Polypropylene consumption to grow at less than 1% in 2009, reaching 2007 levels in 2010

17-Aug-09

Global consumption of polypropylene in 2008 was 45.5 mln tons, down by 1.4 mln tons from 2007. With the global economy starting to recover in H2-2009, the polypropylene usage level will grow less than 1% in 2009 and finally reach 2007 usage levels sometime in 2010. These are the findings of a report by Townsend Solutions. Townsend forecasts global polypropylene usage growth will average 3.7% pa for the next five years. During this same 5-year period over 10 mln tons of new polypropylene capacity is expected to come on stream, according to supplier announcements. The additional production will result in a period of historically low capacity utilization levels of below 80% by 2012.