The president of the National Association of Plastics Industries (Anipac), Juan Antonio Hernandez, recalled that a study by PlasticsEurope revealed that world plastic production reached 330 million tons in 2016, a figure that represents a growth of 3 %.

Likewise, he said -according to Ambiente Plástico- that in the field of world plastics production last year, North America represents 18 % (60 million tons), South America 5 % (17 million tons), Africa and Middle Orient 8 % (26 million tons), Europe 19 % (63 million tons), Asia 49 % (162 million tons) and Australia 1 % (two million tons).

Citing the same source, Hernandez indicated that in 2016 the world production of segmented plastics was distributed in commodities (79 %, 261 million tons), engineering (11 %, 36 million tons), thermo-fixes (6 %, 20 million tons) and others (4 %, 13 million tons).

In addition, said that the global production of plastics in 2016 (330 million tons in total, equivalent to 87 %, derived from virgin raw material) includes 52.8 million tons from recycling (12 %) and 1,2 million tons derived from biopolymers (1 %). “With this modality, it is estimated that the total production amounts to 384 million tons”, he warned.

The entrepreneur acknowledged that the industry is doing what is necessary to try to be responsible in the proper use and reuse of the parties. “The effort of the plastics industry in recycling and its recovery, as well as in the added value we give to the products, is obvious”, he said.

Analysis by region

About the regions of world production of plastics, Juan Antonio Hernández said that North America (139 kg per capita) is an area characterized by the production of cheaper raw materials, increased production capacity, new competitors and insufficient infrastructure.

“In contrast, in South America (32 kg per capita) there are oil exporters, slowing growth, depreciation of currencies and structural reforms; meanwhile, in Africa and the Middle East (16 kg per capita) there are oil exporters, high potential for private investment, period of agitation and wars, rapid urbanization and it is an area in transition”, he said.

The president of Anipac noted that Europe (136 kg per capita) is a continent where there is high demand, production costs are high and presents a high level of integration; and Asia (36 kg per capita and Japan 108 kg per capita) is identified by its excess supply, slowdown in growth, increase in purchasing power and consolidation of the industry. “For its part, in Australia, there is a high purchasing power, its economic growth is robust and has developed policies against the use of plastics”, he said.

The director presented in Lima the conference “The plastic industry in a new geopolitical and geo-economic environment”, during an informative breakfast with entrepreneurs from the Peruvian industry, as part of the Latin American Tour 2017 of Plastimagen.

Source: Plast Peru News
Armando Cuyubamba Pereda
Lima, Peru
Edition 22