Abstract
Global production and consumption of propylene oxide in 2007 was approximately 6.6 million metric tons. Global capacity utilization was 87% in 2007; this was a slight decline from 2006 due to a larger increase in capacity than consumption. Global propylene oxide consumption is estimated to have increased by 2.5% in 2007, and is expected to increase by 4.6% per year from 2007 to 2012, declining to 2.8% per year from 2012 to 2017. Average global utilization rates are expected to decline to about 80% by 2010, gradually increasing thereafter.
Polyether polyols accounted for 65% of global propylene oxide consumption in 2007, followed by propylene glycol with 18% of total consumption. Other applications for propylene oxide include glycol ethers and higher propylene glycols.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of propylene oxide by end use:
