Change in the Global HDPE Market

During the past year, the global HDPE market reached a volume of more than 30 million tons. This is after attaining 22 million tons in the year 2000. Worldwide demand for HDPE is primarily influenced by rapidly growing industries, especially those of packing and construction. Even though North America and Western Europe continued to account for about 44% of global demand during 2007, the Asia-Pacific region is constantly propelling more worldwide growth, and will, in large part, drive future HDPE revenue increases. East European countries (especially Russia) are benefiting from substantial growth rates and currently possess a market volume of approximately 2.5 million tons. Ceresana Research expects HDPE revenues to nearly double by 2016, as a result of increased sales volumes and higher prices. The Asian Pacific's share of worldwide HDPE demand has risen from 31% in the year 2000, to more than 35% in 2007. China's manufacturing industry comes in first place followed by those in India, Japan, and South Korea. Producers of HDPE in the region profit from rapidly growing Asian markets, even in relatively smaller countries, such as Malaysia, and from export opportunities in North America and Western Europe. The HDPE manufacturing industries in previously established nations are migrating more and more to fast growing and cost effective countries in Asia. One anomaly is the production of fibers: Only about 5% of global HDPE demand fell on this sector, but it is principally concentrated in the Asian Pacific region. Throughout the Middle Eastern countries, demand for plastic is consistently increasing, along with production: The Gulf States no longer want to exclusively export petroleum, but also want to offer global market products with a higher added value. Since the year 2000, production of HDPE has increased more than 20% per year, whereby a large portion was accounted for by Saudi Arabia. There is no end in sight for this rapid development: Until the year 2013, projects are planned throughout the Middle East with a total capacity of 6.9 million tons. These developments are expected to make this region the most important supplier of HDPE in the world. In contrast to the Middle East, only minor expansions in capacity are planned for Western Europe and North America, whereby most new production facilities will replace older ones. Smaller factories will increasingly be abandoned here, but also within the remaining regions. In the future, established manufacturers of HDPE need to create more innovative products and efficient production technologies in order to compete with new suppliers. Milk bottles and other hollow goods manufactured through blow molding are the most important application area for HDPE - More than 8 million tons, or nearly one third of worldwide production, was applied here. Above all, China, where beverage bottles made from HDPE were first imported in 2005, is a growing market for rigid HDPE packaging, as a result of its improving standard of living. In India and other highly populated, emerging nations, infrastructure is being expanded - not without pipes and cable insulation made from HDPE. The environmentally friendly material has benefited from discussions about possible health and environmental problems caused by PVC, or as the case may be, its advantages over glass, metal and cardboard.