Plastics growth forecasts

The margins are partly supported by a sustainable share of imports, allowing for import parity pricing. In 2003, approximately 21 percent of China s total chemicals consumption was covered by net imports, mainly commodities. For example, at least half of the consumption of synthetic rubber (69%), plastics (55%), and organic chemicals (50%) was met by net imports. Even at production growth forecasts of 9.6 percent p.a., Chinese capacity levels will not meet demand in the foreseeable future and the country is expected to remain a chemicals net importer beyond 2020. 

These are good signs for the plastic industry in its restructured mode, and they have influenced the future growth forecasts for the individual plastics ... 

The growth forecasts for all polymer types over the next five years are much more pessimistic than would have been envisaged only two years ago. In 2007, world consumption of engineering and high performance plastic is projected at 13.5 million tonnes. This represents a compound annual... 

BCC Research (2008) Rapid growth forecast for biodegradable polymers. Plastics Additives and Compounding,... 

Titanium Tetrachloride. The major use for titanium tetrachloride [7550 5-0] is in titanium dioxide production, and titanium dioxide [13463-67-7] is enjoying strong growth for use as a filler in pulp and paper manufacture and as a pigment in paint and plastic manufacture. Annual growth for this product is forecasted at between 2.5 and 3.0% through 1992. 

In the mid-to-late 1980s, growth estimates of the use of polystyrene and polyurethane ceUular plastic insulation materials and products were a healthy 10% per year and greater for phenoHc (40,41). The principal appHcation where strongest growth was forecast for these types was for roofing, especially single-membrane systems (42). 

The forecasts made in 1985 (77) of 8—8.5% worldwide aimual growth have not materialized. The 2 x lOg + /yr engineering plastic production reported for 1985—1986 has remained fairly constant. Whereas some resins such as PET, nylon-6, and nylon-6,6 have continued to experience growth, other resins such as poly(phenylene oxide) have experienced downturns. This is due to successhil inroads from traditional materials (wood, glass, ceramics, and metals) which are experiencing a rebound in appHcations driven by new technology and antiplastics environmental concerns. Also, recycling is likely to impact production of all plastics. 

Trends in the use of antimicrobials by the plastics industry are reviewed with details of the market by industry, region, types of antimicrobials used, and the industry s distribution system. Also identified are manufacturers and formulators. Regulations regarding the development for new biocides are examined, and expected growth of the global plastic antimicrobial industry is forecasted, together with details of key drivers for the growth. 

Consumption of biodegradable plastics increased from 5,800 tonnes in 2000 to 17,800 tonnes in 2005. During the period 2005-2010, Asia Pacific biodegradable plastics consumption is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 16.7% to reach 38,500 tonnes in 2010. 

T n the summer of 1959, Paul Mayfield of Hercules, Inc., authored the previous article in this series entitled The Challenge in Marketing for Plastics. He forsaw the Sixties as a decade of rather spectacular growth. U.S. production of plastics had hit 4.5 billion pounds in 1958 and May-field, referring to the official SPI forecast, estimated that this would more than double, to 9.5 billion pounds, by 1970. Let s take a minute to see just how spectacular the growth of the Sixties actually has been. 

The above paragraphs show that today plastic materials are used in almost all areas of daily life. Accordingly, the production and transformation of plastics are major worldwide industries. Consumption of plastics in Western Europe is forecast to grow from 24.9 million tonnes in 1995 up to about 37 million tonnes in 2006,1 an annual growth rate of 4%. This prediction places plastics among the most important materials in the next century also. 

The challenge in marketing for plastics in the 60 s will be influenced by many factors, four of which are extremely important forecasting, growth and cost patterns, corporate changes, and educational programs. 

In North America, about 11000 tons of hydrous kaolin was sold for 2.1 million to the plastics industry in 1999 forecast for 2004 was a 2.5% growth in tons per annum to 12 000 tons [11]. Of the calcined kaolin consumed, the use in plastics accounted for... 

Conductive fillers of various kinds will be in greater demand in the near futme, for interconnect applications in mobile phones and automotive electronics. Freedonia has forecast a 5.9% growth rate for conducting plastics in the US. 

It is difficult to come to terms with the consequences of gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 8% per year in China where the economy is forecast to maintain this growth rate over the next few years. China s population is currently around 1.3 billion and its annual consumption of plastics products is approximately 1 kg per head compared with a 40 kg per head figure for Western Europe. 

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