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Plasticizers are organic esters added to polymers to facilitate processing
and to increase the flexibility and toughness of the final product by internal
modification of the polymer molecule. Flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) accounts
for 80–90% of world plasticizer consumption. Flexible applications for
PVC accounted for 35% of PVC consumption in 2005.
From 2002 to 2005, world capacity for plasticizers grew at an average annual
rate of 3.8%, a much higher rate than world consumption, which grew at an average
annual rate of 2.0% during the same period. The following pie chart shows world
consumption of plasticizers and the large percentage of consumption accounted
for by Other Asia, excluding Japan.
The United States, Europe and Asia including Japan are the largest markets
for plasticizers, accounting for nearly 89% of world demand in 2005. Demand
for plasticizers in the United States and Western Europe is expected to grow
moderately at an average annual rate of 1.0–1.5% during 2005–2010.
Increased imports of finished vinyl products, mainly from Asia (primarily China),
softening demand in construction/remodeling activity (particularly in the United
States), and declining exports are the main factors behind this slow growth.
Recent consolidations and capacity reductions in the Western European plasticizers
market have resulted in improved efficiencies and capacity utilization. Japanese
consumption is forecast to experience 0.1% average annual growth during 2005–2010.
Other Asian growth, excluding Japan, is expected to occur at 3.0% annually
during the same period; China is the main growth factor in this region.
Demand for most downstream plasticizer markets is greatly influenced by general
economic conditions. As a result, demand for plasticizers largely follows the
patterns of the leading world economies. The major end-use markets include
construction/remodeling, automotive production and original equipment manufacture
(OEM). Communication and building wire and cable, film and sheet (calendered
and extruded), coated fabrics and dispersions (flooring and other) are the
largest markets for plasticizers.
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