Plastics industry in Europe - statistics & facts
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Only Asia and North America produced more plastics than Europe in 2023. Plastic materials have changed modern life considerably, used prolifically for many important applications. To meet the ever-growing demand for the many applications of plastics, global plastics production continues to increase globally, and in 2023 hit an annual peak of 413.8 million metric tons. As a key plastic producing region, Europe accounted for 12 percent of global plastics production that year.
Plastic production in Europe has increased year-on-year since 2010. The region’s total cumulative plastics production reached over 809 million metric tons as of 2023. However, despite still being a vital player within the global plastics industry, annual plastic production in Europe has been in decline in recent years. Plastics production peaked in 2017 at 64.4 million metric tons but has fallen annually since, and in 2023 dropped to 54 million metric tons, the lowest volume since 2009. Germany is Europe’s largest plastic producer and manufacturer by far, accounting for almost a quarter of Europe's plastics converters demand. Italy and Spain were the next largest converters of plastic that year, with a share of 15 percent and 11.9 percent, respectively. Europe is also home to some of the world’s biggest plastic-producing companies, such as BASF and LyondellBasell.
Polypropylene (PP) was the most used polymer in Europe in 2023, accounting for 15.7 percent of plastics converter demand that year. PP, a versatile thermoplastic, is widely used in producing products such as automotive parts, containers, and food packaging across the region. The European Union had a plastic conversion export surplus of 7.3 billion euros in 2023 (1537739). The EU’s trade surplus was a high not seen since 2019, signaling the region is going beyond recovery from the impacts of the energy crisis and COVID-19.
Plastics production in Europe
Plastic production in Europe has increased year-on-year since 2010. The region’s total cumulative plastics production reached over 809 million metric tons as of 2023. However, despite still being a vital player within the global plastics industry, annual plastic production in Europe has been in decline in recent years. Plastics production peaked in 2017 at 64.4 million metric tons but has fallen annually since, and in 2023 dropped to 54 million metric tons, the lowest volume since 2009. Germany is Europe’s largest plastic producer and manufacturer by far, accounting for almost a quarter of Europe's plastics converters demand. Italy and Spain were the next largest converters of plastic that year, with a share of 15 percent and 11.9 percent, respectively. Europe is also home to some of the world’s biggest plastic-producing companies, such as BASF and LyondellBasell.
Plastics demand in Europe
Polypropylene (PP) was the most used polymer in Europe in 2023, accounting for 15.7 percent of plastics converter demand that year. PP, a versatile thermoplastic, is widely used in producing products such as automotive parts, containers, and food packaging across the region. The European Union had a plastic conversion export surplus of 7.3 billion euros in 2023 (1537739). The EU’s trade surplus was a high not seen since 2019, signaling the region is going beyond recovery from the impacts of the energy crisis and COVID-19.
