A new study of Ceresana Research analyzes the global HDPE market

Every day you can see a lot of polyethylene (HDPE) in the shopping bags, materials for packing, etc. But there are also other products made from HDPE as the pipes for water, gas, fuel tanks and coatings of cables. According to a new study of Ceresana Research, which examines this important plastic market, international demand for HDPE is primarily influenced by the rapid growth in some sectors, for example packaging and construction. Still, Western Europe and North America was approximately 44 per cent of global consumption during 2007 and the region of the Asitático Pacific leads the global growth. Currently, Eastern Europe is also taking advantage of this growth and has already reached a volume of market of 2.5 tons.

In the part of the Asia-Pacific region the use of HDPE has increased from 31 per cent in 2000 to 35 per cent in 2007. The industry that manufactures HDPE is migrating from already established regions that are in continuous growth.

In the Middle East oil-rich regions, not only the demand for plastics is growing, but also the production. Since 2000, the production of HDPE in this region has grown an average of 20 percent annually, thanks largely to Saudi Arabia. But this does not end here, according to this study, it is estimated that up to 2013 projects with a total capacity of 6.7 million tons will be managed through Middle East, so it is suspected that this region will be the largest supplier of HDPE.

Milk bottles and other similar articles that are made with the moulding process is the most important areas of application for HDPE. Above all, China, where the bottles are made from HDPE, has experienced the fastest growth of rigid HDPE packaging. In India, another of the emerging markets, infrastructure will continue to grow with pipes and driving cables made of HDPE.