Extremely Fragmented Global High Density Polyethylene Market To Progress At CAGR Of 4.2% Till 2023

Extremely fragmented global high density polyethylene market to progress at CAGR of 4.2% till 2023

18-Jan-17

The extremely fragmented global high density polyethylene market comprises a vast majority of regional and local producers that cater to local businesses. The three leading producers of high density polyethylene had barely taken up 16.3% of the global HDPE volume generated in 2014. These producers – Chevron Philips Chemical Company, LyondellBasell Industries, and INEOS Olefins and Polymers – currently offer large plant capacities and hold a strong distribution chain in key consumption regions. According to a new publication by Transparency Market Research, the degree of competition in the global market of high density polyethylene is expected to remain high over the coming years. The small number of players that currently hold a global and regional prominence in HDPE production are vying to increase their plant capacities.
The threat of new entrants is expected to remain low till 2023, owing to the very challenging aspect of procuring raw materials for producing high density polyethylene. Additionally, the high capital required to set up the technically intensive production plants also deter many entities from entering this market.

In terms of revenue, the global market for high density polyethylene is expected to progress at a CAGR of 4.5% within a forecast period from 2015 to 2023. By the end of 2016, this revenue is expected to reach US$62.8 bn by the end of 2016 and US$84.79 bn by 2023. In terms of volume, the global market for high density polyethylene is expected to progress at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2015 to 2023.
Blow molding has been a consistently popular method of producing high density polyethylene. By the end of 2023, this segment will take up 29.1% of the global HDPE volume.

Asia Pacific has been the top consumer of high density polyethylene over the recent past, owing to a fast-growing economy and the rise of consumerist trends. By the end of 2023, nearly 46.8% of the global volume of high density polyethylene will be taken up by Asia Pacific. Packaging and agriculture have dominated the demand for high density polyethylene over the years. Till 2023, the leading demand for high density polyethylene is expected to be derived from the packaging industry, which will take up 31.2% of the global HDPE volume by then.

“Nearly 30% of the various materials used in packaging is high density polyethylene,” states a TMR analyst. “This is a massive chunk of the global high density polyethylene production that is taken up by the packaging industry. Current trends in consumer goods and food and beverage industries are pointing towards a surge in consumption rates, further increasing the demand for high density polyethylene. Rigid plastic packaging and aesthetic qualities hold top priority in these industries, and therefore need HDPE to provide the same,” the analyst adds. Similar growth rates can be seen in the agriculture industry, where high density polyethylene is used to manufacture high quality sheets and tarpaulins. These sheets offer great protective properties, especially against UV rays and different weather conditions. Therefore, the currently high growth rate of the agriculture industry is a direct driver of the demand for high density polyethylene.

The raw materials required to produce high density polyethylene come from crude oil, which holds one of the more unpredictable rates of production and consumption. Any fluctuations in the costs of crude oil will directly reflect in all its downstream activities, including the production of HDPE. This will continue to hamper the steady and healthy growth rate of HDPE producers in the coming years. The sheer difficulty for small-scale producers to procure crude oil raw materials is also enough to keep a large number of entities from entering HDPE production. The TMR analyst states, “Instead of depending on crude oil for raw materials, HDPE producers can look towards developments in bio-based HDPE, which can be produced from sugarcane-based ethanol rather than the petroleum-based ethylene.”