Regional cork demand to grow 10% YoY
Wider specifications to drive growth following 50% rise since 2008
Demand for cork in the Middle East is set to rise by 10% annually.
RELATED ARTICLES: 70% of UAE funded Pakistani bridge complete | RTA aims to complete 105 footbridges by 2016 | RTA chief confirms Trade Centre Bridges project 50% done
Demand for cork in the Middle East is predicted to grow 10% annually, driven by new applications and an increased focus on the cradle to cradle product lifecycle.
Exhibiting at Big 5 Dubai Carlos Manuel GM for Portuguese Cork Association, APCOR, reported the Middle East currently represents 12% of the global market and is valued at $2m.
The material has been used for projects at Abu Dhabi’s Land Mark Tower and fish market and is distributed to contractors who have also applied it to a number of international bridge projects.
“The conditions are right for cork to become increasingly popular in the Middle East because it can be used for thermal insulation and vibration reduction, which makes it ideal for houses and bridges,” said Manuel.
The Middle East currently represents 12% of the global cork market, but is still behind France and Japan, which currently represent the largest markets globally.
