China Plastics Market 2025-2035

China Plastics Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis by Type (Thermoplastics, and Thermosets), and by Application (Packaging, Building & Construction, Automotive, Electrical & Electronics, Household, Leisure & Sports, Agriculture, and Others), Forecast Period (2025-2035)

Industry Overview

China plastics market was valued at $167.9 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $287.4 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period (2025–2035). The electrical and electronics industry relies heavily on plastics owing to their lightweight, durable, and insulating qualities. The increasing popularity of smartphones, tablets, wearables, and household appliances continues to fuel the demand and contributes to market growth.

• According to the Chinese Government Org., in May 2025, its subsidy program to boost domestic consumption, aimed at counteracting declining exports, has led to substantial sales of digital products such as smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches, totaling approximately $20 billion in recent months.
• According to China’s commerce ministry, over 48 million consumers have participated, purchasing 51.48 million items, with sales reaching about $19.9 billion. Particularly, it indicates demand for the Chinese plastic market.

Market Dynamics

Development of the Domestic Automotive Industry

Increased penetration of electric vehicles in domestic automotive markets is increasing demand for light-weight, high-performance plastic parts, and hence driving the market growth. In recent years, Chinese companies have registered a steep rise in the manufacture of passenger vehicles, with the output expected to be 26.8 million units in 2024, which accounts for 21% of global output. The size of China's EV producers has increased to more than 200, and they are expected to produce 10 million EV units in 2024 from 8.9 million in 2023. In 2022, China had reached 62% of the world's EV production and 59% of the world's EV sales with the inclusion of foreign players such as Tesla operating within its borders.

Market Segmentation

• Based on the type, the market is segmented into thermoplastics and thermosets.
• Based on the application, the market is segmented into packaging, building & construction, automotive, electrical & electronics, household, leisure & sports, agriculture, and others. (healthcare & medical devices, furniture & fixtures, industrial machinery, and textiles & fibers)

Packaging Segment to Lead the Market with the Largest Share

The food and beverage industry is experiencing a surge in demand for recyclable thermoplastics owing to the adoption of sustainable packaging practices. For instance, in January 2024, Mars China launched a new Snickers bar with dark chocolate cereal in mono-material flexible packaging, in compliance with the concept of designed for recycling and Chinese regulation. The product has low-sugar and low-glycaemic index propositions and single-packaging produced from recyclable mono-polypropylene material. It is simpler to recycle and food-safe, lowering the probable impact on the planet. The companies also employed a higher level of internal validation and quality specifications for maintaining product integrity.

Polyethylene (PE): A Key Segment in Market Growth

Polyethylene (PE), a light, durable, and chemically inert thermoplastic, is the largest plastic made globally, produced in forms such as Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE), and cross-linked types. Polyethylene, with its electrical insulation, chemical resistance, and flexibility, is used extensively in a variety of industries such as automotive, agriculture, electronics, consumer products, industrial and construction, medical and healthcare, and packaging. It is used extensively in child-resistant drug wraps, rigid packaging, and flexible packages, but HDPE is extensively used for fittings and pipes that are used under heavy-duty applications.

Market Players Outlook

The major companies operating in the Chinese plastics market include BASF SE, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation., China National Chemical Corporation (ChemChina), PetroChina Co., Ltd., Kingfa Sci. & Tech. Co., Ltd., among others. Market players are leveraging partnerships, collaborations, mergers, and acquisition strategies for business expansion and innovative product development to maintain their market positioning.

Recent Developments

• In January 2025, Toray Plastics inaugurated a new manufacturing facility in Southern China for high-performance resin compounds to respond to increased demand for the compounds in automotive electrical parts, advanced communication, and solar power generation.
• In November 2021, LANXESS spent $35.5 million on expanding high-tech plastics manufacturing in China to raise its capacity by 30,000 metric tons annually. The investment will be carried out at its Changzhou factory, taking the overall compounding capability in China to 110,000 metric tons annually. The growth is designed to address the increased demand from China's automotive sector that is progressively employing Durethan and Pocan high-performance plastics for e-mobility components. The materials are designed to lower the weight, energy consumption, and emissions in motor vehicles.

The Report Covers

• Market value data analysis of 2024 and forecast to 2035.
• Annualized market revenues ($ million) for each market segment.
• Country-wise analysis of major geographical regions.
• Key companies operating in the Chinese plastics market. Based on the availability of data, information related to new products and relevant news is also available in the report.
• Analysis of business strategies by identifying the key market segments positioned for strong growth in the future.
• Analysis of market-entry and market expansion strategies.
• Competitive strategies by identifying ‘who-stands-where’ in the market.

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