Global and China Biodegradable Plastics Industry Report, 2014-2018

Biodegradable plastics industry policies are expected to be launched soon, thus stimulating China’s demand for biodegradable plastics swiftly

Biodegradable plastics are polymer materials which are quickly degradable through microbial life activities in natural environments or under conditions of composting. Currently, more than 70% of global biodegradable plastics are used in the packaging industry.

In recent years, with the continued promotion of the low-carbon economy, the global biodegradable plastics output has maintained a high growth rate, attaining about 668 kilotons in 2014. All over the world, only plastarch material (PSM), polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), etc. have realized industrial production. In 2014, PSM, PLA and PBS accounted for 41%, 24% and 21% of the world’s total output, respectively.

Global demand for biodegradable plastics is mainly concentrated in Europe and North America, and their demand accounted for approximately 70% in 2014 together. However, in recent years, the Asian market has generated fast-growing demand, which is expected to represent 32.3% in 2018.

Global biodegradable plastics enterprises are mainly from Europe, America and Japan, such as Europe-based BASF, Novamont and Corbion, America-based NatureWorks and Metabolix, Japan-based Mitsubishi Chemical and Showa Denko. By capacity, BASF and NatureWorks top the list with respective capacities of 140 kt/a PBS and 140 kt/a PLA.

At present, Chinese biodegradable plastics market witnesses oversupply, most manufacturers rely on exports, and the domestic demand stays at a low level. However, as the government pays more attention to energy waste and environmental protection, biodegradable plastics industry policies are expected to be launched soon, thus stimulating China’s demand for biodegradable plastics swiftly. In 2014, China’s biodegradable plastics capacity reached around 380 kilotons, mainly serving packaging film, agricultural film, household plastics and other fields.

In 2014, Chinese biodegradable plastics manufacturers included Wuhan Huali Environment Technology, Kingfa Sci & Tech, Tianjin Danhai, Shandong Fuwin, Shenzhen Rainbow Fine Chemical Industry, etc. The capacity of these five companies accounted for about 40% of the national total capacity.

Now, China intends to build numerous biodegradable plastics projects, including a 90 kt/a PBSA Phase II expansion project of Kingfa Sci & Tech, a 20 kt/a biodegradable plastics PBS project Phase II of Yifan Xinfu Pharmaceutical, a 60 kt/a low-carbon biodegradable materials and products project of Shenzhen Rainbow Fine Chemical Industry, a 60 kt/ a bio-plastics R & D production base project of Wuhan Huali Environment Technology.

 

The report mainly covers the followings:

Supply and demand, product mix, regional structure, competition pattern, development trends of global biodegradable plastics market;
Supply and demand, competition pattern, development trends of Chinese biodegradable plastics market;
Development status and competition pattern of biodegradable plastic product segments such as PSM, PLA, PHA, PBS;
Operation, biodegradable plastics business, prospects, etc. of 25 domestic and foreign biodegradable plastics manufacturers.

Source

Reportlinker, press release, 2015-09-15.

Supplier

BASF SE
Corbion
Kingfa Sci & Tech
Metabolix
Mitsubishi Chemical
NatureWorks LLC
Novamont S.p.A.
Shandong Fuwin New Material Co.
Shenzhen Rainbow Fine Chemical Industry Co.
Showa Denko KK
Zhejiang Hangzhou Xinfu Pharmaceutical Co.,Ltd.

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