High Demand from Automotive Industry to Drive Global Polycarbonate Market

Market Highlight

Polycarbonate Market size was valued at USD 18.9 billion in 2021 and is projected to be worth USD 30.1 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 6.00% during the forecast period (2022 - 2030)

Growth Drivers

Increasing Preference for Polycarbonate to Drive the Market

Polycarbonate resins are tough thermoplastics which are produced by the reaction between bisphenol A (BPA) and phosgene gas. It is an amorphous, ductile, and transparent plastic that has high tolerance for extreme temperatures. Its chemical resistance makes it ideal for a variety of applications. These characteristics coupled with its transparency and light-weight features leads to its extensive usage in diverse industrial and commercial sectors as well as aesthetically appealing components in the automotive & transportation sector. Apart from this, niche application areas like safety equipment and industrial machinery are likely to gain demand in future.

Intense competition among market players to result in market growth

Based on growing demand for polycarbonate, a number of market giants are developing products that can be used for new applications. Polycarbonate manufacturing companies, such as BASF, DowDuPont, and Bayer, are constantly indulging in research and development (R&D) activities. These activities are conducted in a bid to develop products that are environment-friendly and also comply with regulations. Moreover, massive investments are made to develop new technologies to continually enhance their competitive advantage in the industry.

Market Restraint

On the flip side, because of its chemical property, polycarbonate is recommended only for those products that are used only once and not repeatedly. However, the overall market is bound to remain unaffected by this restraining factor as manufacturers are now designing items not just for household but also for laboratories owing to its resistance to temperatures and its flexibility.

Market Segmentation

In accordance with the report, the global polycarbonate market is segmented based on application and region.

By application, the market is segmented into automotive, building and construction, electrical and electronics, consumer goods, packaging, medical devices, and others. Far lighter than metal and glass, polycarbonate is being just as strong is used in the automotive industry. It plays a key role in increasing fuel economy and also reducing carbon dioxide emissions. It is also the choice for many sunroofs, and small window panes used in vehicles along with windows and windscreens in vehicles, giving a substantial push to the automotive segment in the global market.

The market has also been segmented into five major regions, which are North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America.

Regional Analysis

The global polycarbonate market is geographically segmented into five major regions—North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America.

The market in Asia Pacific is projected to lead the global market with the largest share. This feat has been achieved on account of rapid industrialization in the region in the past few years, coupled with favorable government policies and funding for infrastructure and transportation. In the region, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and China are major contributors to the market growth. In addition, changing lifestyles, growing disposable incomes, and shifting consumer trends have driven the automotive and packaging industries in the region, in turn fuelling the growth of the regional market.

On the other hand, North America is expected follow APAC with the second-largest market. In the region, the United States (U.S) is the largest country-level market owing to a steady rise in the use of polycarbonate materials in reconstruction activities along with the automotive and packaging industries.

Europe is making similar strides, with the markets in the United Kingdom (U.K), France, Germany, Italy, and Belgium leading the region. The growth of the regional market can be attributed to the use of polycarbonate in automotive and many other industrial applications.

Lastly, the markets in the Middle East and Africa and Latin America account for a relatively smaller market share; however, these markets are likely to grow in the coming years owing to growing economy and increasing industrialization.

Key Players

The key players making a name in the polycarbonate market are Asahi Kasei Chemical Corporation (Japan), Idemitsu Kosan Co. Ltd. (Japan), Covestro (Germany), Teijin Limited (Japan), Mitsubishi Engineering Plastics Corp. (Japan), LG Chemicals (South Korea), EVONIK INDUSTRIES AG (Germany), Formosa (U.S.),  SABIC (Saudi Arabia), and Bayer AG (Germany), among others.

KBR Inc. has been awarded a license and engineering and a proprietary equipment supply contract by China Pingmei Shenma Group (PMSM) in order to build two new polycarbonate plants in Kaifeng and Pingdingshan in the Henan Province in China. The contract dictates that both 100,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr) plants will utilize KBR’s proprietary phosgene-based interfacial polycarbonate technology as part of its overall polycarbonate strategy. The company fully intends to expand its total production capacity to 800,000 m.t./yr.

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