Abstract
Global production and consumption of polystyrene (all grades) in 2007 was approximately 16 million metric tons. Global capacity utilization was 77% in 2007; this was a slight increase from 2006. Global polystyrene consumption is estimated to have increased by 2.6% in 2007, and is expected to increase on average by 3.0% per year from 2007 to 2012, declining to 2.8% per year from 2012 to 2017. Average global utilization rates are expected to gradually increase to the mid to high-80s range by the end of the forecast period.
In the analysis, general purpose (GP) and high impact (HI) are grouped together but separated from expandable PS resins. GPPS and HIPS accounted for about 72% of global polystyrene consumption in 2007, and EPS with 28%. Most applications for GPPS, HIPS and EPS are broken out as follows: packaging (31%), construction (13%), appliances (12%), electrical/electronic (7%), furniture/housewares (6%), and other applications, such as laboratory goods, office supplies, toys, and medical goods.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of polystyrene (EPS, GP and HIPS together) by end use:
