PLASTICIZERS- CURRENT & FUTURE MARKET.

Plasticizers are organic esters added to polymers to facilitate processing and to increase the flexibility and toughness of the final product by internal modification of the polymer molecule. Flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) accounts for 80-90% of world plasticizer consumption.

Since 2011, China has accounted for most of the growth in capacity and consumption of plasticizers. Plasticizers are grouped into the following categories: phthalates, terephthalates, epoxy, aliphatics (mainly adipates and hydrogenated phthalates), trimellitates, polymerics, phosphates, and others. Phthalic acid esters, generally known as phthalate plasticizers, are by far the predominant type of plasticizer produced and consumed in the world.