Abstract
Global production and consumption of ethylene oxide in 2007 was almost 19 million metric tons. Global capacity utilization was 95.4% in 2007; this was an increase from 2006 due to a larger increase in consumption than capacity. Global ethylene oxide consumption is estimated to have increased by about 6% in 2007, and is expected to increase by 4.5% per year from 2007 to 2012, declining to 3.1% per year from 2012 to 2017. As a result of considerable capacity additions, utilization rates are expected to decline to the mid-80s range by 2011, gradually increasing thereafter.
(Mono) ethylene glycol accounted for almost 71% of global ethylene oxide consumption in 2007, followed by ethoxylates with 10% of total consumption and higher (ethylene) glycols with 7%. Other applications for ethylene oxide include ethanolamines, glycol ethers and polyols.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of ethylene oxide by end use:
