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HDPE growing well globally since 2000 |
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Growing by 4.5% since 2000, the global HDPE market has reached levels of 30 mln tons in 2007 from 22 mln tons in 2002. This growth is driven mainly by growth in demand from packaging and construction sectors as per a report by Ceresana Research. North America and Western Europe continued to be the largest consumers, accounting for about 44% of global demand during 2007. However, global growth is being largely driven by the Asia-Pacific region that will continue to fuel future demand growth. Asia Pacific's share of worldwide HDPE demand has risen from 31% in 2000, to more than 35% in 2007. Demand from China's manufacturing industry is the highest, 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 to fast growing and cost effective countries in Asia. East European countries (especially Russia) are benefiting from substantial growth rates and currently possess a market volume of approximately 2.5 mln tons.
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 2000, production of HDPE has increased more than 20% pa, whereby a large portion was accounted for by Saudi Arabia. There is no end in sight for this rapid development as until 2013, projects are planned throughout the Middle East with a total capacity of 6.9 mln 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 future, the established HDPE manufacturers need to create more innovative products and efficient production technologies to compete with new suppliers.
Milk bottles and other hollow goods manufactured through blow molding are the most important application area for HDPE as over 8 mln tons, amounting to over 30% of worldwide production, finds application in this segment. 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.
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