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Report Highlights
- The global market for medical plastics is estimated to increase from $25.6 billion in 2023 to reach $41.2 billion by 2028, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.0% from 2023 through 2028.
- The global market for plastic compounding is estimated to increase from $57.8 billion in 2023 to reach $80.3 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 5.8% from 2024 through 2029.
- The global market for plastic recycling is estimated to increase from $41.9 billion in 2023 to reach $57.9 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 6.4% from 2024 through 2029.
Research Review Scope
Plastic is among the global manufacturing sector's most critical elements and strengths. It is one of the key contributors to the economy and offers vast employment opportunities, too. Products comprising plastics have become essential daily, ranging from packaging materials to household goods. It is also popularly employed throughout the automotive and construction sector owing to its highly versatile, durable, and lightweight nature. In addition, plastic products are cost-effective and can be manufactured in large volumes at a relatively low cost.
The overall plastics industry comprises activities concerned with converting thermosetting and thermoplastic polymers, including the compounding or recycling and fabrication of articles or parts of articles wholly or largely made of such polymers into flexible, rigid, or semi-rigid forms. These can be extruded, blown, molded, injected, cast, formed, coated, compression molded, or rotation molded.
Plastics also enormously contribute to environmental sustainability via their inherent recyclability, energy-saving potential, and energy recovery options. The global plastics market has undergone major transformations in recent years, driven by a growing awareness of environmental issues, evolving consumer preferences, and regulatory changes. Amid rising stringency in environmental regulations globally, the need to become a sustainable circular economy as soon as possible is gaining major attention. Key trends shaping the plastic industry include a shift towards bioplastics derived from renewable sources, including sugarcane, corn starch, and algae, adopting advanced recycling technologies, circular economy initiatives, and focusing on lightweighting.
Research Reviews from BCC Research provide market professionals with concise market coverage within a specific research category. This 2024 Research Review of Plastics provides a sampling of the type of quantitative market information, analysis, and guidance that BCC Research has been developing since its inception in 1971 to help its customers make informed business decisions. This Research Review includes highlights and excerpts from the following reports published by BCC Research in 2024:
- PLS009L Medical Plastics: Global Markets
- PLS018H Global Market for Plastics Compounding
- PLS031E Plastics Recycling: Global Markets
- PLS089D Plastic Injection Molding: Global Markets and Technologies
After you survey the excerpts in this Research Review, we encourage you to follow up on these topics by checking out the full market research reports associated with each topic. BCC Research looks forward to serving your market intelligence needs in the future.
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Report Highlights
- The global plastic lead market volume using plastic waste should grow from 7,188.1 thousand tons in 2021 to 11,715.6 thousand tons by 2026 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.3% for the period of 2021-2026.
- The global market volume for plastic compounding should grow from 475.9 billion pounds in 2021 to 540.4 billion pounds by 2026 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.6% for the period of 2021-2026.
- The global bioplastics market volume should reach 3.3 million metric tons by 2026 from 2.2 million metric tons in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.3% for the forecast period of 2021 to 2026.
Report Highlights
- The global market for thermoformed plastics reached $13.0 billion in 2018 and should reach $16.7 billion by 2023, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1% for the period of 2018-2023.
- The global market for plastic processing machinery reached $35.2 billion in 2018 and should reach $41.1 billion by 2023 at a CAGR of 3.0% through 2023.
- The global market for thermally conductive plastics reached $772.0 million in 2018 and should reach $1.6 billion by 2023 at a CAGR of 15.1% through 2023.
Report Highlights
- The global market for plastics injection molding reached $139 billion in 2018 and should reach $233 billion by 2023, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.9% for the period of 2018-2023.
- The global market for plastics recycling should grow from $25.3 billion in 2018 to $33.8 billion by 2023 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9% for the period of 2018-2023.
- The global market for flexible-foam reached $29.1 billion in 2017. The market should reach $36.9 billion by 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9% for the period of 2017-2022.
Report Highlights
- The global market for EMI/RFI shielding is expected to reach nearly $5.1 billion in 2012 and $5.2 billion in 2013. Total market value is expected to reach nearly $6 billion in 2018 after increasing at a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.9% for the five-year period 2013 to 2018.
- The global plastic healthcare packaging market was nearly 9.6 billion pounds in 2012 and slightly more than 10 billion pounds in 2013. It is expected to increase and reach more than 13 billion pounds by 2018, which corresponds to a 5.6% CAGR for the five-year period, 2013 to 2018.
- The estimated distribution of compounded thermoplastic resins in North America reached 89.8 billion pounds in 2012. This total is expected to grow 90.9 billion pounds in 2013 and 102.3 billion pounds in 2018 at a CAGR of 2.4% for the period of 2013-2018.
Report Highlights
This 2012 Plastics Research Review provides:
- A comprehensive and updated reference for those interested and/or involved with the U.S. plastic pipe and tubing industries and that both serve and benefit from these industries.
- Analysis and forecasting market developments regarding major applications for bioplastics, including packaging, automotive, electrical/electronic, medical, building and construction.
- Analysis for those who are interested and/or involved in the plastic thermoformed businesses that include resin producers, plastic sheet producers, thermoformers and those in the major industries using these products.
- Coverage of all electronic components where plastics are used to a significant extent in mostly molding electronic components and excludes fiber optics, wire and cable, enclosures, recording media, etc.
Report Highlights
- The global market for electroactive polymers was $1.9 billion in 2010 and is expected to be about $2.1 billion in 2011. It is forecast to grow to over $3 billion by 2016 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1%.
- The global market for applications of wood-plastic composites, cellulosic plastics, plastic lumber and natural fiber composites is estimated at about 2.4 million metric tons in 2011. By 2016, it is estimated at nearly 4.6 million metric tons and rising at a CAGR of 13.8%.
- The North American fiber-reinforced plastic/composite market is estimated at 2.7 billion pounds in 2010 and is expected to increase to about 3.1 billion by 2015, reflecting a 2.8% CAGR.
Report Highlights
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The North American transparent plastics market was estimated at more than 3.3 billion pounds in 2010 and is projected to reach 4 billion pounds by 2015, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.7%. Polycarbonates, acrylics, and polystyrenes accounted for about 80% of total volume in 2010 and will maintain their aggregate share through the middle of this decade.
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The merchant market for polymeric (plastic) foams in the U.S. is a large one, estimated at more than 7.5 billion pounds in 2010. BCC forecasts an overall compounded average annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 2.5% for all foams, that is, foams produced from commercial plastics, for the period 2010 to 2015, a market of 8.6 billion pounds by 2015.
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The U.S. medical plastics market is estimated at almost 3.5 billion pounds in 2010 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 5%, consuming about 4.4 billion pounds by 2015.
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