Ceresana study Plastic additives: market grows worldwide with increasing demand

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A new market study by Ceresana shows: worldwide demand for plastic additives is constantly increasing — and Asia-Pacific is the leading market.

Solid or flexible, coloured, durable and inexpensive: plastics are virtually invincible materials thanks to additives. These additives are usually only added in small quantities, but without them, plastic products would not stand a chance against heat, UV rays and oxidation. More than 10,000 different chemicals are used to improve the properties of plastics: fillers, plasticisers, pigments and dyes, flame retardants, antioxidants, light stabilisers and heat stabilisers, but also, for example, blowing agents for foams, impact modifiers and lubricants. The constantly increasing production of plastics also leads to an increase in demand for these additives: According to the latest market study by Ceresana, about 36.7 million tonnes of plastic additives are already consumed worldwide each year.

Tons of plasticisers and fillers

Flexible cable sheathing or flooring does not necessarily have to be made of soft polyvinyl chloride, a type of plastic that contains up to 70 percent plasticisers. However, this is what they are usually made of: PVC manufacturers in particular ensure that more than 8 million tonnes of plasticisers are sold each year, especially phthalates. However, the plastic additives used in the largest quantities are fillers: more than 19.5 million tonnes of calcium carbonate, kaolin, and other filling materials are added to plastics to make them cheaper or to change other properties in a targeted manner. All ingredients, whether individually or as pre-mixed masterbatches, must meet the requirements for the respective end products. For example, in packaging, they often have to meet the requirements for food contact or be compatible with the trend towards bioplastics. The current Ceresana study examines the use of additives not only in PVC, but also in polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, engineering plastics, and other types of plastics.

Consumption of plastic additives is increasing

Ceresana has been analysing the market development of plastics and their various ingredients for more than 20 years. The latest market report predicts that sales of plastic additives will grow by an average of 3.3 percent per year until 2033. Currently, more than half of the total consumption of plastic additives is in the Asia-Pacific region, followed by North America and Western Europe. The market study examines the development of the individual additive types in detail in the various world regions, but also in the 29 largest national sales markets. The largest application area for plastic additives is construction products, for example insulation materials, films, and door and window frames. Traditional materials such as wood, metal, and glass are increasingly being replaced by plastics not only in the construction industry: rigid packaging, packaging films, and flexible packaging are also increasing the consumption of plastic additives. Major customers for plastics are also automotive manufacturers and the electrical and electronics industry.

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