Global polmyer industry output rose 37 million tonnes to 194 million tonnes from 2005-2012, with average annual consumption up about 3%; demand expected to increase by 47 million tonnes by 2017, with consumption rising 4.4%/year from 2012-2017: ICIS

Allison Oesterle

November 11, 2013 (ICIS Chemical Business (CBNB Abstracts)) – An ICIS Consulting World Plastics Report 2013 reveals that the global polymer industry increased by 37 M tonnes to 194 M tonnes in 2005-2012. The average annual consumption of polymer increased by about 3%. It is expected that the future global consumption of polymer will increase by 4.4%/y during 2012-2017. Demand will further increase by 47 M tonnes by 2017. The global demand will continue to grow, especially in Asia. If all projects in the region are completed as planned, polymers in North America are expected to be overflowing by around 2017-2018. The study claims that the capacity increases will possibly be more staggered. In Europe, aged/smaller plants will be shut down due to expensive maintenance and higher unit costs. Due to lower per-capita consumption and good economic growth forecasts, increase in demand in some parts of eastern Europe is possibly high. The Chinese demand has annual average growth rates far below GDP in 2012. In long term, it is expected that the growth rates will progressively reach the overall GDP. The World Plastics Report shows that growth potential remains good throughout southeast Asia. Imports of South Asia are expected to increase with demand growth higher than supply additions. The report concluded that companies will be having additional 43 M tonnes/y of new capacities in the major thermoplastics to meet the polymers demand. 73% of this total will produce polyolefins. Northeast Asia, mostly China, will add 44% on its capacity. The capacities in the Middle East and Asia Pacific will be at 18.5% and 17.5%, respectively. The Middle East and North America will have a trade surplus of 20 M tonnes and 5.6 M tonnes, respectively, in 2017. All other regions are expected to have trade deficits. A negative balance of 6.7 M tonnes and 5.5 M tonnes is expected in Northeast Asia and Europe, respectively. A bar graph entitled, major thermoplastics - world demand distribution by polymer, details the volume distribution of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS)-expandable PS (EPS) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)-styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) from 2005 to 2025 in M tonnes. A second graph entitled, major thermoplastics - world consumption growth rate by polymer, shows the growth in global polymer consumption during 2005-2012 and 2012-2017 periods. A third graph entitled, major thermoplastics - world consumption growth rate, by region, reveals the growth in thermoplastics consumption in the Americas, Europe, USSR, Africa and Middle East, and Asia during the 2005-2012 and 2012-2017 periods. The next bar graph entitled, major thermoplastics - regional net trade, illustrates the projected polymer net trade in North America, Latin America, Europe, USSR, Africa, Middle East, North East Asia, and Asia and Asia Pacific in 2017 in M tonnes. The last graph entitled, major thermoplastics - planned capacity increase, compares the polymer capacity in North America, Latin America, Europe, USSR, Africa, Middle East, North East Asia, and Asia and Asia Pacific between 2012 and 2017 in M tonnes. Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, http://www.icis.com/, Copyright Reed Business Information Limited 2013.

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