Market Studies: Plastics

Plastics are arranged according to their mechanical-thermal behavior in thermoplastics, elastomers, and thermosetting plastics. Ceresana analyzed both the European as well as the global plastic market.

An important thermoplastic is polyethylene (PE). Polyethylene is produced in three qualities: High density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) as well as low density polyethylene (LDPE). Application areas are packaging films, bags, sacks, rigid packaging as well as products for the construction industry. Besides polyethylene, polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), expandable polystyrene (EPS), polyamide 6 and polyamide 66 (PA6 & PA66), and polypropylene (PP) belong to the most important thermoplastics (polymers).

Polypropylene (PP) is used in many areas like in the production of flexible packaging, fibers, and consumer products as well as in the automotive and construction industry and reveals a high growth potential, due to new application areas. Until 2024, Ceresana expects a worldwide increase of demand by 3.0% p.a.

Ceresana analyzed the market for engineering plastics as well as for the individual plastic types (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), polyamide (PA), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyoxymethylene (POM), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), fluorpolymers) in detail. The study offers data on demand, revenues, production, and trade for the entire market as well as demand for and revenues generated with individual products.

Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), polybutadiene rubber (BR), acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), butyl rubber (IIR), ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM), polychloroprene rubber (CR), and polyisoprene rubber (IR) are the most important elastomers and are examined in the market study on synthetic rubber. The major part of elastomers, especially styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and polybutadiene rubber (BR) is used in the production of tires.

The largest sales market for thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) is the vehicle industry: Market shares as well as demand for the individual TPE types (styrene block copolymers (SBC), thermoplastic polyolefins (TPO), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV) and other TPE) are examined in detail in the market study thermoplastic elastomers by Ceresana.

Bioplastics (PLA, biodegradable plastics), silicones, polyurethanes (PUR), and isocyanates (MDI & TDI) are topics of the studies as well. Ceresana analyzed the individual global markets as well as trends and future developments. Demand development as well as revenues and production volumes are analyzed for each individual region and for each individual type of industrial good. In addition, the most important application areas for each plastic type are described in detail. Furthermore, Ceresana created profiles of individual producers, which show data on revenues, profits, product range, production sites, and capacities.

Another study by Ceresana deals with the global masterbatch industry. Concentrates within a plastic matrix are examined: white, black, other colors, and additives. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is the most important product for the production of white masterbatches. The plastics industry colors toys, electric devices, automotive parts, furniture, plastic films, and other products with them on a large scale.

Silicones are indispensable in many industries. Ceresana expects the silicone market to increase by 4.0% p.a. until 2024. The most important application areas for these plastics are construction, automotive, electrical and electronics, medical technology, cosmetics, textiles, and paper.

Composites are modern, high-performing materials that enable the reduction of components. The excellent weight / carrying capacity ratio makes carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) and glass fiber reinforced plastics (GFRP) attractive for many applications. Ceresana expects the global market for these composites to increase to a volume of 9.98 million tonnes until 2024.