US Plastic Market Data Review (2016 - 2020)

The plastic raw material market in US reached US$33,532.3 million in 2020. The country is one of the most influential markets globally for several plastic raw materials such as polypropylene, poly vinyl chloride, and high-density polyethylene. These high-performance plastics are used in a wide spectrum of end-use industries. The packaging sector is the largest market in the US that has been driving the demand for plastic raw materials. A wide range of packaging is done in the country through numerous packaging mediums such as plastic bottles, containers, bags, pouches, plastic films, trays, and wraps. The packaging sector is expanding tremendously in the country with the increasing need for plastic packing services in several end-use applications such as packaging of food items, beverages, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products and this is expected to further increase the demand for plastic raw materials. As per the August 2021 data by Flexible Packaging Association, the flexible packaging market in the US, which is the second largest packaging segment, garnering about 19% out of the USD 177 billion packaging market in the US. Furthermore, the building and construction sector is one of the most important sectors that is driving the market’s growth significantly from the 2016-2020 period to date. Plastic raw materials such as polycarbonate, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride are extensively used in multiple building and construction activities such as flooring, roofing, and ceiling systems in the US. The building and construction sector is exhibiting outstanding growth and this is projected to further expand the demand for plastic raw materials in the country. For instance, as per the January 2022 report by SteelOrbis, construction spending in the US during November 2021 surged by 0.4%. The fluctuation in the plastic raw materials may hamper the market’s growth.

 

The market was not much affected during the COVID-19 pandemic as the need for essential services witnessed a rise in the country. The demand for several necessary products such as hand sanitizer bottles, household cleaning & detergent items, and bottled water increased amid the pandemic with the increased awareness among consumers regarding hygiene and safety. Moreover, the demand for skincare cosmetics and several other pharmaceutical drugs also witnessed high demand in the market which stimulated the demand for plastic raw materials. Going forward, the market is expected to witness robust growth owing to the expanding end-use industries such as packaging, construction, and pharmaceutical.

The report: “Plastic Raw Material Market in US (2016-2020)”, by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the Plastic Raw Material Market in US Industry. 

By Material Type: Polyurethane, Polycarbonate, Polypropylene, Polystyrene, Polyamide, Poly Vinyl Chloride, High Density Polyethylene, Low Density Polyethylene, Others

By End Use Industry: Building and Construction, Packaging, Transportation, Furniture & Furnishings, Electrical & Electronics, Consumer & Institutional Products, Others

• Low-density polyethylene dominated the market during 2016-2020. This is an extremely lightweight, corrosion resistance and tough plastic raw material that makes it a suitable choice in the market.
• The packaging industry dominated the market’s growth during 2016-2020. As per the data by the US Flexible Packaging Association, the flexible packaging industry stood at a record high US$33 billion in sales in 2019.
• The building and construction industry influenced the demand for plastic raw materials during 2016-2020. For instance, as per the June 2020 report by trade.gov, imports in the US construction sector accounted for US$941 million which was US$847 million in 2018.