Polyethylene market

Global Polyethylene Market Overview

Polyethylene Market Size was valued at USD 90.95 Billion in 2023. The Polyethylene industry is projected to grow from USD 95.70 Billion in 2024 to USD 143.77 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.22% during the forecast period (2024 - 2032). Rapidly increasing urbanization and industrialization are the key market drivers facilitating market growth.Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review

Polyethylene Market Trends

• Growing inclination towards packaged food is driving the market growth

Due to rising packaged goods demand and consumers' shifting lifestyles, the worldwide polyethylene market CAGR is anticipated to experience rapid expansion. Also expected to support market expansion are convenient availability and reasonably priced PE. The market, however, is expected to be significantly constrained by rising environmental protection and consumer health consciousness. Throughout the projection period, new chances for market expansion are projected to arise with the introduction and development of bio-based and biodegradable polyethylene. Additionally, the production of polyethylene using feedstock generated from unorthodox sources such as coal, shale gas, and bio-based materials would guarantee the supply of raw materials and sustainable resources.

Several industries, including automotive, electrical & electronics, food & beverage, and consumer goods, are seeing an increase in demand for PE. It is suitable for industrial usage, mostly for packaging automotive and electrical spare parts, due to characteristics like high stiffness. Manufacturers in the automobile sector put a lot of effort into making their vehicles lighter in order to increase their efficiency. PE is preferred because it is lightweight and simple to process. qualities of sealing and rigidity. Due to the escalating demand for the creation of food and beverage packaging materials, the consumption of the product is expanding quickly in the food and beverage industry. Effective packaging is preferred by manufacturers to lower the risk of food contamination and quality degradation. Food and beverages are shielded by polyethylene's moisture barrier from both interior and exterior surroundings. This asset is anticipated to increase demand for materials used in this sector.

Due to its capacity to withstand physical pressures, give durability & flexibility in packaging, and facilitate simple molding of items, PE is increasingly being used in toys, sports equipment, and clothing for the fashion industry. This polymer is being used more frequently across the agricultural sector owing to the rising need for drippers, microtubes, and emitting pipes in irrigation fields.

Further, although there are several packaging solutions on the market, polyethylene is one of the most widely utilized ones. Due to its distinctive qualities, including chemical resistance and low price, it is the most durable plastic now on the market. The market growth rate is anticipated to be driven by the increased demand for polyethylene in the packaging sector. As a result, it is expected that throughout the anticipated period, demand for weight loss supplements will increase due to the rising demand. Thus, driving the Polyethylene market revenue.

In December 2023, Gunze Limited revealed that it would start an eco-friendly “GEOPLAS™ HCX1,” which is the lightest shrink film for automatic sleeve applicators, in December 2023. The product is a polystyrene/polyethylene terephthalate multilayer product and uses 5% of chemical recycled raw materials by mass balance approach. After introducing the new product in Japan, it will be expanded to the US, China, and ASEAN markets. This time’s introduction is the second after our GEOPLAS™ HCT3 eco-friendly grade product. There are global concerted actions away from plastic that now affect us all.

Polyethylene Market Segment Insights

Polyethylene Type Insights

The Polyethylene market segmentation, based on type includes LDPE, MDPE, and HDPE. The HDPE segment dominated the market. Due to its qualities, including a low cost of production, a high strength-to-density ratio, and high temperature resistance, the HDPE sector has the biggest market share. The moulding process used to produce HDPE affects the material's physical characteristics. In a wide range of sectors, including ballistic plates, bottle caps, boats, chemical-resistant pipework, food storage containers, and others, HDPE is highly resistant to many types of solvents.

Polyethylene End-User Insights

The Polyethylene market segmentation, based on end-user, includes packaging, construction, automotive, electronics, household application, and others. Due to the expanding usage of this resin in the production of various packaging solutions in the food and beverage industry, the packaging segment held the biggest polyethylene market share in 2022 and is expected to increase at the quickest rate over the course of the forecast period. Over 60% of the market for flexible packaging, according to the Flexible Packaging Association, is made up of the food and beverage sector.

Polyethylene Technology Insights

The Polyethylene market segmentation, based on technology, includes films & sheets extrusion, pipe extrusion, injection molding, blow molding, and others. Injection molding segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecasted period. Injection molding, thermoplastics' formability is advantageous. Polymers are versatile, and the injection molding method is as versatile. Particularly adaptable are polymers made of polyethylene. They exhibit a wide range of properties as a result of their extremely varied chemistry. These characteristics include tensile stress and softening point. The chemistry of the polymers affects these qualities. Two crucial chemical characteristics are molecular weight and degree of branching. These can distinguish between several varieties of polyethylene.

Figure 1: Polyethylene Market, by Distribution Channel, 2022 & 2032 (USD Billion)Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review

Polyethylene Regional Insights

By region, the study provides the market insights into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World. The North American Polyethylene market area will dominate this market, owing to an increase in the growth of various industries such as automotive, electronics, medical, packaging, and others across the region.

Further, the major countries studied in the market report are The US, Canada, German, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil.

Figure 2: POLYETHYLENE MARKET SHARE BY REGION 2022 (USD Billion) Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review

Europe Polyethylene market accounts for the second-largest market share due to the low cost of bariatric surgery and the rise in the number of diabetes people. Further, the German Polyethylene market held the largest market share, and the UK Polyethylene market was the fastest growing market in the European region

The Asia-Pacific Polyethylene Market is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2023 to 2032. This is due to its exceptional features which helps it to be used across numerous end-use industriesa. Moreover, China’s Polyethylene market held the largest market share, and the Indian Polyethylene market was the fastest growing market in the Asia-Pacific region.

Polyethylene Key Market Players & Competitive Insights

Leading market players are investing heavily in research and development activities in order to grow their product lines and service offerings, which will help the Polyethylene market, grow even more. Market participants are also adopting a variety of strategies to extend their presence, with important market developments including new product launches, partnerships, contractual agreements, mergers and acquisitions, higher investments, and collaboration with other organizations. To grow and survive in a more competitive and rising market climate, Polyethylene industry must offer cost-effective items.

Manufacturing locally to minimize operational expenses is one of the key business practices used by manufacturers in the Polyethylene industry to benefit clients and increase the market sector. In recent years, the Polyethylene industry has offered some of the most significant advantages to medicine. Major players in the Polyethylene market, including China Petrochemical Corporation, Formosa Plastics Corporation, Petronas Chemicals Group, Mitsui Chemicals Inc., Exxon Mobil Corporation, LyondellBasell Industries NV, Sumitomo Chemical, SABIC, Ineos Group Holdings, Sasol Ltd., Chevron Philips chemical company, and others, are attempting to increase market demand by investing in research and development operations.

Petrochemical and petroleum products are produced by China Petrochemical Corp. Petroleum and natural gas are used in its production, sale, and pipeline transportation activities. The business also works with geothermal and new energy sources, as well as the installation of petroleum and petrochemical machinery. Other items produced, sold, stored, and transported by the business include petrochemicals, gas-based chemicals, coal chemicals, and other chemicals. The research, development, and application of technology and information are also activities of Sinopec Corp. The business operates in China, Hong Kong, and the US. Beijing, China is home to Sinopec Corp. In February 2023, The polyethylene technology of LyondellBasell will once more be licenced to PetroChina Jilin Petrochemical Company for use at their facility in Jilin City, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China. The newly licenced technology will include the industry-leading high-pressure Lupotech process technology from LyondellBasell, which will be applied to both a 300 KTA Tubular line and a 100 KTA Autoclave.

Mitsui & Co Ltd (Mitsui) is a business conglomerate. It provides a wide range of products across a number of industries, including iron and steel, non-ferrous metals, machinery, electronics, chemicals, energy-related commodities, meals & retail, lifestyle, and consumer services. The business engages in a variety of other activities, including arranging financing for clients and suppliers in connection with its trading activities, planning and directing international industrial projects, taking part in financing and investment agreements, assisting in the acquisition of raw materials and equipment, supplying new technologies and manufacturing processes, and organizing the transportation and marketing of finished goods. In May 2022 In accordance with a stock purchase agreement, Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and FP Corporation have decided to buy all of Lee Soon Seng Plastic Industries Sdn. Bhd.'s shares from SCGM Bhd. LSSPI produces and sells practical food containers mostly throughout Southeast Asia.Graphene Gerdau announced its graphene-infused packaging of Gerdau nail products made at three facilities in Brazil, which are owned by its parent company, namely Gerdau, a major Brazilian steel manufacturer. By using this new packaging, Gerdau intends to reduce its direct plastic consumption by about 25%, or more than 72 tons per year. This proprietary G2D technology generated the new packaging containing a first-ever polymer masterbatch with graphene dispersed in polyolefins such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), Poly-G PE-07GM at just one percent incorporation level. Therefore, Poly-G can be applied in extrusion processes to produce films, profiles, and sheets.

Key Companies in the Polyethylene market include

• China Petrochemical Corporation,

• Formosa Plastics Corporation,

• Petronas Chemicals Group,

• Mitsui Chemicals Inc.,

• Exxon Mobil Corporation,

• LyondellBasell Industries NV,

• Sumitomo Chemical,

• SABIC,

• Ineos Group Holdings,

• Sasol Ltd.,

• Chevron Philips chemical company

Polyethylene Industry Developments

November 2022: Shell PLC started off with a 1.6 million tonne per year capacity of polyethelene at its Pennsylvania factory.

January 2022: A manufacturing facility was developed by Exxonmobil and SABIC under the name Gulf Coast Growth Ventures in San Patricio County, Texas. Two polyethylene units at this facility would have an annual production capacity of up to 1.3 million metric tonnes.

Polyethylene Market Segmentation

Polyethylene Type Outlook

• LDPE

• MDPE

• HDPE

Polyethylene Technology Outlook

• Films & Sheets Extrusion

• Pipe Extrusion

• Injection Molding

• Blow Molding

• Others

Polyethylene End-User Outlook

• Packaging

• Construction

• Automotive

• Electronics

• Household Application

• Others

Polyethylene Regional Outlook

• North America
  • US
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • UK
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia-Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • Australia
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • Rest of Asia-Pacific
• Rest of the World
  • Middle East
  • Africa
  • Latin America

Polyethylene Market Segmentation

Polyethylene Type Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

• LDPE

• MDPE

• HDPE

Polyethylene Technology Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

• Films & Sheets Extrusion

• Pipe Extrusion

• Injection Molding

• Blow Molding

• Others

Polyethylene End User Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

• Packaging

• Construction

• Automotive

• Electronics

• Household Applications

• Others

Polyethylene Regional Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

• North America Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • North America Polyethylene by Type

    • LDPE

    • MDPE

    • HDPE

  • North America Polyethylene by Technology

    • Films & Sheets Extrusion

    • Pipe Extrusion

    • Injection Molding

    • Blow Molding

    • Others

  • North America Polyethylene by End User

    • Packaging

    • Construction

    • Automotive

    • Electronics

    • Household Applications

    • Others

  • US Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • US Polyethylene by Type

    • LDPE

    • MDPE

    • HDPE

  • US Polyethylene by Technology

    • Films & Sheets Extrusion

    • Pipe Extrusion

    • Injection Molding

    • Blow Molding

    • Others

  • US Polyethylene by End User

    • Packaging

    • Construction

    • Automotive

    • Electronics

    • Household Applications

    • Others

  • CANADA Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • CANADA Polyethylene by Type

    • LDPE

    • MDPE

    • HDPE

  • CANADA Polyethylene by Technology

    • Films & Sheets Extrusion

    • Pipe Extrusion

    • Injection Molding

    • Blow Molding

    • Others

  • CANADA Polyethylene by End User

    • Packaging

    • Construction

    • Automotive

    • Electronics

    • Household Applications

    • Others

• Europe Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Europe Polyethylene by Type

    • LDPE

    • MDPE

    • HDPE

  • Europe Polyethylene by Technology

    • Films & Sheets Extrusion

    • Pipe Extrusion

    • Injection Molding

    • Blow Molding

    • Others

  • Europe Polyethylene by End User

    • Packaging

    • Construction

    • Automotive

    • Electronics

    • Household Applications

    • Others

  • Germany Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Germany Polyethylene by Type

    • LDPE

    • MDPE

    • HDPE

  • Germany Polyethylene by Technology

    • Films & Sheets Extrusion

    • Pipe Extrusion

    • Injection Molding

    • Blow Molding

    • Others

  • Germany Polyethylene by End User

    • Packaging

    • Construction

    • Automotive

    • Electronics

    • Household Applications

    • Others

  • France Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • France Polyethylene by Type

    • LDPE

    • MDPE

    • HDPE

  • France Polyethylene by Technology

    • Films & Sheets Extrusion

    • Pipe Extrusion

    • Injection Molding

    • Blow Molding

    • Others

  • France Polyethylene by End User

    • Packaging

    • Construction

    • Automotive

    • Electronics

    • Household Applications

    • Others

  • UK Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • UK Polyethylene by Type

    • LDPE

    • MDPE

    • HDPE

  • UK Polyethylene by Technology

    • Films & Sheets Extrusion

    • Pipe Extrusion

    • Injection Molding

    • Blow Molding

    • Others

  • UK Polyethylene by End User

    • Packaging

    • Construction

    • Automotive

    • Electronics

    • Household Applications

    • Others

  • ITALY Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • ITALY Polyethylene by Type

    • LDPE

    • MDPE

    • HDPE

  • ITALY Polyethylene by Technology

    • Films & Sheets Extrusion

    • Pipe Extrusion

    • Injection Molding

    • Blow Molding

    • Others

  • ITALY Polyethylene by End User

    • Packaging

    • Construction

    • Automotive

    • Electronics

    • Household Applications

    • Others

  • SPAIN Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Spain Polyethylene by Type

    • LDPE

    • MDPE

    • HDPE

  • Spain Polyethylene by Technology

    • Films & Sheets Extrusion

    • Pipe Extrusion

    • Injection Molding

    • Blow Molding

    • Others

  • Spain Polyethylene by End User

    • Packaging

    • Construction

    • Automotive

    • Electronics

    • Household Applications

    • Others

  • Rest Of Europe Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Rest Of Europe Polyethylene by Type

    • LDPE

    • MDPE

    • HDPE

  • REST OF EUROPE Polyethylene by Technology

    • Films & Sheets Extrusion

    • Pipe Extrusion

    • Injection Molding

    • Blow Molding

    • Others

  • REST OF EUROPE Polyethylene by End User

    • Packaging

    • Construction

    • Automotive

    • Electronics

    • Household Applications

    • Others

• Asia-Pacific Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Asia-Pacific Polyethylene by Type

    • LDPE

    • MDPE

    • HDPE

  • Asia-Pacific Polyethylene by Technology

    • Films & Sheets Extrusion

    • Pipe Extrusion

    • Injection Molding

    • Blow Molding

    • Others

  • Asia-Pacific Polyethylene by End User

    • Packaging

    • Construction

    • Automotive

    • Electronics

    • Household Applications

    • Others

  • China Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • China Polyethylene by Type

    • LDPE

    • MDPE

    • HDPE

  • China Polyethylene by Technology

    • Films & Sheets Extrusion

    • Pipe Extrusion

    • Injection Molding

    • Blow Molding

    • Others

  • China Polyethylene by End User

    • Packaging

    • Construction

    • Automotive

    • Electronics

    • Household Applications

    • Others

  • Japan Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Japan Polyethylene by Type

    • LDPE

    • MDPE

    • HDPE

  • Japan Polyethylene by Technology

    • Films & Sheets Extrusion

    • Pipe Extrusion

    • Injection Molding

    • Blow Molding

    • Others

  • Japan Polyethylene by End User

    • Packaging

    • Construction

    • Automotive

    • Electronics

    • Household Applications

    • Others

  • India Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • India Polyethylene by Type

    • LDPE

    • MDPE

    • HDPE

  • India Polyethylene by Technology

    • Films & Sheets Extrusion

    • Pipe Extrusion

    • Injection Molding

    • Blow Molding

    • Others

  • India Polyethylene by End User

    • Packaging

    • Construction

    • Automotive

    • Electronics

    • Household Applications

    • Others

  • Australia Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Australia Polyethylene by Type

    • LDPE

    • MDPE

    • HDPE

  • Australia Polyethylene by Technology

    • Films & Sheets Extrusion

    • Pipe Extrusion

    • Injection Molding

    • Blow Molding

    • Others

  • Australia Polyethylene by End User

    • Packaging

    • Construction

    • Automotive

    • Electronics

    • Household Applications

    • Others

  • Rest of Asia-Pacific Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Rest of Asia-Pacific Polyethylene by Type

    • LDPE

    • MDPE

    • HDPE

  • Rest of Asia-Pacific Polyethylene by Technology

    • Films & Sheets Extrusion

    • Pipe Extrusion

    • Injection Molding

    • Blow Molding

    • Others

  • Rest of Asia-Pacific Polyethylene by End User

    • Packaging

    • Construction

    • Automotive

    • Electronics

    • Household Applications

    • Others

• Rest of the World Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Rest of the World Polyethylene by Type

    • LDPE

    • MDPE

    • HDPE

  • Rest of the World Polyethylene by Technology

    • Films & Sheets Extrusion

    • Pipe Extrusion

    • Injection Molding

    • Blow Molding

    • Others

  • Rest of the World Polyethylene by End User

    • Packaging

    • Construction

    • Automotive

    • Electronics

    • Household Applications

    • Others

  • Middle East Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Middle East Polyethylene by Type

    • LDPE

    • MDPE

    • HDPE

  • Middle East Polyethylene by Technology

    • Films & Sheets Extrusion

    • Pipe Extrusion

    • Injection Molding

    • Blow Molding

    • Others

  • Middle East Polyethylene by End User

    • Packaging

    • Construction

    • Automotive

    • Electronics

    • Household Applications

    • Others

  • Africa Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Africa Polyethylene by Type

    • LDPE

    • MDPE

    • HDPE

  • Africa Polyethylene by Technology

    • Films & Sheets Extrusion

    • Pipe Extrusion

    • Injection Molding

    • Blow Molding

    • Others

  • Africa Polyethylene by End User

    • Packaging

    • Construction

    • Automotive

    • Electronics

    • Household Applications

    • Others

  • Latin America Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2032)

  • Latin America Polyethylene by Type

    • LDPE

    • MDPE

    • HDPE

  • Latin America Polyethylene by Technology

    • Films & Sheets Extrusion

    • Pipe Extrusion

    • Injection Molding

    • Blow Molding

    • Others

  • Latin America Polyethylene by End User

    • Packaging

    • Construction

    • Automotive

    • Electronics

    • Household Applications

    • Others