Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

UK: Denmark-based Rockwool is reportedly in ‘advanced talks’ to acquire a 9.3 hectare site in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands from Birmingham City Council. The site comprises Zone B of the Peddimore industrial estate, which is approved for light industrial production. Estates Gazette Interactive News has reported that the purchase advances Rockwool's on-going strategic expansion of its presence in the UK.

Germany: BASF is set to expand production of its Neopor graphite-enriched expanded polystyrene (EPS) at its Ludwigshafen plant in Rhineland-Palatinate by 50,000t/yr. From its commissioning in 2027, the expanded line will help BASF to meet increased demand for the material. Neopor serves as raw granulate for use in the production of insulation materials for building envelopes. The company says that it offers a 30% greater heat retention than traditional EPS.

Director Stephan Kothrade said "Neopor is classified as a 'Pioneer' in the highest category of the Sustainable Solution Steering (Triple-S) sustainability assessment which BASF uses to evaluate all its products, and is part of BASF's Sustainable Future Solutions."

Germany: The Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology in Oberhausen is reportedly looking for partnerships through which to commercialise its new aerogel-based insulation. WAZ Plus News has reported that the insulation consists of porous beads made of 99% air.

Materials from the Fraunhofer Institute’s pilot plant have featured in construction projects including in the historic Hanseatic Quarter of Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, and the town hall of Hohen Neundorf in Brandenburg.

Europe: Market research company Freedonia Group has forecast a 3% composite annual growth rate in European insulation demand over the five-year period between 2023 and 2028. This will result in a market value of €9.44bn, corresponding to volumes of 3.2Mt, in 2028. Drivers of the anticipated growth include tighter fire safety regulations and the cost effectiveness of mineral wool insulation.

North America: The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) recorded total polyurethane (PU) production of 4.1Mt in North America in 2023. US Political and Economic Organizations News has reported that applications contributing towards the growth included continuous insulation and spray foam for air barriers.

Director Jason Sloan noted market challenges due to ‘shifts in demand and availability for raw materials,’ but said that producers were adapting to the market dynamics.

Ukraine: Construction firm Rauta recorded 15% year-on-year growth in the Ukrainian insulation sector’s domestic sales of insulated sandwich panels in the first half of 2024. Meanwhile, imports of the product dropped by 12% over the same comparison period. Consumption totalled 1Mm², in line with 2023 volumes. Business World News has reported that Rauta noted a shift from other panel types towards polyisocyanurate (PIR) core panels.

Construction activity remains mostly concentrated in Western Ukraine due to the on-going Russian invasion in other areas of the country, with investors reportedly remaining cautious. Ukraine’s construction market has declined by 60 – 70% from antebellum levels in 2021.

India: Rockwool India has commenced construction of a new US$65.5m mineral wool insulation plant in Cheyyar, Tamil Nadu. The Hindu newspaper has reported that the plant will produce 50,000t/yr of stone wool insulation from its commissioning in early 2026. The plant will employ 150 people and will overtake the Dahej, Gujarat, plant as Rockwool India’s largest. The subsidiary of Denmark-based Rockwool opened the 40,000t/yr Dahej plant in 2011.

Managing director Darryl Mathews said “Our non-combustible products are witnessing increasing demand in India. Additionally, we will introduce dual-density technology aimed at residential renovation and construction projects.”

Group chair Thomas Kähler said “I am pleased to announce our second investment in India. This expansion is just the beginning, as we anticipate further developments in response to the growing demand for our products.”

World: Market research firm Future Market Insights (FMI) has forecast a composite annual growth rate of 6% in the global polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation market up to 2033. This will result in 81% decade-on-decade growth to US$25.6bn in 2033. FMI noted technical developments affecting the use of customised PIR boards in the prefabricated construction as a main driver of the growth. Nationally, the market will have a CAGR of 8% in China, 7% in India, 6% in the UK, 5% in Canada and 4% in Germany.

FMI said “In the rapidly changing world of PIR insulation, innovation and sustainability have emerged as dynamic forces reshaping the industry’s trajectory. The market is going through a fundamental shift, moving beyond its traditional role of providing insulation and into uncharted territory where cutting-edge technologies are poised to redefine its boundaries.”

Japan: Almedio recorded sales of US$13.6m in the first quarter of the 2025 financial year, which began on 1 April 2024. This corresponds to year-on-year growth of 56% from first-quarter levels in the 2024 financial year. The period under review brought increased domestic sales volumes of insulation materials. Almedio’s profit before tax more than tripled, to US$4m, Nikkei Asia News has reported. Nonetheless, the producer now expects to record a decline in sales of 38% and in pre-tax profit of 66% year-on-year in the full 2025 financial year.

Czech Republic: Kingspan Czechia’s sales dropped by 22% year-on-year to €142m in 2023. Its profit also declined, by 42% to €6.27m. Throughout the year, the company produced 4.66Mm² of insulation panels, down by 4% from 2022 volumes. It reported total export sales of €108m, down by 23%. The main markets for the producer’s insulation were Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Slovakia. It holds a 25% market share in insulation sandwich panels in its native Czech Republic, up from 22% at the start of 2023. ČTK Business News has reported that Kingspan Czechia plans to begin construction of a new mineral wool insulation panels plant later in 2024.

General manager Stanislav Cihlar said "The new plant will be used to produce world-class insulation panels and will become an important pillar for our future growth.”