The future of the global plastics industry is clear
2018-05-13 14:01:05
According to a report recently released by Analytical Corporation of the United States, the global plastics industry, which has been hit hard by the financial crisis, is recovering. Emerging economies will play an important role in the future development of the industry. In developed regions, producers are affected by the economic recession. It is large, but it is improving its competitiveness by eliminating inferior assets, renovating or building new installations. In addition, due to the low cost of ethane as raw material, the strength of North American producers is also increasing.
According to statistics, the consumption in 2009 has reached approximately 176 million tons, which is a significant increase compared with 2008. Among them, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) accounted for 17%, linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) accounted for 11%, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) accounted for 10%, polypropylene (PP) accounted for 25%, polyvinyl chloride (PVC 18%, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) 8%, polystyrene (PS) 6%, ABS 4%, polycarbonate (PC) 2%.
Among the engineering plastics tracked by Analysys, driven by the market in developing regions, the market demand for PC and ABS has shown a good momentum of growth. In the next five years, the global average demand for PC will grow at an average annual rate of 5.8%, and by the end of 2015 will reach about 4.4 million tons. The report pointed out that in the automotive glass industry, the application of PC has the fastest growth rate. Analytical company also said that PC has considerable growth potential in the electronic and electrical industry. This market is expected to become the largest application area in 2015, and the main driving force will be the emerging economies. Consumer electronics, such as personal computers/laptops, flat-panel TVs, and printers, will increase in usage in India, Southeast Asia, and China. However, the demand for PC in the field of optical materials will have a downward trend in the next five years. The replacement rate of other materials will be faster than originally expected. In 2010, the US market demand will drop by about 4.5%.
The global ABS market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of about 5% over the next five years, continuing to exceed the global GDP growth rate. The fastest growing application areas for ABS will be the transportation and home appliance market, which is expected to grow at an average annual growth rate of more than 5% and will remain the largest application area by 2015. However, Analysts pointed out that in the next two years, it is expected that ABS supply growth will exceed demand growth, especially as China will put new capacity into operation, and global start-up will be reduced. Fortunately, in the long run, the gap between capacity and demand in Northeast Asia will decrease. This is due to the fact that China’s household electrical appliances, computer equipment, and auto exports will continue to increase, leading to rapid growth in demand for ABS, and slower expansion.
In addition, the analysis report also pointed out that in the next few years, the prospects of the European and American plastics market will be good, the competitiveness of the manufacturers will be improved, the supply will be tight, and the equipment will maintain a higher operating rate. In addition to the closure of old installations, several new installations have been commissioned in Europe in 2010, including the 32 million tonne/year HDPE unit of LyondellBasell in Germany and the 350,000 tonne/year LDPE plant of Borealis in Sweden . At the same time, some manufacturers are working to improve efficiency and produce special products, and rationalize the transformation of higher-cost devices.
According to the statistics of the American Chemical Industry Council, the export volume of PE in the United States reached a new high in 2009, and continued this good momentum in 2010. In 2009, most of the U.S. plastics were exported to the Chinese market. In 2010, the U.S. began to shift to Canada and Mexico. Although the products in the Middle East are quite competitive, because North America uses low-cost ethane as raw material and it is eager to seek export opportunities, the Middle East’s imported products will not produce rumors for North American producers.
In addition, the demand for PVC in the United States and non-building-related fields has shown signs of recovery. It is expected that the demand for PVC in the United States will grow relatively quickly in 2010, but it is still much lower than the level of 2006-2007. In the next five years, demand for PS in North America and Western Europe will increase by 1.5% to 1.7%. However, PET producers will face the oversupply market. PET demand growth will be less in the coming period.
According to statistics, the consumption in 2009 has reached approximately 176 million tons, which is a significant increase compared with 2008. Among them, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) accounted for 17%, linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) accounted for 11%, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) accounted for 10%, polypropylene (PP) accounted for 25%, polyvinyl chloride (PVC 18%, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) 8%, polystyrene (PS) 6%, ABS 4%, polycarbonate (PC) 2%.
Among the engineering plastics tracked by Analysys, driven by the market in developing regions, the market demand for PC and ABS has shown a good momentum of growth. In the next five years, the global average demand for PC will grow at an average annual rate of 5.8%, and by the end of 2015 will reach about 4.4 million tons. The report pointed out that in the automotive glass industry, the application of PC has the fastest growth rate. Analytical company also said that PC has considerable growth potential in the electronic and electrical industry. This market is expected to become the largest application area in 2015, and the main driving force will be the emerging economies. Consumer electronics, such as personal computers/laptops, flat-panel TVs, and printers, will increase in usage in India, Southeast Asia, and China. However, the demand for PC in the field of optical materials will have a downward trend in the next five years. The replacement rate of other materials will be faster than originally expected. In 2010, the US market demand will drop by about 4.5%.
The global ABS market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of about 5% over the next five years, continuing to exceed the global GDP growth rate. The fastest growing application areas for ABS will be the transportation and home appliance market, which is expected to grow at an average annual growth rate of more than 5% and will remain the largest application area by 2015. However, Analysts pointed out that in the next two years, it is expected that ABS supply growth will exceed demand growth, especially as China will put new capacity into operation, and global start-up will be reduced. Fortunately, in the long run, the gap between capacity and demand in Northeast Asia will decrease. This is due to the fact that China’s household electrical appliances, computer equipment, and auto exports will continue to increase, leading to rapid growth in demand for ABS, and slower expansion.
In addition, the analysis report also pointed out that in the next few years, the prospects of the European and American plastics market will be good, the competitiveness of the manufacturers will be improved, the supply will be tight, and the equipment will maintain a higher operating rate. In addition to the closure of old installations, several new installations have been commissioned in Europe in 2010, including the 32 million tonne/year HDPE unit of LyondellBasell in Germany and the 350,000 tonne/year LDPE plant of Borealis in Sweden . At the same time, some manufacturers are working to improve efficiency and produce special products, and rationalize the transformation of higher-cost devices.
According to the statistics of the American Chemical Industry Council, the export volume of PE in the United States reached a new high in 2009, and continued this good momentum in 2010. In 2009, most of the U.S. plastics were exported to the Chinese market. In 2010, the U.S. began to shift to Canada and Mexico. Although the products in the Middle East are quite competitive, because North America uses low-cost ethane as raw material and it is eager to seek export opportunities, the Middle East’s imported products will not produce rumors for North American producers.
In addition, the demand for PVC in the United States and non-building-related fields has shown signs of recovery. It is expected that the demand for PVC in the United States will grow relatively quickly in 2010, but it is still much lower than the level of 2006-2007. In the next five years, demand for PS in North America and Western Europe will increase by 1.5% to 1.7%. However, PET producers will face the oversupply market. PET demand growth will be less in the coming period.