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Chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) was one of the fastest growing polymers during 1997–2004, driven mainly by high global demand growth in PVC extruded window/door profiles, in which CPE was used as an impact modifier. This period was also marked by a rapid buildup of CPE capacity in China, and the country surpassed the United States to become the world leader in capacity, production and consumption.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of CPE in 2004:
Largely because of the dramatic capacity increase in China, there is a surplus of CPE capacity worldwide, with the global operating rate estimated at 64%. World consumption of CPE in 2004 was estimated at more than 195 thousand metric tons.
The large capacity buildup in China caused world CPE capacity to increase dramatically from 1997 to 2004, at an average annual rate of 14%. World capacity is expected to grow at a rate of about 3% from 2004 to 2009.
World consumption also rose significantly during 1997–2004 and is forecast to grow at an average annual rate of 6% from 2004 to 2009. Consumption growth in Europe is expected to be driven mainly by Central and Eastern Europe. Growth rates in the major regions during 2004–2009 are expected to be lower than those of 1997–2004 because of a projected slowdown in housing markets.
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