|
Ethylene has reached a capacity of 101.5 million
tonnes by the end of 2000 from a level of about 64 million tonnes
in 1990, indicating an average growth rate of 4.7% over the decade.
During the same period, the consumption has also attained a similar
growth rate reaching a level of almost 91 million tonnes (miot)
in 2000. Overall capacity utilization of just about 90% has been
achieved, which is not very healthy since a minimum of about 95%
utilization is considered good for profitability. The distribution
of Ethylene consumption is :
| Ethylene
| Ethylene
Consumption |
 |
It is expected that demand will grow by 5% in the
next 5 years. The need of Ethylene for Polyethylene will gradually
increase. It is estimated that 60% of total demand by 2010 - 2015
will be used for Polyethylenes.
Global ethylene capacity is predominantly stronger in North America.
Infact 1/3 of the total capacity is located
in North America. Nova's 2.8 million tpa ethylene capacity at Joffre
in Canada is presently the largest capacity at one site. Asia Pacific
with 25.5 million tpa has reached second rank. Infact it has beaten
Western Europe in capacity. The capacity distribution is illustrated
below:
| World
| World
Ethylene Capacity |
 |
During 2000 net capacity increased by almost 6.6
million tons. This capacity increase has been the largest so far.
The Middle East region accounted for almost 2 million tonnes out
of the 6.6 million tonnes. The Asia-Pacific region added almost
1.6 million tonnes. North & South America accounted for the
rest of the capacity development.
| Ethylene Capacity - by
| Ethylene Capacity - by
Country |
| (1st January 2001) |
| |
Country |
Ethylene capacity KT
|
| 1 |
1 |
US |
US |
|
27.1
|
| 2 |
2 |
Japan |
Japan |
|
7
|
| 3 |
3 |
Canada |
Canada |
|
5.1
|
| 4 |
4 |
Germany |
Germany |
|
5.1
|
| 5 |
5 |
South Korea |
South Korea |
|
4.9
|
| 6 |
6 |
Saudi Arabia |
Saudi Arabia |
|
4.9
|
| 7 |
7 |
Soviet Union |
Soviet Union |
|
4.4
|
| 8 |
8 |
China |
China |
|
4.2
|
| 9 |
9 |
France |
France |
|
3.2
|
| 10 |
10 |
Netherlands |
Netherlands |
|
3.1
|
| 11 |
11 |
Brazil |
Brazil |
|
2.8
|
| 12 |
12 |
UK |
UK |
|
2.5
|
| 13 |
13 |
India |
India |
|
2.4
|
| 14 |
14 |
Taiwan |
Taiwan |
|
2.4
|
| 15 |
15 |
Italy |
Italy |
|
2.1
|
The top 15 countries including USA, Canada from
North America, Germany, France, Netherlands, UK and Italy from Western
Europe and Japan, China , South Korea, India and Taiwan from Asia
along with Saudi Arabia , Former Soviet Union and Brazil constitute
almost 80% of the total capacity. Click
here for a complete list of countries involved in Ethylene production.
Dow Chemical is the largest producers with 10 million tonnes capacity.
The global top 10 producers are listed below:
| Top Ten Companies |
Top Ten Companies |
 |
| Company |
Company |
|
Ethylene Capacity (Jan 01, 2001) Million tpa
|
| Dow Chemical Co |
10.1
|
| ExxonMobil Chemical Co. |
7.1
|
| Equistar Chemicals LP |
5.3
|
| Shell Chemicals Ltd. |
4.5
|
| Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP |
3.7
|
| Saudi Basic Industries Corp. |
3.4
|
| BP |
3
|
| Nova Chemical Corp. |
3
|
| Atofina |
2.4
|
| Enichem SPA |
2.2
|
These top ten companies have almost 45% share of the total
Ethylene capacity. As expected the North American companies
including DOW, Exxon, Chevron and Nova account for almost 25%
of the global capacity
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