How is the petrochemical industry structured?
The petrochemical sector can be roughly divided into upstream and downstream processing. Upstream industries convert feedstocks such as naphtha or natural gas into basic petrochemicals, namely olefins, aromatics, and methanol. Olefins include ethylene, propylene, and butadiene, while aromatics comprise benzene, toluene, and xylene. Ethylene is the most widely produced basic petrochemical worldwide. In 2020, the global production capacity of ethylene amounted to 200 million metric tons.Downstream industries use the basic petrochemicals produced in upstream industries as inputs and convert them into finished products such as plastics or synthetic fibers. For instance, a major part of ethylene production is used to manufacture polyethylene, a common plastic material that accounts for roughly 30 percent of global thermoplastic production. The market value of polyethylene stood at 160 billion U.S. dollars in 2020 and is expected to reach 185 billion by 2026.
Petrochemical industry outlook
The production capacity of petrochemicals worldwide reached almost 2.2 billion metric tons in 2020. By 2030, it is expected to surpass three billion tons. China, India, and Iran are the countries with the largest petrochemical capacity additions announced or planned for 2030. China alone plans to add an additional capacity of 134 million metric tons per year, dominating the market in the medium term.Likewise, forecasts point to an increase in the petrochemical market in the next years. By 2027, the petrochemical industry’s global market value is expected to reach over 650 billion U.S. dollars. The growing demand for these products, along with a decline in the consumption of fossil-derived liquid fuels in the transportation sector, could make petrochemicals the largest driver for oil demand in the near future.
