World Analysis – Polystyrene

Duration: Long-term outlook to 2060

Polystyrene is very easy to process, and the high-temperature feature allows PS to be used for hot-filled treatments in food packaging (e.g., yogurt). Other major applications include disposable cups, appliance parts, household and food containers, toys, petri dishes, foam construction material (extruded polystyrene, or XPS), oriented films, and other packaging applications. While packaging is currently the largest demand segment for PS, the electronics, appliances, and consumer product markets will be the main demand drivers. Changing technologies and the move to smaller electronic devices and appliances are reducing PS resin consumption; however, the overall trend for the electronics industry remains positive and will support future PS demand growth.

PS faces competition from polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PS also competes against other traditional non-polymer materials, such as cardboard, paper, and even aluminum foil, in packaging applications. This is particularly true as pressures from recycling mandates and sustainability policies increase.

Polystyrene (PS) is produced from styrene monomer, which in turn is produced from benzene and ethylene. Styrene is a liquid and is easily transported long distances, so PS plants do not have to be located near their main feedstock, styrene monomer. Many PS plants consist of multiple lines, with one line optimized for General-purpose polystyrene (GPPS) and the other line optimized for High-impact polystyrene (HIPS) production.

Duration: Long-term outlook to 2060

Overview

• Maximize negotiating leverage with forward-looking country-specific supply-demand data.
• Develop a winning strategy based on the growth projections of market segments worldwide.
• Gain clarity evaluating investment opportunities and analyzing market leadership out to 2060.
• Mitigate risk with data about emerging international trade flows.

Data Included

The World Analysis – Polystyrene provides a comprehensive analysis and key insights of critical market developments as they shape the future outlook for the global polystyrene market.

The following reports, data files, analytical tools and visualization modules are available online and can be downloaded from the Chemical Market Analytics website:

• Report outlining key strategic insights and the future shape of global and regional markets.
• Data Appendix (Excel) with supply/demand and capacity tables
• Explanatory Notes detailing data sources, methodologies, unit and conversion factors, and World Analysis deliverables on the Chemical Market Analytics website.
• Energy and Economy assumptions
• Price, cost and margin-based assumptions forecast and sensitivity analysis, and price assessment methodology.
• Excel data files with standard supply/demand graphics, trade grids, and price forecasts
• An online dashboard providing visualization of capacity, supply/demand and price, cost and margin forecasts.
• Supply/demand, capacity and price/economics database access via data browser
• Capacity by company/shareholder, capacity integration, top producer/consumer and surplus/deficit capacity ranking

This World Analysis contains detailed information on capacities, production, demand and trade for all significant producing and consuming countries, geographies and regions. Although data gathering is essential for understanding history and potential future trends, we believe that the interpretation and analysis of the data are the most valuable parts for our clients.

Verifying the data is critical to the quality of the analysis, and the input our teams get from direct participants in the global business is most important in arriving at realistic conclusions.

Duration: Long-term outlook to 2060