6 What are the changing demands of customers in the market?
Q.7 What are the new developments in the market? Which companies are leading these developments?
Q.8 Who are the major players in this market? What strategic initiatives are being implemented by key players for business growth?
Q.9 What are some of the competitive products and processes in this area and how big of a threat do they pose for loss of market share via material or product substitution?
Q.10 What M & A activities have taken place in the last 7 years in this market?