The global Ethylene market has reached approximately 150 million tonnes in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.09% during the forecast period until 2035. Lotte Chemical of South Korea stated that its fund would go towards building a giant petrochemical plant in Indonesia, utilizing the naphtha cracking technology to produce Ethylene. The annual ethylene capacity is estimated to be around 1 million tonnes annually and is expected to gain USD 2.06 billion annually, and it is estimated to be completed by the year 2025.

Ethylene is a colorless gas that has a fruity smell. Ethylene is produced on an industrial level using the steam-cracking process of ethane and naphtha. In this process, pyrolysis is conducted by cracking hydrocarbon feedstock in a furnace. The furnace has a temperature of nearly 750 degrees Celsius. Ethylene is flammable in nature. Ethylene is commonly used as a feedstock by chemical manufacturers to produce various chemicals such as Polyethylene, Ethylene Oxide, Ethylene Dichloride, and Ethylene Benzene.
Moreover, this gas is also used for the ripening of fruits on a bulk level. Currently, the production of Polyethylene is the major application of Ethylene. Additionally, in petrochemical industries, Ethylene is used as a refrigerant and a fuel gas in welding and cutting processes.

The primary driver of the global Ethylene market is the synthesis of Polyethylene. In 2021, approximately 54% of global Ethylene was utilized by the Polyethylene Industry. Various industries employ Polyethylene due to its flexibility, durability, light-weight nature, and resistance to moisture. Polyethylene has various industrial applications like food & beverage packaging, grocery bags, toys, cable insulation, squeeze bottles, and housewares. Polyethylene has various types like LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) and HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene). HDPE is employed to synthesize multiple plastics such as Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) which has various applications like food and beverage packaging, water bottles, containers, and bags. Furthermore, the demand for Ethylene for the synthesis of Ethylene Oxide as a precursor for the production of chemicals like ethanol amines and (mono) ethanol glycol further fuels the Ethylene demand. The global Ethylene market is expected to reach about 260 million tonnes by 2035.

Based on demand, the Asia Pacific is dominating the Ethylene with a consumption of more than 40% of the global Ethylene market in 2021. As a result of socio-economic development in these nations, the lifestyle of people in this region has changed, creating a significant demand for plastic for general-use goods, automobiles, and housing development. Based on production, Asia Pacific is taking the lead among all the other regions. In 2021 has estimated to consume more than 30% of the global Ethylene production of 2021.

Based on the end-user industry, the global Ethylene market is segmented into different industrial sectors that include Polyethylene, Ethylene Oxide, Ethylene Dichloride, Ethylene Benzene, and Others. The Polyethylene Industry is dominating the Ethylene market. The Ethylene Oxide industry is also a prominent consumer of the Ethylene market. Ethylene Oxide is employed for the synthesis of cleansers, solvents, resins, coolants, fabrics, and medicines, all involving extensive use of ethylene oxide. Furthermore, Ethylene Benzene is a booming industry that further contributes to the Ethylene market in the forecast period.


Major players in the production of Global Ethylene are Sinopec, LyondellBasell, DowDupont, Exxon Mobil Corporation, INEOS, Chevron Phlips, Braskem, Formosa Plastics Group (Formosa Petrochemical Corp.), Zhejiang Petrochemical, PTT Global Chemical, PetroChina, Arabian Petrochemical Company, Yeochun NCC Co. Ltd., Royal Dutch Shell, and Kavian Petrochemical.

Years considered for this report:
Historical Period: 2015- 2021
Base Year: 2021
Estimated Year: 2022
Forecast Period: 2023-2035

Objective of the Study:

  • To assess the demand-supply scenario of Ethylene which covers production, demand and supply of Ethylene market in the globe.
  • To analyse and forecast the market size of Ethylene
  • To classify and forecast Global Ethylene market based on end-use and regional distribution.
  • To examine competitive developments such as expansions, mergers & acquisitions, etc., of Ethylene market in the globe.



To extract data for Global Ethylene market, primary research surveys were conducted with Ethylene manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, wholesalers and Traders. While interviewing, the respondents were also inquired about their competitors. Through this technique, ChemAnalyst was able to include manufacturers that could not be identified due to the limitations of secondary research. Moreover, ChemAnalyst analyzed various segments and projected a positive outlook for Global Ethylene market over the coming years.
ChemAnalyst calculated Ethylene demand in the globe by analyzing the historical data and demand forecast which was carried out considering the production of raw material to produce Ethylene. ChemAnalyst sourced these values from industry experts and company representatives and externally validated through analyzing historical sales data of respective manufacturers to arrive at the overall market size. Various secondary sources such as company websites, association reports, annual reports, etc., were also studied by ChemAnalyst.

Key Target Audience:

  • Ethylene manufacturers and other stakeholders
  • Organizations, forums and alliances related to Ethylene distribution
  • Government bodies such as regulating authorities and policy makers
  • Market research organizations and consulting companies


The study is useful in providing answers to several critical questions that are important for industry stakeholders such as Ethylene manufacturers, customers and policy makers. The study would also help them to target the growing segments over the coming years (next two to five years), thereby aiding the stakeholders in taking investment decisions and facilitating their expansion.

Report Scope:
In this report, Global Ethylene market has been segmented into following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

  • Market, by End-use: Polyethylene, Ethylene Oxide, Ethylene Dichloride, Ethylene Benzene, and Others
  • Market, by Sales Channel: Direct Sale and Indirect Sale
  • Market, by Region: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and South America.


Available Customizations:
With the given market data, ChemAnalyst offers customizations according to a company’s specific needs.