Global plastic production 1950-2020

Global plastics production was estimated to be 367 million metric tons in 2020. Production in 2020 decreased by roughly 0.3 percent compared with the previous year due to COVID-19's impacts on the industry.
The incredible versatility of this group of materials accounts for the continued growth in production year after year. In tandem with that growth, the market value of plastics also continues to grow.

Plastics production: what plastics are and how they are made

Plastics are used in a wide variety of products and have displaced other materials that were previously used for the applications that plastics now dominate such as wood, metal, and glass. It can be formed into polyesters for use in fabrics and textiles, polyvinylidene chloride for food packaging, and polycarbonates for eyeglasses and compact discs, among thousands of other uses. The production of plastic requires four basic steps: the acquirement of raw material, synthesizing a basic polymer, compounding the polymer into a usable fraction, and lastly, molding or shaping the plastic. The production of plastic is quite energy intensive, requiring 62 to 108 mega joules of energy per kilogram based on U.S. efficiency averages. Producing silicon can require up to 235 mega joules per kilogram of material.

China's plastic production stands out among world regions

China is the largest plastics producer in the world, accounting for 32 percent of global production in 2020. China currently produces between six and eight million metric tons of plastic products each month.