US demand for wood-plastic composite (WPC) and plastic lumber is forecast to advance 6.9 percent per year to $5.9 billion in 2020, according to a new study from The Freedonia Group, a Cleveland-based industry research firm.

Continuing growth in construction expenditures -- particularly in the residential market -- will spur gains, the report said.

WPC and plastic lumber have taken market share from wood in such applications as decking and molding and trim due to favourable aesthetic and performance properties and will see increasing use in these segments.

 Furthermore, consumers who opted for less costly wood products, especially during the Great Recession and its aftermath, will increasingly choose WPC and plastic materials going forward as economic conditions improve. – TradeArabia News Service