Global Polycarbonate Market Expected to Record CAGR of 5.9% during Forecast Period

Tuesday 31 January 2012, Amsterdam

The report provides the reader with detailed analysis and forecasts of the major economic and market trends affecting global polycarbonate demand in all the major regions of the world. It also provides analysis and description of the major drivers and restraints affecting polycarbonate demand in various regions. Global polycarbonate demand is assessed in terms of end-user segments and price and a competitive landscape, at both a regional and national level, is also provided. Overall, the report presents a comprehensive analysis of the global polycarbonate market, covering all the major parameters.

Global Polycarbonate Market Expected to Record CAGR of 5.9% during Forecast Period

Global polycarbonate demand stood at 1,679,341 tons in 2000, before increasing to 3,441,589 tons in 2010. A significant portion of the increase in demand for polycarbonate was from the Asia-Pacific region, which constituted 62.6% of the global polycarbonate demand during 2010. This upward trend is expected to continue in the near future. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to account for 72.6% of global polycarbonate demand in 2020. Global demand for polycarbonate will increase to reach 6,090,999 tons by 2020.

See figure: Polycarbonate, Global Demand by Volume (Tons), 2000–2020

China to Drive Demand in Asia-Pacific Region

China has rapidly emerged as a global petrochemical products manufacturing hub over the past decade. Production in China enjoys the advantage of relatively low operating costs, and as a result a huge capacity polycarbonate capacity addition exists in the country. China imported almost 69% of Asia-Pacific’s import volume during 2010. Demand from China is currently driving the Asia-Pacific market’s demand for polycarbonate, Meanwhile, Japan and Taiwan witnessed growth, with a CAGR of 2.5% and 3.9% during 2010 due to healthy demand from the electrical and electronics, automotives and optical application sectors. This upward trend is expected to continue towards 2020 in China and Taiwan, and moderate growth is projected in Japan due to demand saturation.

Electrical and Electronics and Automotive will Drive Global Polycarbonate Demand in Future

The electrical and electronics and automotive sectors are expected to be the major end-use demand segment in the global polycarbonate market during 2010-2020. The electrical and electronics sector demand constituted 877,291 tons by volume during 2010, and this is expected to witness growth at a CAGR of 6.4% during the forecast period. Meanwhile, auto sector demand is likely to follow the same upward trend, to reach 1,395,960 tons by 2020.

Lack of Potential Substitutes for Polycarbonate is Strengthening the Demand from End-use Segment

Polycarbonate has unique properties which makes it suitable for a variety of applications. It is difficult to substitute polycarbonate with some other thermoplastic in any particular application. Tritan, being developed by Eastman Chemical, has emerged as the leading alternative to polycarbonate in food applications and products like reusable water bottles because of its Bisphenol-A (BPA) free property. Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) is another transparent thermoplastic and is an economical alternative to polycarbonate in some applications like optical media and medical equipments, but it has its own limitations. Meanwhile, Acrylic Styrene Acrylonitrile (ASA) is also used for outdoor applications like exterior siding, automotive side mirror housings, and signage. But all these products are not giving enough resistance in the market to cause a switch to polycarbonate substitutes, due to their limitations.