U.S. ethylene demand to rise 2.9%/year

U.S. Ethylene Forcast (Cycle Case) [51,740 bytes] Projected growth in U. S. demand for ethylene will follow a decline in ethylene plant capacity utilization, according to a report by Chem Systems Inc., Tarrytown, N.Y. Demand for ethylene will jump to 63 billion lb / year by 2005-- a 2.9 % compound average growth--compared with 49 billion lb / year in 1996.

Feb. 2, 1998

U.S. Ethylene Forcast (Cycle Case) [51,740 bytes]

Projected growth in U. S. demand for ethylene will follow a decline in ethylene plant capacity utilization, according to a report by Chem Systems Inc., Tarrytown, N.Y.

Demand for ethylene will jump to 63 billion lb / year by 2005-- a 2.9 % compound average growth--compared with 49 billion lb / year in 1996.

As demand rises to almost 62 billion lb / year in 2000, ethylene plant capacity utilization will fall to 86%, compared with 89% today, says Chem Systems. Plant utilization however, will rebound to 94% in 2003 as demand peaks and begins to fall.

Chem Systems compared expected demand growth for several petrochemicals with predicted growth in gross domestic product (GDP) during 1996-2005. The predictions, expressed as a ratio of demand growth to GDP growth, included: ethylene 1.25, propylene 1.60, butadiene 0.60, benzene 0.80 polyethylene 1.50, polyvinyl chloride 0.80, and styrene 0.80.