Plastics industry in Europe - statistics & facts
Plastic is an essential material used across all economic sectors due to its versatility. It has changed the way we live and is now an integral part of modern life, making many of the things we do today possible. To meet the ever-growing demand for these materials, global plastics production has soared in recent decades, and in 2021 hit an annual peak of 390.7 million metric tons. As a key plastic producing region, Europe accounted for 15 percent of production that year, with only China and North America producing more.
Germany is Europe’s largest plastic producer and manufacturer by far, accounting for a quarter of the region’s plastics converters demand. In 2020, Germany’s manufacturing of plastic products had a turnover of 76.6 billion euros. This was more than twice the turnover Italy had that year from manufacturing plastic products. Europe is also home to some of the world’s biggest plastic-producing companies, such as BASF and LyondellBasell.
Plastics production in Europe
Since 2010, Europe's total plastics production has reached nearly 700 million metric tons. However, despite still being a vital player within the plastics industry, annual plastic production in Europe has been in decline in recent years. European plastics production peaked in 2017 at 64.4 million metric tons but has fallen annually since, and in 2020 dropped to 55 million metric tons, the lowest volume since 2009, before experiencing a moderate increase to 57.2 million metric tons in 2021. In 2006, Europe’s share of global plastics production was almost 25 percent, but as regions like China have increased their market share, Europe’s has been in decline.Germany is Europe’s largest plastic producer and manufacturer by far, accounting for a quarter of the region’s plastics converters demand. In 2020, Germany’s manufacturing of plastic products had a turnover of 76.6 billion euros. This was more than twice the turnover Italy had that year from manufacturing plastic products. Europe is also home to some of the world’s biggest plastic-producing companies, such as BASF and LyondellBasell.
