Abstract
Global consumption of polypropylene in 2007 was approximately 43.4 million metric tons. Global capacity utilization was 90% in 2007; this was a slight decline from 2006 due to a larger increase in capacity than consumption. Global polypropylene consumption is estimated to have increased by 4.8% in 2007, and is expected to increase on average by 5.2% per year from 2007 to 2012, declining to 4.4% per year from 2012 to 2017. As a result of considerable capacity additions, utilization rates are expected to decline to the low-80s range by 2010, gradually increasing afterward.
Fiber applications and injection molding each accounted for about 31% of global polypropylene consumption in 2007. Other applications for polypropylene include film & sheet and blow molding.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of polypropylene by end use:
