WP Report
Polystyrene
This World Petrochemical (WP) report on Polystyrene (PS) contains complete global and country supply/demand balances for the base year, the past five years and five and ten year projections; production, consumption and trade are estimated for expandable PS resins and general purpose/high impact PS resins separately in the analysis. The complete report including the analyses and supply/demand tables contains approximately 180 pages. There is also a table showing all global producers, their locations, and capacities (current, historical and future) to produce Polystyrene.
Published January 2011
Abstract
Global production and consumption of polystyrene (all grades) in 2010 were approximately 15.4 million metric tons. Global capacity utilization was 69% in 2010, higher than in 2009. Polystyrene consumption in 2010 is estimated to have increased by just over 5%; it is forecast to average growth of 3.0% per year from 2010 to 2015, slowing to 2.3% per year from 2015 to 2020. Average global utilization rates are expected to increase to the high-70s range by the end of the forecast period.
General purpose (GP) and high impact (HI) polystyrene together account for about 69% of total global polystyrene consumption. The largest end use for GPPS and HIPS is in packaging applications, followed by appliances, and electric/electronic uses. EPS is used mainly in packaging and construction applications, especially for insulation in buildings.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of polystyrene (EPS, GP and HIPS together) by end use:
