Global ethylene demand reached 112 million tons in 2009 and is expected to touch about 116 million tons by 2015, at an average annual growth rate of about four percent, according to a report published by SRI Consulting.
Global production capacity of ethylene stood at around 131 million tons in 2009 and is expected to reach about 170 million tons in 2015 at an average annual growth rate of about 6 percent.
Ethylene production capacity is expected to increase by more than 10 million tons in 2010, mainly concentrated in the Middle East and Asia. This could lead to average plant operational rates falling from 85 percent in 2009 to about 80 percent in 2010.