India PS demand may decline by 3.5% in 2011-2012 - industry

06 February 2012 05:13  [Source: ICIS news]

NEW DELHI (ICIS)--Indian polystyrene (PS) demand is likely to decline by 3.5% in 2011-12 on sluggish market conditions, an industry source said over the weekend.

A weak appliances segment affected demand, which is likely to settle at 250,000 tonnes for the year ending 31 March 2012, he added at the sidelines of the 8th PlastIndia exhibition.

The appliances segment accounts for 40% of the PS demand in the country.

“It was a bad year for the industry. India had only 45 days of summer in 2011 as against the usual 145 days. Unseasonal rains affected demand for appliances such as coolers and refrigerators,” he explained.

Also, there is a shift in demand in the television sector, as the boom in the LCD TV market is increasingly eroding the demand for PS in the TV segment, he added.

However, the expandable PS (EPS) market, estimated at around 80,000 tonnes, is growing with companies working hard to push the product in the insulation and construction segments, he said.

The 8th PlastIndia exhibition is a six-day event which will end on 6 February.

Additional reporting by Ong Sheau Ling and Prema Viswanathan

By: Malini Hariharan
+65 6780 4359

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly