Ethylene, a monomer, is derived from petrochemicals by using the process of steam cracking. It is mainly used as a raw material in the manufacture of a broad variety of chemical compounds such as polyethylene, ethylene oxide, ethylene benzene, ethylene dichloride, vinyl acetate, and alfa olefins. These compounds and their derivatives such as ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), ethylene glycol, glycol ethers, ethanolamine, and acrylonitrile are employed in end-user industries such as packaging, automotive, construction, agrochemicals, textiles, and soaps and detergents. In terms of revenue, the global ethylene market was valued at US$ 156.0 Bn in 2013 and is projected to reach US$ 234.2 Bn by 2020, expanding at a CAGR of 6.0% from 2014 to 2020.
Polyethylene, which is extensively used in the production of plastic, was the largest application segment of the global ethylene market, accounting for more than 50% share in 2013. Ethylene oxide is expected to be the fastest growing application segment of the ethylene market in the next few years. The rapid growth in the ethylene oxide application segment can be mainly attributed to the increasing consumption of its derivative, ethylene glycol, in the production of plastics for bottles. As regards to end-users, packaging emerged as the largest segment of the ethylene market with a share of more than 30% in 2013. The extensive utilization of different forms of polyethylene such as PVC, low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), and high density polyethylene (HDPE) in the manufacture of packaging application products is expected to drive the global ethylene market in the forecast period..
The global ethylene market has been segmented based on regions into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Rest of the World (Middle East & Africa). Asia Pacific was the largest regional market for ethylene, constituting over 30% share in 2013. Increasing demand for ethylene in packaging, automotive, and construction industries is projected to drive the ethylene market in Asia Pacific in the next few years. Moreover, Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest growing regional market in the global ethylene market during the forecast period. Rising demand for ethylene in emerging economies such as China, India, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, is likely to drive the ethylene market in Asia Pacific in the next few years. The ethylene market in North America and Europe is anticipated to grow at a moderate rate over the next six years, due to the slow but steady recovery of the economy in the U.S. and developed countries across Europe. The ethylene market in RoW is projected to expand considerably in the next few years, owing to rising demand for ethylene in the Middle East while the Latin American ethylene market is projected to record average growth during the forecast period.
Growing demand for ethylene in the rapidly expanding packaging, construction and automotive end-user segments is anticipated to drive the global ethylene market in the next few years. The mass production of ethylene through the process of catalytic oxydehydrogenation is projected to act as an opportunity for the ethylene market in the next six years. However, volatility in crude oil prices and regulatory issues associated with ethylene are estimated to hinder the market growth of ethylene during the forecast period. Major manufacturers of ethylene include Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), The Dow Chemical Company, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Royal Dutch Shell plc, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec Corporation), Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC,Total S.A., LyondellBasell Industries, National Petrochemical Company (NPC), and INEOS Group AG.
This report analyzes and forecasts the market for ethylene at a global and regional level. The market has been forecast based on volume (Mn Tons) and revenue (US$ Bn) from 2014 to 2020. The study includes drivers and restraints of the global ethylene market. It also covers the impact of these drivers and restraints on demand for ethylene during the forecast period. The report also highlights the opportunities in the ethylene market globally and at the regional level.
The report includes a detailed value chain analysis, which provides a comprehensive view of the global ethylene market. Porter’s Five Forces model for the ethylene market has also been included to help understand the competitive landscape in the market. The study encompasses market attractiveness analysis, wherein end-users are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness.
The study provides a decisive view of the global ethylene market by segmenting it in terms of applications and end-users. These segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends. Regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Rest of the World (Middle East & Africa). The report also covers demand for individual applications and end-user segments in all the regions.
The study includes profiles of major companies operating in the global ethylene market. Key players profiled in the report include Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), The Dow Chemical Company, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Royal Dutch Shell plc, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec Corporation), Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC, Total S.A., LyondellBasell Industries, National Petrochemical Company (NPC), INEOS Group AG and others. Market players are profiled in terms of attributes such as company overview, financial overview, business strategies and recent developments.
The report provides the market size of ethylene for 2013 and forecast for the next six years. The global market size of ethylene is provided in terms of both volume as well as revenue. Market volume is defined in Mn Tons, while market revenue is in US$ Bn. Market numbers are estimated based on key application segments and end-user segments of ethylene. Market size and forecast for each major application and end-user is provided in terms of global and regional markets.
In order to compile the research report, we conducted in-depth interviews and discussions with a number of key industry participants and opinion leaders. Primary research represents the bulk of research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. We reviewed key players’ product literature, annual reports, press releases and relevant documents for competitive analysis and market understanding. Secondary research also includes a search of recent trade, technical writing, internet sources and statistical data from government websites, trade associations and agencies. This has proven to be the most reliable, effective and successful approach for obtaining precise market data, capturing industry participants’ insights and recognizing business opportunities.
Secondary research sources that are typically referred to include, but are not limited to company websites, annual reports, financial reports, broker reports, investor presentations, SEC filings, Plastemart magazine, TPE magazine, internal and external proprietary databases, and relevant patent and regulatory databases such as ICIS, Hoovers, Onesource, Factiva and Bloomberg, national government documents, statistical databases, trade journals, market reports, news articles, press releases and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market.
Primary research involves e-mail interactions, telephonic interviews and face-to-face interviews for each market, category, segment and sub-segment across geographies. We conduct primary interviews on an ongoing basis with industry participants and commentators in order to validate the data and analysis. Primary interviews provide firsthand information on market size, market trends, growth trends, competitive landscape and outlook, etc. These help validate and strengthen the secondary research findings. These also help develop the analysis team’s expertise and market understanding.
The report segments the global ethylene market as:
Ethylene Market: Application Analysis
- Polyethylene
- Ethylene oxide
- Ethylene benzene
- Ethylene dichloride
- Others (including vinyl acetate and alpha olefins)
Ethylene Market: End-user Analysis
- Packaging
- Automotive
- Construction
- Agrochemical
- Textile
- Others (including soaps & detergents)
Ethylene Market: Regional Analysis
- North America
- Europe
- Asia Pacific
- China
- Japan
- Rest of Asia Pacific
- Latin America
- RoW (Middle East & Africa)
