percent annual rate. China represented two-thirds of the formulated adhesive volume in the Asia-Pacific region in 2014 and
32 percent of the global share. Adhesive growth in China is
moderating but a still robust 8 percent annual rate of increase is
forecast through 2019. Japan is the second largest consumer in
Asia-Pacific with 8 percent of the volume with growth forecast
at only 1 percent/yr. India is third in the region with 6 percent of
the volume but will surpass Japan by 2019 owing to its forecast
double-digit rate of growth. Brazil is the leading consumer of
adhesives in South and Central American countries accounting
for over 60 percent of the region’s volume. A modest 5 percent
annual rate of growth is forecast for Brazil and the region.
A Manufacturer’s Perspective
Henkel is a solutions provider for adhesives, sealants and
functional coatings worldwide. The company has products in
many industrial markets, including packaging and consumer
goods, transportation and metal, durable goods, electronics
and building. Holger Elfes, Henkel Adhesive Technologies,
Media Relations, said that the company’s Adhesive
Technologies business unit recorded positive organic sales
growth in the second quarter.
“At 2,343 million euros, we once again achieved the highest-ever absolute level of quarterly sales. Adjusted operating profit
increased in the high single-digit range. At 17.0 percent, adjusted return on sales was below the high level of the prior-year
quarter,” he said.
“From a regional perspective, business performance was
again successful in the emerging markets, with solid growth
rates. The Africa/Middle East region achieved very strong
growth. Growth of our businesses in Latin America was strong,
and our business performance in the Asia (excluding Japan) re-
gion was positive. In the Eastern Europe region, we recorded
positive sales performance, despite the ongoing difficult political
situation in parts of the region.
“Sales performance in the mature markets was positive over-
all. Our businesses in the mature markets of the Asia-Pacific re-
gion posted very strong growth, and our sales performance in
Western Europe was positive. In North America, however, sales
were slightly lower year on year.”
In terms of segment growth, Elfes said that the company
posted positive sales performance in the packaging and con-
sumer goods business area.
“Through the acquisition of Novamelt GmbH based in
Wehr, Germany, we further strengthened our position in pres-
sure sensitive hotmelt adhesives,” he said. “Novamelt provides
a comprehensive range of specialized pressure sensitive hotmelt
adhesives which are used mainly in self-adhesive labels and ad-
hesive tapes.”
The company’s transportation and metal business unit
achieved the highest growth rate, Elfes said. Performance by the
company’s acoustic solutions and structural adhesives for the
automotive industry was once again particularly dynamic, he
said, with “tailor-made product innovations for automotive en-
gineering driving growth.”
Growth momentum was also noted in the maintenance,
