How much is the petrochemical industry worth?

The global petrochemicals market size is projected to reach USD 651.1 billion by 2027, expanding at a CAGR of 5.0%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market for petrochemicals is largely driven by rising demand for downstream specialty chemicals and plastic manufacturing.

The industry is growing through a transformation with manufacturers focusing on high margin products and trying to optimize raw material costs. Sustainability is the key standpoint driving decision-making. The rising plastic waste and pollution resulting from manufacturing facilities have prompted manufacturers to take steps to tackle the rising problem. Going ahead, manufacturers are trying to develop products with widened application scope and minimal environmental impact. In China, technologies are being developed to recycle plastic waste into crude oil. The commercialization of these technologies will not only reduce pollution but also ensure the supply of raw materials to the petrochemical industry.

Capacity additions are expected to be a major feature of the market for petrochemicals. Passing through the consolidation phase in 2012 - 2016, the market for petrochemicals witnessed a large number of strategic divestments and acquisitions. Currently, a large number of projects are being constructed in North America, China, and the Middle East. China is expected to be a major player with more than 6.9 million metric tons of cumulative capacity expected to be operational by 2021. The Middle East is expected to face a lot of problems with manufacturers viewing China as a favorable destination. However, with its current rate of construction, the region is expected to add around 12 million metric tons of cumulative capacity between 2018 and 2022.

The petrochemical industry is a vital component of numerous industrial processes as it provides raw materials for a wide array of products that find application in automotive, construction, and manufacturing. Some of the products derived from petrochemicals are tires, detergents, industrial oil, fertilizers, plastics, medical devices. The basic chemicals and plastic derived from the petrochemicals act as a building block for numerous non-durable and durable consumer goods.

U.S. recorded an investment of more than USD 217 billion in petrochemical downstream operations since 2013. The significant growth of the industry is driven by shale gas revolution and has led to a decrease in feedstock prices. The country witnessed a significant rise in the consumption of ethane surpassing the other petroleum products such as gasoline and jet fuel. Capital investments in the U.S. petrochemical industry rose from USD 97 billion in 2013 to USD 317 billion by 2017.

The development of new technologies based on feedstocks such as light crude and mixed crude is expected to positively impact the supply. The adoption of Crude Oil to Chemical Technology (COTC) by manufacturers is expected to gain popularity as it provides high yields in the range of 40% to 45%. Industrial complexes with COTC technology are being constructed in the Middle East and China and expected to be operational by 2020. The development of such technologies will enable companies to manufacture chemicals on a refinery scale.

The profit margin of the petrochemical companies declined sharply in 2015 and 2016 and thereafter increased at a moderate pace from 2017. The improvement in profit margins is supported by rebound in crude prices and rise in gross refining margins. The major factors that impact the operational costs is stabilization observed in raw material pricing. The high research and development costs associated with a downstream product along with regulatory clearances has affected the operating margins.

The rising possibility of an economic slowdown in 2020 is expected to have a deep impact on petrochemical manufacturing. Initially, slowdown in demand may result in lowered capacity utilization. It can also result in projects getting delayed or getting scraped. The compounding of the aforementioned problems results in profit margins taking a hit and companies struggle to find a proper balance in their product portfolio.