Polycarbonate market recovers slowly

Polycarbonate market recovers slowly
By David Platt

The European polycarbonate market is still struggling to recover from the downturn in 2001.

Sales are still below the level attained in 2000, according to UK plastics consultancy Applied Market Information.

European polycarbonate consumption grew 3.2% in 2002, following a contraction of 6% in the previous year, AMI reports. It says that demand from the key construction, E&E and automotive sectors was static in 2002, and has been fairly flat this year.

Tony Jones, head of client research at AMI, says the double-digit growth rates of the late 1990s are unlikely to be achieved for the foreseeable future.

In contrast, the Far East – particularly China – enjoyed huge growth in PC consumption. Last year, Chinese polycarbonate demand grew by 60%.