Abstract
Global demand to increase more than fourfold by 2013
Global demand for bioplastics, which include plastic resins that are
biodegradable or derived from plant-based sources, will rise more than
fourfold to 890,000 metric tons in 2013. This extraordinary growth will be
fueled by a number of factors, including consumer demand for more
environmentally-sustainable products, the development of bio-based feedstocks
for commodity plastic resins, and increasing restrictions on the use of
plastic products, particularly plastic bags. Most importantly, however, will
be the expected continuation of high crude oil and natural gas prices, which
will allow bioplastics to become more cost-competitive with petroleum-based
resins. Looking ahead to 2018, world bioplastics demand is forecast to reach
nearly two million metric tons, with a market value of over $5 billion.
Non-biodegradable plastics to be primary demand driver
Biodegradable plastics, such as starchbased resins, polylactic acid and
degradable polyesters, accounted for the vast majority (nearly 90 percent) of
bioplastics demand in 2008. Double-digit gains are expected to continue going
forward, fueled in part by the emergence of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) --
such as MIREL resins from Telles -- on the commercial market. However,
nonbiodegradable plant-based plastics will be the primary driver of
bioplastics demand. In the next few years, Dow Chemical and Braskem are each
planning to open plants in Brazil that will produce polyethylene from
bio-based ethanol. Other firms are expected to open bio-based polyvinyl
chloride and polypropylene facilities. As a result, demand for
non-biodegradable plant-based plastics will increase from just 23,000 metric
tons in 2008 to nearly 600,000 metric tons in 2013.
Asia/Pacific market to catch Western Europe
Western Europe was the largest regional market for bioplastics in 2008,
accounting for about 40 percent of world demand. Bioplastics sales in the
region benefit from strong consumer demand for biodegradable and plant-based
products, a regulatory environment that favors bioplastics over petroleum
resins, and an extensive infrastructure for composting. Going forward,
however, more rapid growth in demand will be found in the Asia/Pacific region,
which will become the equal of the West European market by 2013. Gains will be
stimulated by strong demand in Japan, which has focused intently on the
replacement of petroleumbased plastics. Other world regions, such as Latin
America and Eastern Europe, will see stellar gains in bioplastics demand from
a very small 2008 bsae.
World bioplastic production to shift from developed to developing countries
Currently, world bioplastics production is heavily concentrated in the
developed countries of North America, Western Europe and Japan. This will
change dramatically by 2013, as China is expected to open over 100,000 metric
tons of new bioplastics capacity. Furthermore, once the planned bio-based
polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride plants come online, Brazil will become the
world' s leading producer of bioplastics in 2018.
Study coverage
Details on these and other findings are contained in a new Freedonia industry
study, World Bioplastics, presents historical demand data (1998, 2003 and
2008) plus forecasts for 2013 and 2018 by resin (e.g., starchbased, polylactic
acid, PHAs, petroleumbased, bio-based polyethylene, bio-based polyesters,
bio-based polyamides), market (e.g., packaging, nonpackaging), world regional
market and for 12 major national markets. In addition, the study also
considers key market environment factors, evaluates company market share and
profiles 34 global industry players.
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