In December 2007, Bayer MaterialScience projected that global polycarbonate (PC) demand would grow at an average annual rate of around 8% from 2010 to 2011, driven by an operating rate of up to 80%. This growth was expected to result in an annual increase of over 200,000 tons. To meet this rising demand, producers were expanding their capacity, with approximately 300,000 tons per year of new PC production expected to come online between 2007 and 2008.
However, the PC industry faced significant challenges. Key raw materials like pure benzene and phenol remained expensive, and supply disruptions, such as plant outages in 2007, led to price hikes and shortages. Despite these pressures, the Asia-Pacific region was anticipated to see the strongest and fastest growth, with an annual increase of more than 10%. Bayer’s second 100,000-ton-per-year PC production line in Shanghai was set to start operations by the end of 2008, with the exact timeline dependent on market conditions, particularly in the optical media sector.
Sabic Innovative Plastics was also looking into expanding its PC production in Asia through its subsidiary, Sabic Kayan. The company's 262,000-ton-per-year PC facility in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, was under construction and scheduled to begin operations in 2009. Meanwhile, South Korea’s Hunan Petrochemical Company planned to complete its 65,000-ton-per-year PC plant in Yeosu by the fourth quarter of 2008. This $192 million investment marked the company’s first dedicated PC production unit.
In North America and Europe, PC demand grew at a slower pace, with annual increases ranging between 5% and 6%. However, Western Europe saw significantly weaker growth compared to Eastern Europe. According to manufacturers, the construction, automotive, and optical media sectors remained key drivers of PC consumption. Additionally, emerging markets such as PC/ABS blends for green buildings and recyclable consumer goods showed strong potential. Demand for flame-retardant products used in consumer goods and IT applications, as well as for window glass in construction and automotive industries, also remained robust.
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