Asia Becomes Largest PE Consumer

摘要

Asia/Pacific has overtaken the U.S. as the world's largest polyethylene (PE) consumer for the first time,says Philip Townsend Associates (PTAI;Houston).Asia's consumption of PE has jumped 60% since 1998,to exceed 16 million m.t.in 2002.The North American PE market inched up just 7% during the same period,to 15 million m.t.in 2002,PTAI says.Asia/Pacific is expected to remain the world's biggest PE consumer,with projected growt h of 7.5%/year during the next five years,to reach 23 million m.t. by 2007,says Surinder Bahl,project manager/PE at PTAI.North American PE demand is forecast to grow at 4.8%/year over the same period,to 19 million m.t.,Bahl says.