Engineering Plastics Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

Engineering Plastics Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

The engineering plastics market was valued at around USD 90 billion in 2020, and the market is projected to register a CAGR of more than 6% during the forecast period (2021-2026).

The market is hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic, as lockdowns, social distances, and trade sanctions have triggered massive disruptions to global supply chain networks. The automobile and construction industry has witnessed a decline due to the halt in the activities. For instance, according to OICA, automobile production declined by around 23% in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. On the other side, this pandemic provided new opportunities in the packaging and medical industry due to increasing health awareness and the rise in demand for protective shields, masks, and PPE kits.

Key Highlights

• Over the medium term, the factors driving the growth of the market are largely fueled by engineering plastic rapidly replacing traditional plastics and other materials in several applications and the growing popularity of bio-PET.
• By product type, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is the most used engineering plastic around the world. However, polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
• The growing applications in the aerospace industry and the adaptation of green vehicles are expected to provide numerous opportunities for manufacturers in the market.
• Asia-Pacific dominated the market with the largest consumption. It is also likely to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Key Market TrendsAutomotive and Transportation Sector to Witness Slow Growth

• Engineering plastics find application in automotive in interior and exterior furnishings, power trains, chassis, electrical components, and under the hood parts. It is employed in the dashboard, bumpers seats, body panels, fuel systems, interior trim, under-bonnet components, lighting, exterior trim, liquid reservoirs, and upholstery.
• The increase in demand for lightweight engineering plastic is likely to drive the market growth of the market studied due to current environmental and economic concerns. Automobile manufacturers are now incorporating more advanced plastic materials so as to reduce weight and make the vehicles more fuel-efficient. According to a recent study, every 10% reduction in vehicle weight reduces fuel usage by 6-8%.
• The high absorption properties of plastics also allow the vehicle to meet stricter safety standards, while the use of engineering plastics allows for minimization of the mass of parts used in vehicles, as they offer more design freedom compared to metals. Currently, there are about 30,000 parts in a vehicle, out of which 1/3 are made of plastic. In total, about 39 different types of basic plastics and polymers are used to make an automobile.
• Further moderate growth in the coming years is supported by the ongoing strength of key economies, a solid labor market, rising disposable income of people, low interest rates, etc. The Asia-Pacific is one the fastest growing markets for the automotive sector. India and China are the two fastest-growing markets in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Due to the global economic slowdown after 2018, automobile production witnessed a declining trend. Vehicle production has witnessed a decline of 5.2% in 2019 and 15.8% in 2020. The trend is expected to continue and negatively affect the market in the coming few years.
• By 2030, globally, the number of light vehicles is expected to rise to about 1.6 billion, with an estimated 18% of the fleet (290 million cars) being electric. The increasing production and sales of light-duty vehicles are estimated to directly impact engineering plastic consumption, which, in turn, is anticipated to drive the demand for engineering plastic over the long term during the forecast period.
• There is a growing demand for lightweight materials in the automotive industry in order to provide increased efficiency and design flexibility, which is primarily responsible for the growth of the engineering plastics market. High-performance engineering plastics offer manufacturers the advantages of design and comparable strength of steel, which helps in reducing the overall weight and controlling greenhouse gas emissions.
• Growing demand for electric vehicles is another factor driving the growth of the market. The need for lightweight material in these vehicles to enhance energy efficiency acts as a major impetus for the adoption of engineering plastics.
• Thus, all these factors are expected to show a significant impact on the market during the forecast period.

Asia-Pacific Region to Dominate the Market

• Asia-Pacific accounted for the largest share of the market due to the increased consumption of engineering plastics in various industries, including automotive, packaging, building, and construction, in rapidly growing countries such as China, India, and Japan. China alone consuming a share of around 35% of the overall market.
• China is the largest producer and consumer of engineering plastics in the region. The abundant availability of raw materials and low production costs have been supporting the production growth of the country's engineering plastics market for the past few years.
• Also, China is one of the largest global consumers of PET. The abundant availability of raw materials and the low cost of production have been supporting the production growth of engineering plastics, such as PET, in the country for the past few years.
• China is one of the major countries in Asia-Pacific with ample construction activities, with the industrial and construction sectors accounting for approximately ~50% of the GDP.
• China is promoting and undergoing a process of continuous urbanization, with a target of 60% in 2020. The increased living spaces required in the urban areas resulting from urbanization and the desire of middle-class urban residents to improve their living conditions may have a profound effect on the housing market, and thereby, may increase the residential construction in the country.
• The USD 118 billion automobile industry in India is expected to reach USD 300 billion by 2026. India's annual production was 4.52 million units in 2019 and 3.39 million units in 2020, witnessing a decline by 25%. India is expected to emerge as the world’s third-largest passenger vehicle market by 2021.
• All the aforementioned factors, in turn, are projected to show a significant impact on the market during the forecast period.

Competitive Landscape

The engineering plastics market is fragmented in nature, with the top five players accounting for less than 15% of the global market. Most market leaders are vertically integrated, i.e., they produce their own raw materials required for the manufacturing of engineering plastics and are also engaged in the manufacturing of various engineering plastic products. The prominent players in the market include BASF SE, DuPont, SABIC, Solvay, DSM, and Covestro AG.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support

Companies Mentioned

IBM Corporation
Oracle Corporation
Internap Corporation
Packet Inc. (An Equinix Inc. Company)
Scaleway Inc.
Amazon Web Services Inc
Rackspace Inc.
CenturyLink, Inc.
LightEdge Solutions, Inc

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