Plastic material production share worldwide 2023, by region

China accounted for 33 percent of global plastic materials production in 2023, making it the world's largest plastic producer by far. The rest of Asia accounted for an additional 19 percent while North America held another 17 percent share of global plastic production. The total worldwide production of plastics surpassed 413 million metric tons in 2023. 

Plastic: the material to replace many

Plastics are used in almost every segment of life – from everyday life to industrial applications. On a global level, plastics have displaced many traditional materials, such as wood, stone, horn and bone, leather, paper, metal, glass, and ceramic. Global plastics use is projected to continue rising over the coming decades to reach more than 1.2 billion metric tons by 2060.

China: the plastic leader

As the leading manufacturing economy and exporter of goods in the world, it is not surprising that China is the world’s largest producer of plastic as well. China's monthly production of plastics ranges between six and 12 million metric tons.