Global insulation consumption is projected to grow 3.8 percent annually through 2012. The fastest growth will occur in developing Asian countries based on strong building construction activity and increasing production of insulated products. Foamed plastic will remain the largest segment while fiberglass gains market share.

This study analyzes the $29.2 billion world insulation industry. It presents historical demand data for the years 1997, 2002 and 2007, and forecasts for 2012 and 2017 by material (e.g., foamed plastics, fiberglass, mineral wool), market (construction; industrial, HVAC and OEM), world region (e.g., Asia/Pacific, North America, Western Europe) and for 46 countries.

The study also considers market environment factors, details industry structure, evaluates company market share and profiles 36 industry players, including Saint-Gobain, Rockwool International and Owens Corning.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


SECTION                                                                         PAGE

                INTRODUCTION							 xii

          I.    EXECUTIVE SUMMARY                                      		   1

         II.    MARKET ENVIRONMENT                                                 4
                General                                                            4
                World Economic Overview                                            5
                    Recent Historical Trends                                       5
                    Macroeconomic Outlook                                          8
                World Demographic Overview                                        10
                    Population                                                    11
                    Urbanization Patterns                                         12
                    Households                                                    14
                World Fixed Investment Overview                                   15
                World Construction Outlook                                        17
                    Residential Building                                          20
                    Nonresidential Building                                       22
                World Refrigerator & Freezer Trends                               24
                Material Variations in Thermal Resistance & R-Values              26
                Regulatory, Health & Environmental Considerations                 31
                    Environmental Considerations                                  31
                    Health Considerations                                         33
                    Energy Considerations                                         34
                    Recycling                                                     37
                    Green Labeling                                                40

        III.    WORLD OVERVIEW                                                    42
                General                                                           42
                World Insulation Outlook                                          43
                    Regional Demand by Insulating Capacity (R-1 Value)            44
                    Relationship to Capital Investment                            49
                    Regional Demand by Dollar Value                               51
                    World Insulation Trade Flows                                  56
                    Insulation Production by Region                               58
                    
         IV.    MATERIALS & MARKETS                                               60
                General                                                           60
                Insulation Demand by Material                                     62
                    Foamed Plastics                                               65
                      Dollar-Value Trends                                         69
                      Weight & Market Trends                                      71
                    Fiberglass                                                    74
                      Dollar-Value Trends                                         75
                      Weight & Market Trends                                      78
                    Mineral Wool                                                  81
                      Dollar-Value Trends                                         82
                      Weight & Market Trends                                      84
                    Other Insulation Materials                                    86
                      Dollar-Value Trends                                         89
                      Weight & Market Trends                                      90
                Insulation Demand by Market                                       92
                    Construction                                                  93
                    Industrial, HVAC & OEM                                        94
                    
          V.    NORTH AMERICA                                                     96
                General                                                           96
                    Insulation Supply & Demand                                    98
                    Demand by Country                                            101
                    Producers                                                    102
                United States                                                    103
                Canada                                                           109
                Mexico                                                           116
                
         VI.    WESTERN EUROPE                                                   122
                General                                                          122
                    Insulation Supply & Demand                                   124
                    Demand by Country                                            128
                    Producers                                                    131
                Germany                                                          131
                France                                                           137
                Italy                                                            142
                United Kingdom                                                   148
                Spain                                                            153
                The Netherlands                                                  158
                Other Western Europe                                             163
                    Belgium                                                      169
                    Austria                                                      169
                    Switzerland                                                  170
                    Sweden                                                       171
                    Ireland                                                      171
                    Greece                                                       172
                    Denmark                                                      172
                    Finland                                                      172
                    Norway                                                       173
                    Portugal                                                     173
                    All Other Western Europe                                     174
                    
        VII.    ASIA/PACIFIC                                                     175
                General                                                          175
                    Insulation Supply & Demand                                   178
                    Demand by Country                                            182
                    Producers                                                    185
                China                                                            185
                Japan                                                            193
                India                                                            199
                South Korea                                                      205
                Australia                                                        210
                Indonesia                                                        216
                Thailand                                                         221
                Taiwan                                                           226
                Other Asia/Pacific                                               231
                    Malaysia                                                     236
                    New Zealand                                                  236
                    Vietnam                                                      237
                    Philippines                                                  237
                    All Other Asia/Pacific                                       237
                    
       VIII.    OTHER REGIONS                                                    239
                Latin America: General                                           239
                    Insulation Supply & Demand                                   241
                    Producers                                                    244
                    Brazil                                                       245
                    Argentina                                                    251
                    Other Latin America                                          256
                      Venezuela                                                  260
                      Colombia                                                   261
                      Chile                                                      261
                      Peru                                                       261
                      All Other Latin America                                    261
                Eastern Europe:                                                  262
                    General                                                      262
                    Insulation Supply & Demand                                   264
                    Producers                                                    266
                    Russia                                                       267
                    Poland                                                       274
                    Other Eastern Europe                                         279
                      Ukraine                                                    283
                      Romania                                                    284
                      Czech Republic                                             285
                      Hungary                                                    286
                      All Other Eastern Europe                                   286
                Africa/Mideast: General                                          287
                    Insulation Supply & Demand                                   290
                    Producers                                                    292
                    Turkey                                                       293
                    Other Africa/Mideast                                         298
                      South Africa                                               303
                      Iran                                                       304
                      All Other Africa/Mideast                                   304

         IX.    INDUSTRY STRUCTURE                                               305
                General                                                          305
                Industry Composition                                             306
                Market Share                                                     309
                    Industry Leaders                                             311
                      Saint-Gobain                                               311
                      Rockwool International                                     312
                      Owens Corning                                              312
                      Johns Manville                                             313
                      Knauf Gips                                                 313
                    Other Key Producers                                          314
                Product Development & Manufacturing                              314
                Competitive Strategies                                           316
                Marketing & Distribution                                         318
                Mergers & Acquisitions                                           319
                Cooperative Agreements                                           321
                COMPANY PROFILES                                                 327
                    Aislantes Minerales SA de CV                                 328
                    Armacell International GmbH                                  329
                    Asahi Glass Company Limited                                  331
                    Atlas Roofing Corporation, see Hood
                    BASF SE                                                      333
                    Bayer AG                                                     337
                    Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated                              339
                    Bridgestone Corporation                                      344
                    Byucksan Corporation                                         346
                    CertainTeed Corporation, see Saint-Gobain
                    CRH plc                                                      347
                    CSR Limited                                                  349
                    Dow Chemical Company                                         351
                    Finetec Corporation                                          355
                    Firestone Building Products Company, see Bridgestone
                    Fletcher Building Limited                                    356
                    Forman Group Limited, see Fletcher Building
                    Hood Companies                                               358
                    Huntsman Corporation                                         360
                    Industria de Conglomerados y Aislantes SAIC                  362
                    Industrial Insulation Group LLC, see Berkshire Hathaway
                    Italmobiliare SpA                                            363
                    Izocam Ticaret Ve Sanayi AS, see Saint-Gobain
                    Johns Manville Corporation, see Berkshire Hathaway
                    KCC Corporation                                              364
                    Kingspan Group plc                                           365
                    Kingspan Tarec Industrial Insulation Limited, see Kingspan
                    Knauf Gips KG                                                367
                    NICHIAS Corporation                                          371
                    Ningbo Firewheel Thermal Insulation & Sealing Company
                      Limited 372
                    Nitto Boseki Company Limited                                 373
                    Norisol A/S                                                  374
                    Owens Corning                                                375
                    Paroc Group Oy AB                                            379
                    Recticel SA                                                  381
                    Rockfibras do Brasil Industria e Comercio Limitada           382
                    Rockwool International A/S                                   383
                    Roxul Incorporated, see Rockwool 
                    Saint-Gobain                                                 386
                    Shanghai Lianheng Isocyanate Company Limited, 
                      see BASF and Huntsman
                    Siam Cement Public Company Limited                           393
                    Sirap Gema Insulation Systems SpA, see Italmobiliare
                    Sto AG                                                       395
                    Swisspor Management AG                                       396
                    Tasman Insulation New Zealand Limited, 
                      see Fletcher Building
                    Thermafiber Incorporated                                     398
                    Union Lesni Brana as                                         400
                    Uralita SA                                                   401
                    Ursa Insulation SA, see Uralita
                Other Companies Mentioned in Study                               403



                                   LIST OF TABLES
                                         
TABLE NUMBER                                                                    PAGE


                SECTION I -- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
                Summary Table                                                      3

                SECTION II -- MARKET ENVIRONMENT
           1    World Gross Domestic Product by Region                            10
           2    World Population by Region                                        12
           3    World Urban Population by Region                                  13
           4    World Households by Region                                        15
           5    World Fixed Investment by Region                                  17
           6    World Construction Expenditures by Region & Market                19
           7    World Residential Building Construction Expenditures
                    by Region                                                     22
           8    World Nonresidential Building Construction Expenditures
                    by Region                                                     24
           9    World Refrigerator & Freezer Shipments by Region                  26
          10    Insulation R-Values by Material                                   30

                SECTION III -- WORLD OVERVIEW
           1    World Insulation Demand by Insulating Capacity                    48
           2    World Insulation Demand by Value                                  54
           3    World Insulation Net Exports                                      57
           4    World Insulation Production by Region                             59

                SECTION IV -- MATERIALS & MARKETS
           1    World Insulation Demand by Material                               64
           2    Foamed Plastic Insulation Demand by Region in Dollars             71
           3    Foamed Plastic Insulation Demand by Region & Market in       
                    Metric Tons                                                   73
           4    Fiberglass Insulation Demand by Region in Dollars                 78
           5    Fiberglass Insulation Demand by Region & Market in
                    Metric Tons                                                   80
           6    Mineral Wool Insulation Demand by Region in Dollars               83
           7    Mineral Wool Insulation Demand by Region & Market in
                    Metric Tons                                                   85
           8    Other Insulation Materials Demand by Region in Dollars            90
           9    Other Insulation Materials Demand by Region & Market in
                    Metric Tons                                                   91
          10    World Insulation Demand by Market                                 93
                                         
                SECTION V -- NORTH AMERICA
           1    North America Macroeconomic Indicators &
                    Insulation Demand                                             98
           2    North America Insulation Supply & Demand                         101
           3    United States Macroeconomic Indicators & Insulation Demand       105
           4    United States Insulation Supply & Demand                         108
           5    Canada Macroeconomic Indicators & Insulation Demand              111
           6    Canada Insulation Supply & Demand                                114
           7    Mexico Macroeconomic Indicators & Insulation Demand              117
           8    Mexico Insulation Supply & Demand                                120

                SECTION VI -- WESTERN EUROPE
           1    Western Europe Macroeconomic Indicators &
                    Insulation Demand                                            124
           2    Western Europe Insulation Supply & Demand                        128
           3    Germany Macroeconomic Indicators & Insulation Demand             133
           4    Germany Insulation Supply & Demand                               135
           5    France Macroeconomic Indicators & Insulation Demand              138
           6    France Insulation Supply & Demand                                141
           7    Italy Macroeconomic Indicators & Insulation Demand               144
           8    Italy Insulation Supply & Demand                                 146
           9    United Kingdom Macroeconomic Indicators & 
                    Insulation Demand                                            149
          10    United Kingdom Insulation Supply & Demand                        151
          11    Spain Macroeconomic Indicators & Insulation Demand               155
          12    Spain Insulation Supply & Demand                                 157
          13    The Netherlands Macroeconomic Indicators & 
                    Insulation Demand                                            160
          14    The Netherlands Insulation Supply & Demand                       162
          15    Other Western Europe Macroeconomic Indicators &
                    Insulation Demand                                            165
          16    Other Western Europe Insulation Supply & Demand                  167
          17    Other Western Europe Insulation Demand by Country                168

                SECTION VII -- ASIA/PACIFIC
           1    Asia/Pacific Macroeconomic Indicators &
                    Insulation Demand                                            178
           2    Asia/Pacific Insulation Supply & Demand                          182
           3    China Macroeconomic Indicators & Insulation Demand               188
           4    China Insulation Supply & Demand                                 191
           5    Japan Macroeconomic Indicators & Insulation Demand               195
           6    Japan Insulation Supply & Demand                                 198
           7    India Macroeconomic Indicators & Insulation Demand               201
           8    India Insulation Supply & Demand                                 204
           9    South Korea Macroeconomic Indicators & Insulation Demand         207
          10    South Korea Insulation Supply & Demand                           209
          11    Australia Macroeconomic Indicators & Insulation Demand           212
          12    Australia Insulation Supply & Demand                             215
          13    Indonesia Macroeconomic Indicators & Insulation Demand           218
          14    Indonesia Insulation Supply & Demand                             220
          15    Thailand Macroeconomic Indicators & Insulation Demand            223
          16    Thailand Insulation Supply & Demand                              225
          17    Taiwan Macroeconomic Indicators & Insulation Demand              228
          18    Taiwan Insulation Supply & Demand                                230
          19    Other Asia/Pacific Macroeconomic Indicators &
                    Insulation Demand                                            233
          20    Other Asia/Pacific Insulation Supply & Demand                    235
          21    Other Asia/Pacific Insulation Demand by Country                  236

                SECTION VIII -- OTHER REGIONS
           1    Latin America Macroeconomic Indicators & 
                    Insulation Demand                                            241
           2    Latin America Insulation Supply & Demand                         244
           3    Brazil Macroeconomic Indicators & Insulation Demand              247
           4    Brazil Insulation Supply & Demand                                250
           5    Argentina Macroeconomic Indicators & Insulation Demand           253
           6    Argentina Insulation Supply & Demand                             255
           7    Other Latin America Macroeconomic Indicators &
                    Insulation Demand                                            257
           8    Other Latin America Insulation Supply & Demand                   259
           9    Other Latin America Insulation Demand by Country                 260
          10    Eastern Europe Macroeconomic Indicators & 
                    Insulation Demand                                            264
          11    Eastern Europe Insulation Supply & Demand                        266
          12    Russia Macroeconomic Indicators & Insulation Demand              269
          13    Russia Insulation Supply & Demand                                272
          14    Poland Macroeconomic Indicators & Insulation Demand              275
          15    Poland Insulation Supply & Demand                                278
          16    Other Eastern Europe Macroeconomic Indicators &
                    Insulation Demand                                            280
          17    Other Eastern Europe Insulation Supply & Demand                  282
          18    Other Eastern Europe Insulation Demand by Country                283
          19    Africa/Mideast Macroeconomic Indicators & 
                    Insulation Demand                                            289
          20    Africa/Mideast Insulation Supply & Demand                        292
          21    Turkey Macroeconomic Indicators & Insulation Demand              295
          22    Turkey Insulation Supply & Demand                                297
          23    Other Africa/Mideast Macroeconomic Indicators &
                    Insulation Demand                                            300
          24    Other Africa/Mideast Insulation Supply & Demand                  302
          25    Other Africa/Mideast Insulation Demand by Country                303

                SECTION IX -- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
           1    World Insulation Sales by Company, 2007                          308
           2    Selected Acquisitions & Divestitures                             320
           3    Selected Cooperative Agreements                                  322


                                   LIST OF CHARTS
                                         
CHART NUMBER                                                                    PAGE



                SECTION III -- WORLD OVERVIEW
           1    Insulation Demand Per Capita/Fixed Investment Per Capita
                    Relationship, 2007                                            50
           2    World Insulation Demand by Region, 2007                           55

                SECTION IV -- MATERIALS & MARKETS
           1    World Insulation Demand by Material, 2007                         65
           2    World Foamed Plastic Insulation Demand by Region, 2007            74
           3    World Fiberglass Insulation Demand by Region, 2007                80
           4    World Mineral Wool Insulation Demand by Region, 2007              86
           5    World Other Insulation Materials Demand by Region, 2007           91

                SECTION V -- NORTH AMERICA
           1    North America Insulation Demand by Country, 2007                 102

                SECTION VI -- WESTERN EUROPE
           1    Western Europe Insulation Demand, 2007
                    With Annual Growth Rates to 2012                             130

                SECTION VII -- ASIA/PACIFIC
           1    Asia/Pacific Insulation Demand, 2007
                    With Annual Growth Rates to 2012                             184

                SECTION IX -- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
           1    World Insulation Market Share by Company, 2007                   311