GlobalData’s latest report, “Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) Industry Capacity and Capital Expenditure Forecasts with Details of Active and Planned Plants to 2027”, reveals that China leads with the largest capacity additions.

The country has a capacity of 4.43m tonnes per annum (mtpa) from ten planned and announced projects, contributing about 96% of the region’s capacity additions by 2027.

ABS is a polymer that finds wide application in various end-user industries such as automotive, construction, packaging, consumer goods, and electronics.

The high demand for ABS in China’s growing economy makes it the largest ABS producer and consumer in the world.

GlobalData oil and gas analyst Nivedita Roy comments: “In China, the main capacity addition will be from an announced project, Zhejiang Petrochemical Daishan ABS Plant 2, with a capacity of 1.20 mtpa. It is expected to commence production of ABS in 2027.”

Two planned projects, INEOS Styrolution Ningbo ABS Plant and Shandong Yulong Petrochemical Longkou ABS Plant follow next, with a capacity addition of 0.60 mtpa each. They are expected to commence operations in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Nivedita concludes: “Guangxi Changke New Material Company Fangchenggan ABS Plant, an announced project, is the third highest contributor in the country, accounting for a capacity addition of 0.50 mtpa. The plant is expected to commence production of ABS by 2025.”

GlobalData forecasts that Asia is also set to lead the global polyethylene terephthalate industry capacity additions with a share of 61.8% by 2027.