IN THIS EDITION
July 2012

Lead Feature

Company News

Materials News

Machinery News

Exhibition News

Injection Moulding


Rubber Journal Asia

E-Magazine for the Rubber Industry
MRB to host International Rubber Technology and Economics Congress in KL

Read more»

twitter
facebook
 
MATERIALS NEWS

Agriculture in India to underpin polymer demand
polymer

India will continue to heavily depend on plastics in the next five years, says a report from GlobalData. The country is currently the world’s third largest consumer of polymers, behind China and the US, with a share of 5.7% of the 2011 global total – an increase from its 2000 size of 3.5%.

According to the report, manufacture of polymer products will reach 11.575 million tonnes/year by 2016, a 9.4% CAGR from the 7.377 million tonnes/year in 2011. The report also shows that polymer demand is outstripping the country’s GDP growth. From 2000-2011, India’s GDP climbed at a 7.6% CAGR whereas polymer consumption grew at a CAGR of 9.1%.

As plastics continue to create inroads into more applications such as agriculture, it is said that the industry can help address the country’s food problems. Plasticulture, a process that involves the use of plastics in agriculture and horticulture, is gaining popularity in India. In particular, micro-irrigation, which strategically places small devices that deliver water to specific soil locations. An effective device for areas with water shortage, micro-irrigation reduces water consumption by as much as 70%.

With the help of the government, widespread use of micro-irrigation is expected to happen. The Micro-Irrigation Scheme (MIS) to date has brought 1.79 million ha under micro-irrigation at an estimated costs of US450 million. By 2017, 10 million ha of land will have these devices, which will spark the demand for polymers.