Global plastics production continues to rise, reaching a total volume of about 280m t in 2011 (2010: 265m t), according to the latest figures published by the European plastics producers‘ association PlasticsEurope (Brussels / Belgium; www.plasticseurope.org). Thermoplastics accounted for about 233m t of this total, while the remaining volume was divided among elastomers, coatings, adhesives and sealants.

Among the thermoplastics, polyethylene, polypropylene and PVC accounted for the lion’s share. PlasticsEurope’s preliminary figures indicate that LDPE consumption rose by 3.5% year-on-year, whereas HDPE added 4%, PP was up by 4.1% and PVC by 3.2%. Rising by 5% over 2010, EPS, PA and PET registered the largest year-on-year gains. By contrast, PC consumption dropped by 1%, while that of ABS/SAN even receded by 3%. The latter decrease, said Frank Schnieders, head of PlasticsEurope’s market research group, is attributable to the downturn in the Chinese economy witnessed in H2 2011. Most of the world’s PC and ABS/SAN capacities are located in the People’s Republic.

In geographic terms, China still is the world’s largest plastics producing country and ahead of both Europe and North America (see Plasteurope.com of 20.10.2011). Asia is also the world’s leading plastics consumer; its appetite is largely responsible for a predicted 5.3% increase in automotive business in 2011/12, a forecast of 4.1% growth in the construction business as well as a 5.8% increase in E&E. By comparison, the construction sector in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) is only expected to grow by 0.8% while E&E could see a rise of 2.2%. According to the estimates, the automotive sector is even expected to contract by 2.2% in this region. PlasticsEurope predicts that the construction sector in German-speaking Europe (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) will see growth of 1.8%, while E&E will add 1.5%. The automotive industry is expected to contract by 8.6%.

Schnieders said he expects growth in the plastics-producing sector to continue to surpass that of the global economy, adding that important trends include the ongoing capacity shift towards Asia, rising competition among both producers and converters, growing consolidation as well as a rise in regulations in Europe.