The Future of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Market Forecasts and Growth Trends to 2020 - Packaging Applications Driving Demand Globally

Introduction

GBI Research’s report, “The Future of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Market Forecasts and Growth Trends to 2020 – Packaging Applications Driving Demand Globally”, provides an in-depth analysis of the global Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) industry. The research presents detailed analysis and forecasts of the major economic and market trends affecting the LDPE markets in the major regions of the world. The report contains demand, production analysis and forecasts, drivers and restraints, end use analysis and forecasts, and a market share analysis of the major producers in the major regions of the world. In addition, it includes demand and production forecasts for the major countries in all geographies. The report also contains the historic and forecast price trends for all the regions. Overall, the report presents a comprehensive analysis of the global LDPE market covering all the major parameters.

Report Highlights
GBI Research’s new report, “The Future of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Market Forecasts and Growth Trends to 2020 – Packaging Applications Driving Demand Globally”, provides an in-depth analysis of the global low density polyethylene (LDPE) industry. The research presents detailed analysis and forecasts of the major economic and market trends affecting the LDPE markets in major regions of the world. The report contains demand, production analysis and forecasts, drivers and restraints, end use analysis and forecasts, and a market share analysis of the major producers in the major regions of the world. In addition, it includes demand and production forecasts for the major countries in all geographies. The report also contains historical and forecast price trends for all the regions. Overall, the report presents a comprehensive analysis of the global LDPE market covering all the major parameters.

Global LDPE Demand is Expected to Grow Slowly and Steadily in the Forecast Period

Since the global demand for LDPE is approaching a stage of maturity, the growth will not be as strong as in the past. No significant new applications of LDPE are expected to be introduced into the market. The industries in most of the developed economies will be slowly recovering from the economic downturn. The global LDPE demand in 2009 was close to 18.4 million Metric Tonnes (MT). The global demand for LDPE is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 2% from 2009 to 2020.

Global LDPE Demand, Forecasts, Million MT, 2000-2020

Source: GBI Research

Asia is the Largest Consumer of LDPE Followed by Europe

The demand for LDPE is highest in Asia. China is emerging as the major demand driver for LDPE in the world. The demand in advanced countries such as Japan is also high but is stable. India and China have considerable consumption potential because of their large populations. The Asian demand by volume for LDPE in 2009 was 5.9 million MT.

Europe is the second largest consumer of LDPE in the world. Germany and France consume the most LPDP in Europe, but the demand in these countries is also stable. Growth in the European LDPE demand is being driven by the UK and Spain. The demand for LDPE in Europe was around 4.6 million MT in the year 2009.

The North American economy is the most developed and advanced and has the least scope for growth. Hence, the demand in the North American region is flat. The North American demand for LDPE in 2009 was close to 3.4 million MT.

LDPE demand in the Middle East is growing faster with the rapidly growing capacity and production in this region. The demand in the Middle East by volume was about 1.3 million MT in 2009. The LDPE market in South and Central America is exhibiting slow growth with Brazil leading the demand. The demand for LDPE by volume was nearly 1.1 million MT in South and Central America in the year 2009.

Global LDPE Demand Share by Region, %, 2009

Source: GBI Research

Growth in LDPE Demand is Coming Mostly From Asia and the Middle East

The GDPs of countries such as China and India in Asia are growing at higher rates than the global GDP growth rates. The key LDPE-consuming industries are also growing in these regions. The packaging sector is set to grow continuously in the forecast period in these countries supported by the growth in the retail industry. With the rise in consumption, the durables industry is also set to grow. The construction and electrical industries will also follow the industrial growth trends. The Middle East is growing rapidly in terms of the capacity and production of petrochemicals. With the rise in oil prices in the last decade Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran have grown rapidly. With this, the demand for petrochemicals and plastics in these countries is also rising strongly.

LyondellBasell (Lupotech) and Univation (Unipol) are the Major Technologies Used for LDPE Production across the World

The LDPE plants across the world use different technologies for production. LyondellBasell (Lupotech) technology is the most used technology by LDPE plants globally. A close second is the Univation (Unipol) technology which is also used a lot for the production of LDPE worldwide. The third most used technology is the Exxon Mobil technology for LDPE production.

Global LDPE Capacity Share Analysis by Technology, %, 2009

Source: GBI Research

The Principle Sector for the Consumption of LDPE is the Packaging Industry

The packaging industry is the principle LDPE-consuming sector globally. LDPE is used for packaging food products such as meat and poultry, dairy products, snacks and sweets, frozen food, and as a coating to paper and paper board products used for packaging liquids such as milks and fruit juices, and others. It is used for non-food packaging such as shrink films for books, bundling and pallets; stretch and shrink wraps, different types of bags, over wrap films for towels and tissues; and others. LDPE is also used in some pharmaceutical and agricultural packaging. In the construction industry, LDPE is mostly used as a weather proofing material for structures and equipment. In the electrical industry, LDPE is mostly used for the sheathing of power cables and telecommunication cables. The durables segment consists of toys, diapers and various other household plastic products.

Global LDPE Demand Analysis by End Use, 2009

Source: GBI Research