PLASTICS Fact & Figure 2020

Table 2-11 2010-2020e Top-10 countries of Global plastics product export by value Unit: Million USD

Top-10 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020e
Export countries
China 27,013.1 34,538.6 44,037.9 49,074.4 52,437.3 53,388.5 52,811.2 56,277.2 61,972.6 67,237.1 63,455.4
Germany 31,169.6 36,141.1 33,578.4 35,480.2 37,100.2 32,397.6 33,462.1 36,504.5 39,295.5 37,164.5 35,074.2
United States 21,489.2 23,384.1 24,462.4 25,522.2 27,033.7 27,048.0 26,923.4 28,121.9 29,476.2 28,545.8 26,940.3
Italy 11,912.0 13,524.5 12,419.4 13,148.1 13,635.7 11,916.8 12,248.1 13,305.2 14,539.1 13,789.8 13,014.2
Japan 15,770.7 16,400.7 15,592.9 13,599.2 13,219.1 11,577.0 12,269.2 13,135.4 13,656.6 13,353.7 12,602.7
South Korea 6,136.0 7,259.1 7,813.4 8,766.8 8,969.7 8,863.7 9,329.4 10,169.7 11,016.9 11,383.9 10,743.7
Poland 4,928.0 6,010.2 6,053.7 6,955.0 7,569.9 6,974.9 7,728.7 8,658.2 10,400.4 10,326.8 9,745.9
France 8,668.2 9,581.2 8,891.7 9,597.0 9,974.0 8,753.3 9,127.7 9,878.3 10,568.0 10,170.9 9,598.8
Netherlands 6,118.6 7,010.2 6,765.3 7,227.2 7,419.8 6,716.8 8,217.1 8,805.6 9,776.8 9,863.1 9,308.4
Belgium 7,749.4 8,754.5 8,025.1 8,389.7 8,686.9 7,568.4 7,710.0 8,050.0 9,273.2 8,923.6 8,421.7
Other 80,560.0 93,042.0 94,684.8 100,413.6 105,502.7 96,027.0 95,901.0 102,340.5 109,791.9 105,879.1 99,924.0
221,514.8 255,646.2 262,325.0 278,173.4 291,548.9 271,231.9 275,727.9 295,246.6 319,767.1 316,638.2 298,829.2
Total

Source: Global Trade Atlas Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC
Remark: Calculated by H.S. Code 3916-3929

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 51

Chapter 3

Supply Chain and Entrepreneurs
in Thailand’s Plastics Industry

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Chapter 3

Supply Chain and Entrepreneurs
in Thailand’s Plastics Industry
3.1 Value of Thai plastics industry in the entire supply chain in 2019
In 2019, the overall value of Thailand’s plastics industry was
1,030,384 million baht or down from the previous year 7.0% due to
decreased export value of plastic resin of 14.0%. This was partly due
the decline of the prices of plastic resin in 2019 following the prices of
crude oil, and the stronger baht. Based on the survey of information
from Petroleum Institute of Thailand, in 2019 the production of the Thai
petrochemical industry was 9,027 kilotons or up 0.2% from the previous
year and import of plastic resin was 2,262 kilotons or down 7.8% from
the previous year. However, the export markets increased as high as
6.6% or 6,321 kilotons from products in the groups LLDPE, PP, PVC,
PET, etc. The plastic resin for domestic conversion was 4,968 kilotons
or down 10.2% from the previous year.

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 53

In 2019, Thailand’s overall value of plastic conversion was 746,431
million baht or down 4.0% from the previous year at the average price
of 150.2 baht/km. The export value was 216,317 million baht or down
8.6% from the previous year. The import value was 280,058 million baht
or down 3.4%. The figures reflected the continuous trade deficit.

Figure 3-1 Value creation of the entire supply chain of Thailand’s plastic resin in 2019

Source: Petroleum Institute of Thailand, Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC

3.2 Structure of Thai plastic entrepreneurs in 2019
The survey of the information
on the operation of Thai plastic
entrepreneurs effectuated in 2020
revealed that in Thailand there were
2,815 companies registered at the
Department of Industrial Works and
still operated business related to the
plastic industry. It was divided into
2,030 companies of plastic converters

54

or 70.3%, 190 companies of plastic part assemblers or 6.6%, 219 companies
of recycling operators or 7.6%, 120 companies of plastic product distributors or
4.1%, 110 companies of compound and masterbatch production or 3.8%, and
other 219 companies of entrepreneurs in other groups such as entrepreneurs
in machine or petrochemical industries, and mold producers or 7.6%.

Figure 3-2 Structure of Thai plastic entrepreneurs
classified by type of enterprise in 2019

3.8% 7.6%
4.1%

7.6% Total
6.6% 2,815

Company

70.3 %

Converter Frabricator Recycler
Other
Plastic Product Trader Compounder

Source: Plastic Intelligence Unit, Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC
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The classification of the number of entrepreneurs in the plastics industry
based on the number of SML entrepreneurs using the number of employment
in companies as criteria according to the size of enterprises as defined by
Office of Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion (OSMEP) revealed that
the employment of over 200 workers was large enterprise, the employment
between 51-200 workers
was medium enterprise,
and the employment of
lower than 50 workers
was small enterprise.
The classification based
on the criteria with 2,815
companies willing to provide
the information on their

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 55

workforce revealed that the size of enterprise of Thailand’s entrepreneurs
in the plastics industry was small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with the
share as high as 87% and large enterprises 13.0%.

Figure 3-3 Structure of Thai plastic entrepreneurs
classified by size of enterprise in 2019

13%

Total
2,815
30% Company

57 %

SMALL MEDIUME LARGE

Source: Plastic Intelligence Unit, Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC
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When the information was grouped according to the location of the
factories of the entrepreneurs, it was found that over 2,295 companies or
81.5% of the number of the entrepreneurs in the plastics industry located their
factories in the central plains, followed by 322 companies in the east or 11.4%,
87 companies in the northeast or 3.1%, 48 companies in the south or 1.7%,
37 companies in the north or 1.3%, and 26 companies in the west or 1%.

56

Figure 3-4 Structure of Thai plastic entrepreneurs
classified by location in 2019

1.3% 1.0%
1.7%

3.1%

11.4%

Total
2,815
Company

CENTRAL 81.5 % NORTH EAST
SOUTH EAST WEST
NORTH

Source: Plastic Intelligence Unit, Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC
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3.3 Number of plastic converters and number of workforce
classified by the type of manufacturing industries in 2019

Based on the information of plastic conversion classified by the type
of manufacturing industries with 2,257 companies willing to provide the
information, it was found that in Thailand’s plastics industry there were
1,141 companies of plastic packaging production with the highest share of
50.6%, followed by 305 companies of household appliance production or
13.5%, 198 companies of electric part production or 8.8%, 183 companies
of auto part production or 8.1%, and 172 companies of producers of plastic
construction materials or 7.6%. Both five types constituted the processing
production of Thailand’s main products with the highest share of 88.6%
of the total entrepreneurs of processing production.

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 57

The survey of employment revealed that in Thailand there were
325,336 people employed in the plastics industry. The processing
production with the highest rate of workforce was plastic conversion with
the workforce as high as 144,243 workers or 44.3% of the total workforce
in the processing production with the average workforce of 126 workers per
company, followed by auto part processing production with the workforce
of 57,227 workers or 17.6% with the average workforce of 313 workers
per company, followed by electrical appliance processing production with
the workforce of 48,968 workers or 15.1% with the average workforce of
247 workers per company. The employment per company revealed that
auto part processing production had the highest share of employment
per company, followed by electrical part processing production, and fiber
processing production.

Figure 3-5 Number of plastic converters and average workforce per company
classified by the type of manufacturing industries in 2019

AVERAGE LABOR NUMBER
PER COMPANY OF CONVERTOR

126 PACKAGING 1,141

106 HOUSEWARES 305
247
313 E&E 198

98 AUTOPART 183
105
88 CONSTRUCTION 172

69 RECREATION 73
170
AGRICULTURE 69
90
111 FOOTWARES 50

FILAMENT 29

SAFETY & SECURITY 25

MEDICAL 12

400 200 0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400
PERSON
COMPANY

Source: Plastic Intelligence Unit, Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC
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58

3.4 Number of plastic converters and number of workforce
classified by the type of production process in 2019
The information of the plastic conversion classified by the production
process of the entrepreneurs who voluntarily provided information namely
2,406 companies revealed that there were 924 companies of injection
molding with the highest share of 38.4%, followed by film blowing with 548
companies or 22.8%, followed by plastic extrusion and hollow blow molding
with 265 companies or 11.0%, fiber production with 147 companies or
6.1%. The five production processes are the main production processes
of Thailand’s main products with the highest share of 89.3% of the total
entrepreneurs of processing industries.
The survey of employment of plastic converters classified by
production process revealed that there were 358,149 workers in Thailand’s
plastics industry. The production process with the highest share of
employment was injection molding with 166,757 workers or 46.6% of the
total workforce in processing production with the average workforce of
180 workers per company, followed by film blowing with the workforce

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 59

of 54,426 workers or 15.2% with the average workforce of 99 persons
per company, hollow blow molding with the workforce of 51,172 workers
or 14.3% with the average workforce of 193 workers per company. The
employment per company revealed that hollow blow molding had the
highest share of employment per company, followed by injection molding,
and fiber production.

Figure 3-6 Number of plastic converters and average workforce per company
classified by the type of production process in 2019

AVERAGE LABOR NUMBER
PER COMPANY OF CONVERTOR

180 INJECTION MOLDING 924

99 FILM PROCESSING 548

112 PROFILE EXTRUSION 265

193 BLOW MOLDING 265

170 FILAMENT 147
137 FOAMING 81

127 THERMOFORMING 78

100 CALENDERING 41

87 ROTO MOLDING 40

151 COMPRESSION 17

PERSON400 200 0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400

COMPANY

Source: Plastic Intelligence Unit, Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC
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60

Figure 3-7 Number of plastic converters classified by the type
of manufacturing industries and locations in 2019

NORTH

0 5 10 15 20

PACKAGING NORTH EAST
HOUSEWARES
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY 0 10 20 30 40 50
COMPANY
E&E PACKAGING
AUTOPART HOUSEWARES
RECREATION CONSTRUCTION
AGRICULTURE
FOOTWARES E&E
AUTOPART
FILAMENT RECREATION
SAFETY & SECURITY AGRICULTURE
FOOTWARES
MEDICAL
FILAMENT
CENTRAL SAFETY & SECURITY

0 200 400 600 800 1,000 MEDICAL
COMPANY
0 WEST 10 15 PACKAGING
HOUSEWARES
PACKAGING 5 CONSTRUCTION
HOUSEWARES
CONSTRUCTION E&E
AUTOPART
E&E RECREATION
AUTOPART AGRICULTURE
RECREATION FOOTWARES
AGRICULTURE
FOOTWARES FILAMENT
SAFETY & SECURITY
FILAMENT
SAFETY & SECURITY MEDICAL

MEDICAL EAST

COMPANY 0 20 40 60 80 100
COMPANY
PACKAGING
HOUSEWARES
CONSTRUCTION

E&E
AUTOPART
RECREATION
AGRICULTURE
FOOTWARES

FILAMENT
SAFETY & SECURITY

MEDICAL

SOUTH

0 10 20 30 40

PACKAGING COMPANY
HOUSEWARES
CONSTRUCTION

E&E
AUTOPART
RECREATION
AGRICULTURE
FOOTWARES

FILAMENT
SAFETY & SECURITY

MEDICAL

Source: Plastic Intelligence Unit, Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC
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THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 61

Chapter 3: Thailand’s plastics entrepreneur in 2019 Annex

Table 3-1 Thailand’s plastics entrepreneurs in 2019 (classified by type of enterprise)

Converter Number of Company % Share
Recycler 2,030 70.3
Fabricator 219 7.6
Plastics Product Trader 190 6.6
Compounder 120 4.2
Machinery Trader 110 3.8
Molder 54 1.9
Plastic Resin Trader 51 1.8
Petrochemical Manufacturer 33 1.1
Fiberglass Manufacturer 29 1.0
Machinery Manufacturer 22 0.8
Others 21 0.7
9 0.3
Total 2,888 100

Source: Plastic Intelligence Unit, Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC
Note: 1. Data processed from the survey of 2,815 companies who voluntarily provided information as per 2 September 2020
2. Some entrepreneurs may operate more than 1 type of enterprise so the data may be repeatedly counted.

Table 3-2 Thailand’s plastics entrepreneur in 2019 (classified by business sizes)

Small Number of Company % Share
Medium 1,594 56.6
Large 851 30.2
370 13.2
Total 2,815 100

Source: Plastic Intelligence Unit, Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC
Note: 1. Data processed from the survey of 2,815 companies who voluntarily provided information as per 2 September 2020
2. Size of entrepreneurs classified by the size of enterprise as defined by Office of Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion (OSMEP)

Table 3-3 Thailand’s plastics entrepreneur in 2019 (classified by location)

Central Number of Company % Share
East 2,295 81.5
North East 322 11.4
South 87 3.1
North 48 1.7
West 37 1.3
26 1.0
Total 2,815 100

Source: Plastic Intelligence Unit, Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC
Note: Data processed from the survey of 2,815 companies who voluntarily provided information as per 2 September 2020

Table 3-4 Thailand’s plastics converters in 2019 (classified by industrial sectors)

By Sector Number of Production Labor Other Labor Total Labor Average Labor Capacity
Converters (Person) (Person) (Person) per Company (KTA)
Packaging 122,118 22,125
Housewares 1,141 27,060 5,204 144,243 (Person) 3,067,296.5
Electrical & Electronics 305 41,156 7,812 32,264 126 505,163.2
Automotive 198 47,979 9,248 48,968 106 714,200.0
Construction 183 13,243 3,657 57,227 247 924,955.0
Recreation 172 5,914 1,785 16,900 313 471,218.0
Agriculture 73 5,011 1,082 7,699 98 45,182.0
Footwears 69 2,866 566 6,093 105 140,877.0
Textile 50 4,234 705 3,432 88 31,878.0
Safety & Security 29 1,852 393 4,939 69 38,720.0
Medical 25 1,147 179 2,245 170 19,688.0
12 272,580 52,756 1,326 90 16,272.0
Total 325,336 111
2,257 144 5,975,449.7

Source: Plastic Intelligence Unit, Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC
Note: 1. Data processed from the survey of 2,257 companies who voluntarily provided information as per 2 September 2020
2. Some entrepreneurs may produce more than 1 type of industrial group so the data may be repeatedly counted.

62

Table 3-5 Thailand’s plastics converters in 2019 (classified by production processes)

By Process Number of Production Labor Other Labor Total Labor Average Labor Capacity
Converters (Person) (Person) (Person) per Company (KTA)

Injection Molding 924 140,559 26,198 166,757 (Person) 2,459,281.2
Film Processing 548 44,919 9,507 54,426 180 1,518,213.0
Profile Extrusion 265 24,092 5,540 29,632 99
Blow Molding 265 45,518 5,654 51,172 112 575,906.0
Filament 147 21,316 3,694 25,010 193 743,044.5
Foaming 81 9,010 2,087 11,097 170 637,748.0
Thermoforming 78 7,564 2,309 9,873 137 165,880.0
Calendaring 41 3,276 4,115 127 138,139.0
Roto Molding 40 2,818 839 3,495 100 79,320.0
Compression 17 2,193 677 2,572 87 76,186.0
2,406 301,265 379 358,149 151 76,174.0
Total 56,884 149 6,469,891.7

Source: Plastic Intelligence Unit, Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC North Unit: Companies
Note: 1. Data processed from the survey of 2,406 companies who voluntarily provided information as per 2 September 2020 17 West
2. Some entrepreneurs may operate more than 1 type of production process so the data may be repeatedly counted. 2 12
1 3
Table 3-6 Number of Thailand’s plastics convertors in 2019 (classified by industrial sectors and location) 2 2
3 0
Central East North East South 0 0
945 1 0
Packaging 275 87 45 34 0 0
Housewares 141 1 1
Electrical & Electronics 125 16 6 3 0 0
Automotive 147 0 0
Construction 67 51 3 0 0 0
Recreation 58 27 0
Agriculture 43 55 1 0 18
Footwears 23
Textile 23 13 4 5
Safety & Security 10
Medical 48 600
Others 1,905
433
Total
500

420

200

110

710

251 66 45

Source: Plastic Intelligence Unit, Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC
Note: 1. Data processed from the survey of 2,406 companies who voluntarily provided information as per 2 September 2020
2. Some entrepreneurs may operate more than 1 type of production process so the data may be repeatedly counted.

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 63

Chapter 4

Situations of Thailand’s
Plastics Resin Industry

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64

Chapter 4

Situations of Thailand’s Plastics Resin Industry
Thailand is a country with a comprehensive plastic supply chain
from plastic resin producers in the petrochemical industry, plastic resin
converters into products, to diverse consumer markets. Thailand’s
petrochemical industry is strong in Asia, in terms of production, trade, and
technology, which drives the potential of Thailand’s petrochemical industry.
Up till now, the petrochemical industry has experienced continuous growth.
In 2018, its production constituted over 9 million tons, with export volume
of approximately 6 million tons, and value of over 330,000 million baht.
However, in 2019, the economic factors affected the slowdown of
the global economy. The continuous plunge of the plastic resin prices
directly impacted the growth of Thailand’s petrochemical industry. As
a result, the production and consumption of plastic resin decreased in
2019. The impact on the petrochemical industry has continued into 2020.
Moreover, the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic which started to clearly
impact the world economy at the beginning of 2020 has become a factor
that puts additional pressure on the growth of the petrochemical industry.
4.1 Movement of the plastic resin prices
Based on the movement of Thailand’s commodity plastic resin
from the end of 2018 until the present, it is clear that the tendency is the
continuous reduction of plastic resin prices in the same direction as the
decreased crude oil prices. In 2019, the average prices of plastic resin
decreased 24.4 percent from 2018. The average price of commodity resin
was 40.9 baht/kilogram down from 54.1 baht/kilogram in 2018.
In 2020, the direction of plastic resin price movement has
continuously declined from 2019 due to the decrease of the average plastic
resin prices in the first half of 2020 down to 32-35 baht/kilogram. It was

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 65

Baht/Kg. partly due to the plunge in the crude oil prices in the first half of the year USD/Barrel
from the reduced global demand of oil as a result of the global economic
slowdown. Moreover, the crude oil price war between Saudi Arabia and
Russia added to the excess of crude oil supply. The other factor was the
impact from the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic that suspended the
global business mechanism and decreased the demand of raw material
for production. Consequently, the supply of plastic resin was continuously
higher than the demand. However, it is forecast that in the second half of
2020 the plastic resin prices will go up due to the economic recovery as
business has started to adapt itself under the economic conditions and the
spread of the pandemic. But the increase of the plastic resin prices will
remain at a low level compared to the previous year.

Figure 4-1 Movement in the prices of Thailand’s
plastic resin between 2014-2020 (Jan-Jun)

80 120

70 100
60

80
50

40 60

30 40
20
10 20

00

Jan-14
Mar-14
May-14

Jul-14
Sep-14
Nov-14
Jan-15
Mar-15
May-15
Jul-15
Sep-15
Nov-15
Jan-16
Mar-16
May-16
Jul-16
Sep-16
Nov-16
Jan-17
Mar-17
May-17
Jul-17
Sep-17
Nov-17
Jan-18
Mar-18
May-18
Jul-18
Sep-18
Nov-18
Jan-19
Mar-19
May-19
Jul-19
Sep-19
Nov-19
Jan-20
Mar-20
May-20

Avg. Crude Oil ABS/SAN GPPS HDPE HIPS LDPE LLDPE PET PP

Source: Plastics Intelligence Unit, compiled and adjusted by Plastics Intelligent Center

4.2 Trend of the demand and supply of Thailand’ plastic resin

The trend of the production of plastic resin of Thailand’s
petrochemical industry since 2014 has shown continuous increase up
till 2018 with 9.0 million tons or the average of 3.4 percent a year. The
production slightly declined in 2019 with -0.1 percent or 8.9 million tons.
The import of plastic resin was in the same direction as the production.

66

The import of plastic resin experienced continuous growth at the average
rate of 12.2 percent a year until 2018 with import volume of 2 .4 million
tons and down in 2019 at -4.3 percent with import volume of 2.3 million
tons. It was in the reverse direction with export which had the tendency
of continuous growth at the average of 5.0 percent a year. In 2019, the
export of plastic resin grew from 2018 at 7.6 percent or volume of 6.4
million tons. The increased export and the decreased production and import
in 2019 resulted in the decrease in the continuous growth of domestic
plastic resin consumption at -10.3 percent or 4.9 million tons in 2019.
It was clear that in 2019 the petrochemical industry focused on export
rather than domestic consumption.
It is forecast that in 2020
the impact from the spread of
the COVID-19 will contribute to
the serious decline of the Thai
and the world economies. It
will also be a major factor that
contribute to the decline of the
overall demand and supply of the
petrochemical industry. However,
the impact tends to mainly affect
import and export from the
lockdown of trading partners.
Therefore, the production will mainly support domestic consumption. The
surveillance measures of the spread of the virus make positive impact
on the single use plastic products with the trend of increased demand.
Therefore, it is forecast that in 2020 for the overall demand and supply of
plastic resin industry, the production of plastic resin will shrink -4.0 percent
with production of 8.6 million tons. It is forecast that the import of plastic
resin will shrink -9.0 percent with import volume of 2.1 million tons. It is
also forecast that the export of plastic resin will shrink -10.0 percent with
export volume of 5.7 million tons. The use of plastic resin for processing
of domestic products is forecast to slightly increase at 1.4 percent.

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 67

It is forecast that the seriousness of the impact from the event will
affect the supply chain of plastic resin for another three years at least before
production, trade, and consumption will go back to normal and grow from
2024 onwards. In 2025, the production of plastic resin is estimated to be
9.6 million tons, 2.6 million tons of import of plastic resin, 6.5 million tons
of export of plastic resin, and 5.6 million tons of domestic consumption.

Figure 4-2 Demand and supply of Thailand’s
plastic resin industry between 2014-2025f

12000.0

10000.0

KTons 8000.0

6000.0

4000.0

2000.0

0.0 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020e 2021f 2022f 2023f 2024f 2025f
2014

Production Import Export Consumption

Source: Petroleum Institute of Thailand, with adjusted information by Plastics Intelligent Center,
Plastics Institute of Thailand

4.3 Production and consumption of Thailand’s plastic resin

For the past ten years (2010-
2019), the production of plastic resin
in Thailand grew 48.2 percent from
2010 with net production of 6.0 million
tons to 2019 with net production of
8.9 million tons. In 2010 and 2019,
the mostly produced plastic resin in
Thailand included LLDPE, HDPE, and
PP. The share of the production of the three types of plastic resin constituted
over 50 percent of the total production. The share grew from 56 percent in
2010 to 64 percent in 2019. The production of the three types of plastic resin
grew 120.4 percent, 41.9 percent, and 64.4 percent respectively.

68

In 2020, the overall production of plastic resin is expected to slow
down approximately 4.0 percent from the decline of the economy in Thailand
and worldwide, resulting in lower demand which is in direct proportion to
production. However, the share structure of the production of plastic resin is
not different from the past. The estimated share of the production of the main
groups of plastic resin is as follows: PP has the highest share of production
at 23.7 percent, followed by HDPE with the share of 21.2 percent, LLPE
18.5 percent, LDPE/EVA 6.5 percent, PVC 9.7 percent, and other types
of plastic resin such as PS, EPS, ABS/SAN, PET, as well as domestically
produced engineering plastics with the total share of 20.4 percent.

Figure 4-3 Production of plastic resin in Thailand
between 2010/2019 and forecast in 2020

10,000 -4.0%
9,000
8,000 +48.2%
7,000
6,000 Other, PP, 23.7%
5,000 20.4%
4,000
Ktons 3,000 2020e
2,000 Thailand
1,000 PVC, 9.7% resin production
- 8,640 KTons

LDPE/EVA, HDPE,
6.5% 21.2%

2010 2019 2020e LLDPE,
18.5%
LLDPE PVC
PP LDPE/EVA HDPE ABS/SAN
PET Bottle PS EPS PMMA
Nylon Chip PC

Source: Petroleum Institute of Thailand, with adjusted information by Plastics Intelligent Center,
Plastics Institute of Thailand

For the past ten years (2010-2019), the consumption of plastic
resin in Thailand grew 26.3 percent from 3.9 million tons in 2010 to 4.9
million tons in 2019. The plastic resin that Thailand mainly consumed
in the past included PP, HDPE, and LLDPE with the combined share of
approximately 50 percent of the total consumption. In 2019, there was
a slight change in the consumption structure. In 2019, the consumption
of LLDPE decreased from the past, as well as the consumption share. In
2019, the consumption share was 7.0 percent down from 2010 with the

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 69

consumption share of 11.2 percent. It was replaced by the consumption
of engineering resin with the growth share of 10.3 percent in 2010 to 17.3
percent in 2019. At the same time, PP and HDPE experienced growth
in consumption with the same consumption share of approximately 25
percent and 15 percent respectively.
It is forecast that the overall domestic consumption of plastic
resin in 2020 will slightly increase at 1.4 percent due to the spread of
COVID-19 that has disrupted international trade. Therefore, the domestic
consumption has the opportunity to increase. At the same time, the demand

of single use plastics also increases in response to hygiene measures.
It is expected that the two factors will support the domestic consumption
of plastic resin to slightly increase. The major shares of the consumption
of plastic resin include PP with the share of 26.4 percent, followed by
HDPE with the share of 15.9 percent, engineering plastics 14.7 percent,
PVC 7.9 percent, and other groups of plastics such as LLDPE, LDPE/
EVA, PET, PS, including domestically produced engineering plastics with
the combined consumption share of 24.8 percent.

70

Figure 4-4 Consumption of plastic resin in Thailand
between 2010/2019 and forecast in 2020

6,000 +1.4%
5,000
4,000 +26.3%
3,000
Ktons 2,000 Other, PP, 26.4%
1,000 24.8%

- PET Bottle, 2020e
7.9% Thailand
LLDPE resin consumption
PVC 5,031 KTons
EPS
Nylon Chip 2010 2019 2020e HDPE,
POM LDPE/EVA HDPE 15.9%
PP PS
ABS/SAN PET Bottle PVC, 10.3% Other
PC PMMA Engineering
Other Engineering Resin resin, 14.7%

Source: Petroleum Institute of Thailand, with adjusted information by Plastics Intelligent Center,
Plastics Institute of Thailand

In 2019, Thailand had the population of approximately 66.5 million,
up from 2018 or 0.2 percent. The population consumed 55 kilograms of
plastic resin per person per year, down from 2018 at -6.9 percent. The
consumption of plastic resin per person per year experienced the annual
average growth between 2014-2019 down at -0.7 percent a year whereas
the growth of population during the same period was 0.4 percent a year.

The consumption of plastic resin per person per year in Thailand
has shown the tendency to decrease in reverse direction of the growing
population. The environmental trend that has started to assume a role
in the change of the concept of manufacturing of the plastics industry
worldwide, concept of environmental-friendly design and production, as
well as waste management technology has increasingly and significantly
caught the attention of the global society. As a result, many countries
have increasingly used the concept for trade conditions. The situations
started to impact Thailand’s plastic resin industry in 2018. However, it
is forecast that in 2020, the consumption of plastic resin will increase to
60.9 kilograms per person per year. Due to the impact of the spread of
COVID-19, the demand of single use products increases as an effort to

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 71

avoid the repeated or common use of products. It is forecast that from 2020
onwards, with the containment of the situation of COVID-19, consumers’
behavior will return to environment as before. The concept of production
for environment will continue, resulting in the trend of the decreased
consumption of plastic resin per person per year. It is forecast that in 2025
the consumption of plastic resin will be 52.6 kilograms per person per year.

Figure 4-5 Consumption of plastic resin per person per year
of the Thai population between 2014-2025f

Kg./Person 70 69 Millions Person
60 68
50 68
40 67
30 67
20 66
10 66
65
0 65
2014 64
64

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020e 2021f 2022f 2023f 2024f 2025f

Major resin consumption Population

Source: Petroleum Institute of Thailand, National Statistical Office of Thailand, with adjusted information by
Plastics Intelligent Center, Plastics Institute of Thailand

4.4 Overview of Thailand’s plastic resin trade

4.4.1 Import of Thailand’s plastic resin
Thailand imports plastic resin at the average of 2 million tons a year
in terms of volume and approximately at the average of 140,000 million
baht in terms of value. Each year sees the continuous growth in terms of
value and volume. The growth of import of plastic resin between 2014-
2019 revealed that the import volume grew at the average of 8.7 percent
a year. On the contrary, the import value shrank at the average of -0.4
percent a year. As the overall prices of plastic resin decreased quite a
lot in 2019, the net import value shrank from the previous year at -12.5
percent, balancing the average growth rate between 2014-2019.

The prices of plastic resin have continuously gone down till the middle
of 2020. The spread of COVID-19 has also slowed down the economy

72

and industrial activities in Thailand
and around the world. These will be
the major factors that contribute to the
continuous decline of the import volume
and value of plastic resin in 2020 from
2019. It is estimated that the import
volume will shrink -9.0 percent or at
2.1 million tons. It is forecast that the
import value will shrink -3.5 percent or
at 130,171.2 million baht.

However, the situation which is a factor that puts pressure on trade
is expected to recover gradually from the middle of 2020 onwards. It is
therefore forecast that in five years between 2021-2025 the import of plastic
resin will grow at the average of 4.1 percent a year in terms of volume and
2.5 percent a year in terms of value. It is estimated that in 2025 Thailand
will import 2.6 million tons of plastic resin valued 147,513.2 million baht.

Figure 4-6 Import volume and value of Thailand’s
plastic resin between 2014-2025f

Tons 3,000 180,000 Million Baht
2,500 160,000
2,000 140,000
1,500 120,000
1,000 100,000
80,000
500 60,000
0 40,000
20,000
0

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020e 2021f 2022f 2023f 2024f 2025f
Import Volume Import Value

Source: Customs Department, Ministry of Finance, adjusted information by Plastics Intelligent Center,
Plastics Institute of Thailand

As for the changes in the import markets of plastic resin for the
past 11 years, it is found that the are changes in major import markets. In
2010, Thailand imported plastic resin mainly from Japan with the share of
25.9 percent of the total import value of the top three markets, followed

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 73

by Singapore, South Korea, and US with the share of 11.5 percent, 10.4
percent, and 9.4 percent respectively. China was the no. 5 import market
with the share of 7.5 percent of the total import value at that time. But at
present, based on the estimated information in 2020, China is Thailand’s
no. 2 import market of plastic resin with the share of 17.5 percent of the
total import value. It is very close to Japan, the no. 1 import market. Other
import markets include US, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, etc. The
market share is quite similar to the past ten years.

Figure 4-7 Comparison of the import markets of Thailand’s
plastic resin in terms of value between 2010/2020e

Thailand plastics resin Thailand plastics resin
source of Import 2010 source of Import 2020e

0.8% 12.2% 1.6% 12.3% 18.6%
3.9% 3.2%
4.9% 25.9% 4.3%
5.3%
5.9% Total Import 7.5% Total Import 17.5%
116,747.1 8.1% 130,171.2
7.5% Million Baht
Million Baht

11.5% 9.4% 8.2% 10.9%
10.1%
10.4%

Japan China U.S.A. S. Korea
Singapore Malaysia Taiwan Saudi Arabia
Germany Indonesia Other

Source: Customs Department, Ministry of Finance, with adjusted information by Plastics Intelligent Center,
Plastics Institute of Thailand

74

4.4.2 Export of Thailand’s plastic resin
Thailand exports plastic resin approximately at the average of 5.3
million tons a year or approximately 50 percent of the domestic production
of plastic resin and with the average value of approximately 290,000
million baht a year. The export has continuously experienced growth
both in terms of volume and value similarly to the import of plastic resin.
Between 2014-2019, the annual average growth rate of export in terms of
volume was 5.6 percent a year. But in terms of value the annual average
growth rate of export went down -1.8 percent a year. This is because in
2019, the export value of plastic resin decreased -14.0 percent due to
the decline in plastic resin prices whereas the export volume of plastic
resin increased 7.6 percent. The serious decrease of export value in 2019
pulled down the annual average growth rate between 2014-2019.

In 2020, it is forecast that the export volume and value of Thailand’s
plastic resin will shrink continuously from 2019 at 10.0 percent and 10.2
percent respectively. This is partly due the result of the plastic resin prices
that have not yet recovered and the spread of the COVID-19, slowing down
the overall consumption. Therefore, the export of plastic resin in terms of
volume tend to shrink as well. It is estimated that in 2020 Thailand will
export 5.7 million tons of plastic resin valued 254,958.2 million baht.

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 75

Thanks to the gradual sign of recovery in the global market and the
higher prices of plastic resin since the middle of 2020, it is forecast that the
export of Thailand’s plastic resin in the next five years (2021-2025) will grow
at the average of 2.8 percent a year in terms of volume and 5.4 percent a
year in terms of value. In 2025, it is forecast that the export will reach 6.5
million tons in volume and 331,218.7 million baht in value.

Figure 4-8 Export volume and value of Thailand’s plastic resin between 2014-2025f

Tons 7,000 350,000 Million Baht
6,000 300,000
5,000 250,000
4,000 200,000
3,000 150,000
2,000 100,000
1,000 50,000
0
0

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020e 2021f 2022f 2023f 2024f 2025f
Export Volume Export Value

Source: Customs Department, Ministry of Finance, adjusted information by Plastics Intelligent Center,
Plastics Institute of Thailand

As for the export markets of
Thailand’s plastic resin for the past
11 years, the ranking structure of the
export markets has not changed much.
The no. 1 export market remains
China. But at present, China has
assumed an increased importance as
the share of export of plastic resin to
China has increased from 25.6 percent
in 2010 to 34.9 percent in 2020. The
no. 2 export market changes from
India to Japan, followed by Vietnam
and Indonesia as in the past. The market share grows from approximately 6
percent in the past to approximately 9 percent in the present.

76

Figure 4-9 Comparison of the export markets of Thailand’s
plastic resin in terms of value between 2010/2020e

Thailand plastics resin Thailand plastics resin
source of Export 2010 source of Export 2020e

25.6% 16.8%
34.1% 1.5%

Total Export 2.4% 34.9%
200,326.0
2.7% Total Export
Million Baht 6.9% 2.8% 254,958.2

3.6% Million Baht

1.0% 6.1% 7.5%
4.1% 7.1% 6.3%
1.8% 9.0% 9.7%
4.1% 9.1%
3.0%

China Japan Vietnam Indonesia
India Malaysia Philippines Australia
U.S.A. S. Korea Other

Source: Customs Department, Ministry of Finance, with adjusted information by Plastics Intelligent Center,
Plastics Institute of Thailand

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 77

Chapter 4: Thailand plastics resin situation annex

Table 4-1 2014-2020 (Jun) Thailand commodity resin price movement Unit: Baht/Kg

Year Month PP LDPE LLDPE GPPS HDPE PET Crude Oil Average

January 69.42 62.50 54.08 65.92 60.67 54.58 102.1

February 69.25 62.50 54.75 65.94 60.88 55.75 104.83

March 68.50 62.13 54.63 65.56 59.81 55.69 104.04

April 68.63 61.13 54.00 65.00 58.88 54.81 104.87

May 69.00 61.19 55.25 64.88 58.63 55.13 105.71

2014 June 70.00 60.81 56.25 64.13 59.00 56.50 108.37

July 70.94 60.81 56.50 64.69 59.19 57.50 105.23

August 71.00 60.75 56.50 64.50 57.88 57.50 100.05

September 71.00 59.13 56.00 62.63 57.63 56.75 95.85

October 70.81 57.25 55.63 60.50 56.75 56.25 86.08

November 68.19 55.19 53.75 58.44 55.38 54.25 76.99

December 64.38 51.38 50.81 55.00 52.25 51.31 60.7

January 62.13 46.94 46.50 50.50 47.06 46.19 47.11

February 61.50 46.33 45.33 49.83 46.75 45.58 54.79

March 62.19 49.25 47.06 53.06 48.25 47.13 52.83

April 63.13 52.00 49.31 55.38 52.00 49.19 57.54

May 65.00 57.44 51.19 60.00 54.50 51.00 62.51

2015 June 64.44 56.88 51.50 59.38 54.75 51.19 61.31

July 61.31 53.81 51.06 56.69 55.19 51.44 54.34

August 58.38 51.06 49.69 54.50 51.38 49.38 45.69

September 56.25 44.75 48.31 51.88 49.50 48.00 46.28

October 55.50 48.38 48.75 50.75 49.75 48.06 46.96

November 54.19 46.69 48.19 49.19 49.94 48.13 43.11

December 50.06 42.81 47.50 45.38 49.13 47.69 36.57

January 47.50 43.19 45.94 45.38 46.94 45.50 29.78

February 48.81 45.00 45.19 47.50 46.75 45.56 31.03

March 53.75 49.75 46.69 52.25 48.75 47.19 37.34

April 56.63 52.25 48.81 54.63 50.19 49.00 40.75

May 55.13 50.81 48.88 52.69 50.25 49.00 45.94

2016 June 54.38 49.13 48.00 51.06 49.75 48.19 47.69

July 55.50 51.00 48.06 52.44 49.13 48.13 44.13

August 54.69 48.94 47.69 51.69 49.88 47.63 44.88

September 54.94 48.00 47.25 50.94 50.75 47.00 45.04

October 55.88 47.19 46.38 49.75 52.00 46.63 49.29

November 56.88 48.50 46.25 50.75 50.75 46.38 45.26

December 65.50 50.50 46.94 52.81 51.63 46.38 52.62

January 67.31 52.25 47.50 54.69 53.00 47.50 53.59

February 73.25 59.00 48.75 63.00 54.00 49.50 54.35

March 71.19 58.13 48.50 62.25 53.63 49.25 50.9

2017 April 71.63 54.75 47.13 58.00 53.25 47.38 52.16

May 68.50 51.75 46.50 54.75 52.00 47.00 49.89

June 68.25 51.00 45.63 54.50 50.75 46.25 46.17

July 69.75 52.50 44.88 56.00 47.75 46.25 47.66

78

Year Month PP LDPE LLDPE GPPS HDPE PET Crude Oil Average

August 71.50 53.00 45.38 57.00 47.50 46.00 49.94
52.95
September 71.50 53.25 45.75 57.00 48.50 44.75 54.92
59.93
October 71.00 51.50 45.50 54.50 49.50 44.50 61.19
66.23
November 71.00 55.50 46.00 55.50 50.00 45.00 63.46
64.17
December 71.38 53.63 46.25 56.88 49.75 45.75 68.79
73.43
January 71.38 53.63 48.00 57.50 49.88 45.25 71.98
72.67
February 72.13 54.50 49.88 57.50 50.00 46.38 71.08
75.36
March 72.50 54.63 50.00 58.50 50.50 46.38 76.73
62.32
April 73.69 54.63 49.38 57.88 47.75 45.25 53.96
56.58
May 73.25 55.50 49.63 58.50 48.75 45.50 61.13
63.79
June 73.50 55.50 50.25 58.50 49.00 45.75 68.58
2018 66.83
59.76
July 73.50 55.50 50.25 57.75 49.00 45.25 61.48
57.67
August 73.50 55.63 50.88 58.25 49.00 45.75 60.04
57.27
September 71.25 54.50 50.13 57.25 48.50 46.00 60.4
63.35
October 71.25 54.50 49.63 57.25 46.75 45.25 61.63
53.35
November 65.25 51.13 48.25 53.00 44.88 45.00 32.2
21.04
December 61.13 49.38 46.00 52.00 45.75 43.25 30.38
39.46
January 44.38 44.00 40.63 47.75 43.25 44.50

February 44.00 44.50 41.50 47.63 44.63 44.38

March 45.00 44.00 40.25 45.50 43.00 41.13

April 45.25 44.25 41.00 45.75 43.50 41.38

May 46.00 44.75 41.00 45.75 44.00 40.75

June 45.50 43.75 40.25 44.63 42.56 38.88
2019

July 44.25 41.25 40.25 43.63 42.25 37.88

August 43.25 40.50 39.38 42.50 40.75 36.63

September 39.38 40.50 38.63 39.88 39.25 33.00

October 38.13 40.13 38.63 38.25 39.38 32.75

November 36.25 40.13 36.13 37.63 37.88 31.00

December 35.63 38.50 35.00 35.38 36.13 29.75

January 35.75 38.50 35.25 35.88 36.63 30.50

February 37.00 38.50 36.13 36.13 36.88 30.13

2020 March 35.75 38.25 36.13 35.38 35.75 29.25

April 33.75 36.00 34.50 31.75 33.13 27.63

May 32.63 36.25 33.50 31.50 33.25 27.25

June 36.36 36.00 33.75 32.88 34.38 27.86

Source: Plastics Intelligence Unit Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC

Table 4-2 2010-2025f Thailand plastics resin demand-supply

Demand-Supply 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020e 2021f 2022f 2023f 2024f 2025f

Production KTons 7,885.8 8,049.1 8,178.0 8,518.4 9,012.3 8,999.9 8,639.9 8,879.2 9,173.7 9,444.8 9,509.9 9,649.4
Import KTons 1,603.4 1,650.0 1,898.1 1,962.2 2,453.0 2,347.0 2,135.8 2283.1 2381.3 2457.5 2519.0 2611.6
MTHB 137,713.1 135,145.5 138,402.3 142,781.7 154,220.4 134,892.4 130,171.2 131,342.7 133,575.5 136,914.9 141,296.2 147,513.2
Export KTons 4,864.8 5,001.2 4,902.5 5,198.9 5,932.0 6,383.0 5,744.7 6,064.2 5,965.1 6,124.4 6,352.3 6,580.1
Consumption MTHB 311,139.8 278,334.8 270,151.9 292,672.0 330,180.2 283,917.8 239,822.2 312,290.1 315,516.7 318,743.4 321,970.0 325,196.6
KTons 4,567.0 4,697.9 5,173.6 5,281.7 5,533.3 4,968.3 5,031.0 5,098.1 5,589.8 5,777.9 5,676.5 5,680.8

Source: Petroleum Institute of Thailand Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 79

Table 4-3 2010-2020e Thailand resin production Unit: KTons

Resin Production 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020e
LLDPE 773 1,157 1,327 1,286 1,371 1,333 1,370 1,439 1,616 1,704 1,599
LDPE/EVA 232 375 478 450 542 559 530 587 557 573 564
HDPE 1,254 1,594 1,648 1,718 1,781 1,863 1,808 1,817 1,813 1,779 1,829
PVC 833 779 797 804 748 811 817 845 863 885 837
PP 1,367 1,638 1,756 1,767 1,843 1,843 1,931 2,042 2,241 2,247 2,045
PS 331 306 325 313 310 315 319 328 335 347 329
EPS 38 32 37 38 44 50 48 48 73 88 59
ABS/SAN 170 144 148 169 165 181 208 189 246 218 203
PET 563 530 537 513 522 549 539 601 662 583 582
Nylon 42 57 58 61 63 62 69 71 62 35 61
PC 400 405 406 355 405 391 447 447 444 444 434
PMMA 12 12 11 12 12 12 12 12 12 13 12
POM 58 60 65 88 80 80 80 93 88 84 85
6,073 7,089 7,593 7,573 7,886 8,049 8,178 8,518 9,012 9,000 8,640
Total

Source: Petroleum Institute of Thailand Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC

Table 4-4 2010-2020e Thailand resin consumption Unit: KTons

Resin Production 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020e
LLDPE
LDPE/EVA 440 497 504 530 576 592 685 571 509 345 359
HDPE
PVC 209 214 216 287 227 208 259 380 363 358 343
PP
PS 618 680 720 720 706 793 828 805 767 786 800
EPS
ABS/SAN 503 462 524 468 515 551 615 447 515 521 516
PET
Nylon 1,136 1,127 1,266 1,229 1,237 1,227 1,343 1,431 1,362 1,240 1,330
PC
PMMA 193 185 191 211 252 203 239 329 160 173 221
POM
Other 47 46 55 53 45 49 47 12 71 90 51

Total 148 136 167 178 145 200 209 177 177 149 172

121 137 225 145 204 229 251 336 415 375 396

30 24 29 33 19 78 22 26 7 10 27

50 43 54 32 41 19 45 49 41 39 38

8 9 10 11 10 10 13 12 10 4 10

23 26 30 50 33 37 22 27 29 16 27

406 437 496 516 557 546 595 680 1,107 858 741

3,931 4,022 4,487 4,463 4,567 4,742 5,174 5,282 5,533 4,964 5,031

Source: Petroleum Institute of Thailand Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC

Table 4-5 2014-2025f Thailand major resin consumption per capita

Thailand Unit 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020e 2021f 2022f 2023f 2024f 2025f
Population Person 65,124,716 65,729,098 65,931,550 66,188,503 66,413,979 66,558,935 66,820,677 67,071,564 67,322,451 67,573,338 67,824,225 68,075,112
Total resin
consumption KTons 4,566 4,742 5,173 5,281 5,533 4,963 5,315 5,948 6,205 6,051 6,070 5,315
Major resin
consumption KTons 3,703 3,822 4,225 4,152 3,924 3,662 3,774 3,747 3,723.3 3,631 3,581 3,774
Major resin
consumption Kg. 56.9 58.2 64.1 62.7 59.1 55.0 60.9 56.3 55.7 55.1 53.5 52.6
per capita

Source: Petroleum Institute of Thailand, National Statistical Office of Thailand, Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC
Remark: Major resin are LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, PVC, PP, PS/EPS and ABS/SAN

80

Table 4-6 2010-2020e Top-10 countries of Thailand plastics resin import by value Unit: Million Baht

Top-10 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020e
Import Sources
Japan 30,192.2 30,737.7 30,506.1 31,794.5 27,241.1 24,786.1 26,271.4 25,876.7 27,922.5 25,089.0 24,210.9
China 8,747.1 11,196.6 14,988.5 14,488.9 17,496.7 19,798.8 21,346.9 25,424.7 29,207.3 23,646.9 22,819.3
U.S.A. 11,004.5 10,941.6 13,138.1 12,090.6 13,087.1 13,298.5 13,926.5 12,772.9 13,746.1 14,674.5 14,160.9
S. Korea 12,150.2 12,887.6 14,226.7 15,061.7 14,997.1 14,308.1 14,752.4 16,602.1 17,518.4 13,644.2 13,166.7
Singapore 13,453.1 13,307.8 12,904.7 13,322.7 14,421.9 15,362.5 13,419.6 13,410.8 12,622.4 10,999.5 10,614.5
Malaysia 8,791.4 10,410.5 11,392.7 10,120.1 10,707.0 10,124.6 10,751.8 10,737.2 12,109.1 10,864.5 10,484.2
Taiwan 6,918.6 8,978.6 16,060.8 8,333.5 8,681.8 8,732.2 9,350.1 8,239.1 8,147.3 7,095.1 6,846.8
Saudi Arabia 5,684.5 4,516.7 6,194.5 7,005.4 8,194.8 6,306.1 7,241.8 6,809.2 7,237.8 5,773.6 5,571.5
Germany 4,564.7 4,455.2 4,775.6 4,962.8 5,685.5 5,162.9 5,057.0 4,696.3 4,833.7 4,286.8 4,136.8
Indonesia
Other 964.8 1,268.7 1,611.8 1,255.5 1,504.9 1,388.7 1,220.5 1,578.8 2,919.8 2,202.1 2,125.0
14,276.0 15,256.3 17,976.7 15,246.1 15,695.2 15,877.0 15,064.2 16,634.0 17,956.0 16,616.4 16,034.8
Total 116,747.1 123,957.3 143,776.2 133,681.8 137,713.1 135,145.6 138,402.3 142,781.8 154,220.4 134,892.4 130,171.2

Source: Global Trade Atlas Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC
Remark: Calculated by H.S. Code 3901-3915

Table 4-7 2010-2020e Top-10 countries of Thailand plastics resin export by value Unit: Million Baht

Top-10 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020e
Export Destination

China 51,361.9 73,638.8 79,934.7 87,013.1 97,751.2 91,409.4 85,491.3 88,319.6 99,723.2 99,077.9 88,972.0

Japan 13,752.4 24,486.9 25,494.4 22,756.8 29,956.1 20,071.0 20,861.3 25,947.9 34,527.4 27,419.4 24,622.6

Vietnam 12,179.8 14,365.5 15,176.0 16,169.5 19,293.7 20,107.4 20,862.9 25,070.4 32,245.8 25,879.9 23,240.2

Indonesia 12,585.9 24,234.4 22,037.2 25,136.8 27,920.2 22,999.4 24,064.5 26,446.9 30,800.5 25,449.9 22,854.0

India 14,147.7 14,705.0 14,251.8 14,511.5 18,693.5 19,248.1 20,806.6 26,028.8 26,039.9 21,333.8 19,157.7

Malaysia 8,129.3 10,151.7 9,878.7 10,362.7 11,693.3 10,631.1 10,260.8 11,402.0 13,290.2 10,089.9 9,060.8

Philippines 5,961.4 5,526.5 5,878.6 6,584.3 11,073.5 7,602.9 8,516.9 8,311.6 9,126.9 7,937.2 7,127.6

Australia 8,254.0 9,929.0 10,434.5 12,714.3 12,131.4 10,677.8 8,989.2 10,737.6 11,167.3 7,746.7 6,956.5

U.S.A. 3,555.9 4,162.4 4,818.4 4,737.8 4,852.9 4,742.5 5,546.7 6,242.3 9,748.0 6,885.0 6,182.8

S. Korea 2,040.7 3,767.7 4,283.2 4,273.0 5,675.9 5,899.5 5,301.3 5,240.8 5,733.3 4,270.0 3,834.4

Other 68,357.0 80,413.6 71,399.7 66,531.4 72,098.1 64,945.8 59,450.4 58,924.1 57,777.7 47,828.1 42,949.6

Total 200,326.0 265,381.5 263,587.2 270,791.2 311,139.8 278,334.8 270,151.9 292,672.0 330,180.2 283,917.8 254,958.2

Source: Global Trade Atlas Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC
Remark: Calculated by H.S. Code 3901-3915

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 81

Chapter 5

Situations of Thailand’s
Plastics Product Industry

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82

Chapter 5

Situations of Thailand’s Plastics Product Industry
Based on the information from the survey of entrepreneurs related
to the supply chain of the plastics industry in 2020 (information of 2019) of
Plastics Intelligence Unit (PIU), it was found that in Thailand there were 2,030
plastic convertors or 87 percent of the plastic entrepreneurs nationwide (2,815
entrepreneurs). Based on the current statistics, Thai plastic convertors could
create value added from plastic resin in the conversion process with 3.6 times
the value of plastic resin entering the system. Moreover, Thai plastic convertors
were diversified in the conversion of plastic products to support various continuous
industries which was considered one strong point for Thailand as well.
In terms of trade, in 2019 Thailand’s plastics industry still faced
trade deficit of approximately 64,000 million baht. In the past, Thailand
had always assumed a role of net importer of plastic products. In 2019,
the import value of Thailand’s plastic products was 280,000 million baht
(down from the previous year 3.4%). The export value was approximately
216,000 million baht (down from the previous year 6.0%). Apart from the
trade deficit, export and import were down from 2018. The major factors
were as follows: The world economy started to slow down in 2019 as a
result of the trade war between US and China, the further evaluation of
the baht in 2019 dampening the growth of the export sector, the spread in
2020 of COVID-19 affecting the export sector as well. During the beginning
of the spread of the virus, the manufacturing sector had to rely mainly on
domestic market. The situation will put the pressure on the overall figures
of the production and sale of plastic products in 2020 as well.
5.1 Production of Thailand’s plastic products
As for Thailand’s plastic conversion in 2019 (information prepared
in 2020), it was found that the value of plastic conversion of the Thai
plastics industry was 746,431.5 million baht or down 4.0% from 2018. The

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 83

consumption of plastic resin for conversion was down similarly to the value
of 10.2%. The downstream industry in which the plastics industry created
the highest supporting conversion value remained plastic packaging industry
with the conversion value of over 179,640.2 million baht or 24.1% of the
total conversion value. The growth was down 4.4% from the previous year in
terms of value for electronic parts, construction materials, plastic parts in auto
industry, and medical devices. The conversion value of the four industries
accounted for 171,631.1 million baht (23.0% of the total conversion value
or down 7.2% from the previous year), 84,968.3 million baht (11.4% of the
total conversion value or down 11.5% from the previous year), 83,081.7
million baht (11.1% of the total conversion value or down 19.1% from the
previous year), and 54,165.1 million baht (7.2% of the total conversion value
or down 8.1% from the previous year) respectively. The growth of the five
downstream industries with the support of the plastic production all declined
from 2018. The slowdown of the global economy in 2018 put the pressure
on the consumption in all regions to remain stable but low.

Figure 5-1 Value of Thailand’s plastic conversion in 2019

Source: Plastics Intelligent Center, Plastics Institute of Thailand

84

Between 2014-2018, the value of Thailand’s plastic conversion
showed continuous growth. As mentioned earlier, in 2019, the value of
domestic plastic conversion decreased 4.0% from the slowdown of the
global economy. As a result, the average annual growth rate of the value
of plastic conversion between 2014-2019 increased 4.6% a year. However,
in 2020, the value of plastic conversion is still pressured by the declining
economy from the spread of COVID-19 and is expected to decrease 3.3%.
The value of net conversion is expected to be 721,798.8 million baht.
It is forecast that between 2021-2025, Thailand’s plastics industry
will recover. It is expected that the value of plastic conversion will increase
gradually at the average of 2.0% a year until it will return to the normal
base number in 2024 and continuous growth in 2025. As for the direction
of the domestic consumption of plastic resin between 2020-2023, it is
expected to rise due to the recovery of the plastics industry from the crisis
of COVID-19. When the economy and industry return to normalcy due
to the recovery and adaptation of entrepreneurs, the level of domestic
consumption of plastic resin tend to be stable or down slightly from the
trend of the reduced consumption of plastics and the environmental-
friendly production that will assume an important role again.

Figure 5-2 Value and volume of the consumption of plastic resin
for Thailand’s plastic conversion between 2014-2025f

Million Baht 900,000 7000.0 KTons
800,000 6000.0
700,000 5000.0
600,000 4000.0
500,000 3000.0
400,000 2000.0
300,000 1000.0
200,000 0.0
100,000

0

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020e 2021f 2022f 2023f 2024f 2025f
Resin consumption Conversion value

Source: Plastics Intelligent Center, Plastics Institute of Thailand

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 85

5.2 Import of Thailand’s plastic products
In the past, the import
value of Thai plastic products
experienced continuous
growth. The average import
value was 250,000 million
baht a year with the share
of import of plastic products
under the HS Codes 3916-
39261 and the HS Codes of
other plastic products2 at the
average ratio of 53: 47. The
import of the total plastic
products between 2014-
2019 grew at the average of 2.9% a year. In 2019, the import value of
plastic products was 280,058 million baht or down 3.4% from 2018. The
classification between plastic products under the HS Codes 3916-3926 and
plastic products under the other HS Codes between 2014-2019 revealed
that the plastic products under the HS Codes 3916-3926 experienced the
average growth of import value of 3.1% a year and plastic products under
the other HS Codes experienced the average growth of import value of
2.7% a year. In 2019, the import value of the plastic products of both groups
decreased 3.4% and 3.5% respectively from the previous year with import
value of 148,358.1 million baht and 131,699.9 million baht respectively.
It is forecast that in 2020, the overall import value of plastic products
will decrease 6.2% from the previous year. It is forecast that the import
value will be 262,745.7 million baht. It can be classified into plastic
products under the US Codes 3916-3926 valued 139,170.9 million baht

1HS Codes 3916-3926 are the HS Codes that specify that the products under the HS Codes are plastic products
2Other HS Codes are the products made from plastics but not specified in HS Codes 3916-3926 such as CD
wpliathstHicSs,CHoSdeCo8d5e2s3.44210.120.9.020.900,.e0y9e0g,leastcs.lenses made of plastics, HS Code 9001.50.00.000, outer bag made of

86

and plastic products under the other HS Codes valued 123,574.8 million
baht. Both groups declined 6.2% equally from 2019.
However, it is forecast that in 5 years in 2025, the import of
Thailand’s plastic products will increase due to the recovery of the
downstream industries in the same economic direction that is expected
to gradually recover as well. It is expected that between 2020-2025,
the import of Thailand’s plastic products will grow at the average of
1.7 percent a year. The net import value as per 2025 will be 285,486.1
million baht.

Figure 5-3 Import value of plastic products between 2014-2025f

Million Baht 350,000.0
300,000.0
250,000.0
200,000.0
150,000.0
100,000.0

50,000.0
-

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020e 2021f 2022f 2023f 2024f 2025f

Plastics product H.S. code 3916-3926 Plastics product Other H.S. code

Source: Thai Customs Department, data processed and analyzed by Plastics Intelligent Center, Plastics Institute of Thailand

As for the estimated import markets of plastic products in 2020,
Thailand imports plastic products mainly from China with the share of
29.3%, followed by Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea with
the import share of 14.9%, 14.4%, 12.5%, and 3.9% respectively. The
changes in the import markets in the past showed that in 2010 Thailand
increased the import of plastic products from China nearly two folds, from
the 2nd rank of importer in the past to 1st rank at present. On the contrary,
Japan used to be ranked 1st as Thailand’s importer of plastic products in
the past and is now ranked 3rd.

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 87

Figure 5-4 Comparison of import markets of Thailand’s plastic
products between 2010/2020e

Thailand plastics product Thailand plastics product
source of Import 2010 source of Import 2020e

2.0% 8.9% 17.8% 1.9% 10.5%
1.7% 32.4.0%% 29.3%
5.9% Total Import 14.2% 3.5%
2.3% 219,396.6 Total Import
3.7% 262,745.7
6.5% Million Baht Million Baht
3.9%
2.9%

15.9% 12.5% 14.9%

21.7% 14.4%

China Singapore Japan Malaysia
S. Korea U.S.A. Vietnam Taiwan
Germany Indonesia Other

Source: Thai Customs Department, data processed and analyzed by Plastics Intelligent Center, Plastics Institute of Thailand

The overall import of plastic products classified by the downstream
industries revealed that Thailand’s import value of electrical and electronic
parts was the highest among the plastic products at the average of 30
percent of the total import value, followed by plastic packaging with the
average import value of 20%, and plastic parts for auto industry with the
average import value of 15%.

The overall direction of the import of plastic products in various
industrial groups had decreased since 2018. It is expected that in 2020,
the import value of plastic products in all industrial groups will continue
to decline from 2019. It is forecast that the import value of the three main
industrial groups namely electrical and electronic part industry is expected
to decline 7.3% with the estimated net worth of 84,018.5 million baht,
plastic packaging industry is expected to decline 5.1% with the estimated
net worth of 59,944.5 million baht, and auto part industry is expected to
decline 5.0% with the estimated net worth of 39,387.4 million baht.

88

Million Baht Figure 5-5 Import value of plastic products according
to industrial groups between 2017-2020e

100,000
90,000
80,000
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0

Other
Agriculture
Filament (Non-Textile)
Recreation
Housewares
Safety & Security
Footwares
Medical Devices
Auto Part
Construction
E&E
Packaging

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020e

Source: Thai Customs Department, data processed and analyzed by Plastics Intelligent Center, Plastics Institute of Thailand

5.3 Export of Thailand’s plastic products
The export of Thailand’s plastic products has experienced growth
similarly to import. The average export value was approximately 220,000
million baht a year. On the average, Thailand’s plastic product industry
faced trade deficit of 30,000 million baht a year, for the export of plastic
products under the HS Codes
3916-3926 compared to the HS
Codes of other plastic products
with the export ratio of 57: 43. The
export of plastic products between
2014-2019 experienced the decline
in growth at the average of 0.1%
a year. In 2019, the export value
of plastic products was 216,317.7
million baht or down 8.6% from
2018. With classification of the

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 89

export of the plastic products under the HS Codes 3916-3926 and other HS
Codes between 2014-2019, it was found that export of plastic products under
the HS Codes 3916-3926 experienced the increased growth at the average
of 0.2% a year and the export of plastic products under the other HS Codes
experienced the decreased growth at the average of 0.5% a year. In 2019, the
export value of plastic products under both HS Codes experienced decline of
7.2% and 10.4% respectively from 2018 with the export value of 123,361.5
million baht and 92,956.2 million baht respectively.

It is forecast that in 2020, the overall export value of plastic products
will decline 2.7 percent from 2019. It is forecast that the total export value
will be 210,539.6 million baht which can be classified as export of plastic
products under the HS Codes 3916-3926 valued 119,907.4 million baht
or down 2.8% from 2019 and plastic products under the other HS Codes
valued 90,632.3 million baht or down 2.5% from 2019.

It is forecast that in 5 years (in 2025), the export of Thailand’s plastic
products will gradually increase in the same direction as the recovered
global economy and the demand. It is forecast that the export of Thailand’s
plastic products between 2020-2025 will experience the average growth of
2.2% a year and the total export value per 2025 at 234,849.4 million baht.

Figure 5-6 Export value of plastic products between 2014-2025f

Million Baht 250,000.0
200,000.0
150,000.0
100,000.0

50,000.0
-

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020e 2021f 2022f 2023f 2024f 2025f

Plastics product H.S. code 3916-3926 Plastics product Other H.S. code

Source: Thai Customs Department, data processed and analyzed by Plastics Intelligent Center, Plastics Institute of Thailand

90

As for the export markets of Thailand’s plastic products, it is estimated
that for the market share in 2020, Thailand will export to Japan which is
number one export market with the market share of 14.8%, followed by US
with the market share of 13.4%, and China with the market share of 6.1%.

The structure of export markets in terms of rankings from the past
(2010) to the forecast in the present (2020) revealed that the rankings of
the major export markets have not changed from the past. Only Vietnam
and Indonesia, ranked 3rd and 4th markets respectively, switch the rankings
between the past and the present. What is interesting to note is that the
export share of US grew 9.6% in 2010 to 13.4% in 2020 (estimated) and
the market shares of Japan and China, ranked 1st and 3rd respectively,
are still the same as in the past.

Figure 5-7 Comparison of export markets
of Thailand’s plastic products between 2010/2020e

Thailand plastics product Thailand plastics product
source of Export 2010 source of Export 2020e

14.9% 14.8%

42.3% Total Export 9.6% 37.5% Total Export 13.4%
172,888.1 6.0% 210,539.6 6.1%
Million Baht
Million Baht

5.4%

1.1% 4.1% 4.9% 5.6% 5.4%
3.0% 2.9% 4.0%5.2%
3.3%
3.2%3.7% 3.8%

Japan U.S.A. China Vietnam Indonesia Philippines
India Australia Malaysia Cambodia Other

Source: Thai Customs Department, data processed and analyzed by Plastics Intelligent Center, Plastics Institute of Thailand

The export of plastic products classified by the groups of downstream
industries revealed that in terms of the overall export value of plastic products,
Thailand exported the highest share of plastic packaging with the 5 year
average export value of over 67,000 million baht, followed by fiber with the

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 91

5 year average export value of over
36,000 million baht, and medical
devices with the 5 year average
export value of 35,000 million
baht. Plastic parts for auto industry
and plastic parts in electrical and
electronic appliances were ranked
4th and 5th respectively in terms of
export value.
The direction of export for the past five years (2016-2020) revealed
that between 2016-2018 the direction of export of most plastic products in
the downstream industries tended to grow. But some industries tended to
clearly decline such as plastic parts for electrical and electronic appliances.
This is partly because of China’s market intervention of electrical parts
which were Thailand’s main export products in major export markets
such as Japan, US, and Singapore. China’s production costs were lower
affecting Thailand’s continuous loss of export share in the products.
Apart from the growth in 2019, the direction of export of plastic
products in all industrial groups clearly declined due to the slowdown of
the world economy. As a result, the export of industrial goods as well as
plastics decreased. The spread of COVID-19 seriously affected the quarter
1/2020 suspending the export of many downstream industries. There is a

92

Million Bahttendency that the impact will stay with the Thai industry for a long time to
come. Therefore, it is forecast that the export of plastic products classified
by industrial groups in 2020 will continuously decline from 2019.

Figure 5-8 Export value of plastic products according
to industrial groups between 2017-2020e

80,000
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000

0

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020e

Source: Thai Customs Department, data processed and analyzed by Plastics Intelligent Center, Plastics Institute of Thailand
Other
Agriculture
Filament (Non-Textile)
Recreation
Housewares
Safety & Security
Footwares
Medical Devices
Auto Part
Construction
E&E
Packaging

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 93

Chapter 5: Thailand plastics product situation annex

Table 5-1 2014-2025f Thailand plastics product conversion value and resin consumption

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020e 2021f 2022f 2023f 2024f 2025f

Conversion MTHB 596,122.0 635,205.0 709,763.0 745,178.0 777,362.0 746,431.0 794,812.4 827,462.3 860,112.3 892,762.3 925,412.2 958,062.2
Value

Resin KTons 4,567.0 4,742.0 5,174.0 5,281.0 5,533.0 4,968.0 5,031.0 5,098.1 5,589.8 5,777.9 5,676.5 5,680.8
Consumption

Source: Petroleum Institute of Thailand Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC

Table 5-2 2014-2025f Thailand plastics product import value Unit: Million Baht

Plastics product 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020e 2021f 2022f 2023f 2024f 2025f
Import value

Plastics product in 127,343.7 134,766.4 44,557.0 147,303.6 53,524.6 48,358.1 39,170.9 140,005.9 42,946.0 146,519.7 149,450.1 152,289.6
H.S. Code 3916-3926

Plastics product in 115,012.3 116,372.6 124,555.0 125,901.4 136,540.4 131,699.9 123,574.8 124,563.4 126,381.9 128,024.8 130,841.4 133,196.5
Other H.S. Code

Total plastics 242,356.0 251,139.0 169,112.0 273,205.0 190,065.0 180,058.0 162,745.7 264,569.3 169,327.9 274,544.5 280,291.5 285,486.1
product import value

Source: Thai Custom Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC

Table 5-3 2014-2025f Thailand plastics product export value Unit: Million Baht

Plastics product 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020e 2021f 2022f 2023f 2024f 2025f
export value

Plastics product in 122,262.8 123,201.4 131,883.8 127,599.9 132,902.3 123,361.5 119,907.4 119,547.6 123,851.3 129,053.1 132,279.4 135,851.0
H.S. Code 3916-3926

Plastics product in 95,546.8 91,673.8 99.075.8 102,139.1 103,698.1 92,956.2 90,632.3 91,719.9 94,288.0 97,211.0 97,921.3 98,998.4
Other H.S. Code

Total plastics 217,809.6 214,875.2 131,883.8 229,739.0 236,600.4 216,317.7 210,539.7 211,267.5 218,139.3 226,264.1 230,200.7 234,849.4
product export value

Source: Thai Custom Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC

Table 5-4 2010-2020e Top-10 countries of Thailand plastics product import by value Unit: Million Baht

Top-10 Import Sources 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020e
China 39,121.7 42,911.3 44,374.0 46,548.0 54,975.7 62,916.5 69,466.7 73,627.9 80,487.9 82,070.0 76,996.4
Singapore 31,134.3 31,861.0 20,561.6 29,807.9 31,658.3 35,378.2 39,479.7 36,992.4 46,446.1 41,782.0 39,199.0
Japan 47,706.7 50,241.7 49,433.3 39,447.5 40,337.5 41,363.2 44,678.3 45,910.5 45,553.6 40,289.7 37,799.0
Malaysia 34,841.3 33,721.0 22,942.9 30,049.7 35,877.0 31,994.3 32,604.9 32,739.1 32,070.0 35,038.3 32,872.2
S. Korea 6,453.9 6,935.2 9,044.0 9,063.8 10,230.9 10,826.4 11,367.6 12,460.7 11,694.4 11,061.0 10,377.2
U.S.A. 14,217.2 10,317.1 11,875.1 9,962.5 11,287.2 11,435.4 11,215.4 11,085.5 10,401.1 10,285.8 9,649.9
Vietnam 5,131.0 5,865.1 5,977.1 6,950.8 8,675.6 8,168.3 8,019.7 8,388.5 8,967.4 9,758.0 9,154.8
Taiwan 12,985.1 12,941.7 11,187.6 10,328.4 10,766.7 10,822.1 10,721.3 10,919.5 10,914.5 9,387.2 8,806.9
Germany 3,806.3 4,077.3 4,432.4 4,741.6 5,025.9 4,935.9 5,623.1 5,996.6 6,317.2 5,692.4 5,340.5
Indonesia 4,365.1 4,952.4 5,599.8 5,671.3 6,121.9 5,805.8 5,632.0 5,701.8 5,825.9 5,272.0 4,946.1
Other 19,634.0 21,492.2 26,530.7 25,972.2 27,399.1 27,493.4 30,304.2 29,383.1 31,387.4 29,422.4 27,603.5
219,396.6 225,316.0 211,958.5 218,543.7 242,355.8 251,139.6 269,112.9 273,205.7 290,065.6 280,058.9 262,745.7
Total

Source: Global Trade Atlas Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC
Remark: Calculated by H.S. Code 3916-3926 + Plastics product in other H.S. code

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Table 5-5 2010-2020e Top-10 countries of Thailand plastics product export by value Unit: Million Baht

Top-10 Export Sources 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020e
Japan 25,770.4 29,620.0 28,170.3 29,346.8 31,244.1 29,901.9 33,422.4 32,734.8 34,204.5 32,024.7 31,169.3
U.S.A. 16,511.1 16,607.7 17,496.5 18,646.0 20,149.0 21,672.8 23,425.7 24,651.5 28,162.6 28,906.8 28,134.7
China 10,370.6 10,830.3 10,008.7 11,021.7 12,348.8 12,180.2 13,276.7 13,769.7 14,838.7 13,180.0 12,827.9
Vietnam 9,367.5 10,469.4 10,178.6 10,420.5 11,090.8 10,452.0 11,130.1 11,242.9 12,013.2 11,591.7 11,282.1
Indonesia 9,651.8 10,307.1 10,853.5 12,962.0 13,885.6 12,783.2 12,731.6 12,686.8 12,962.4 11,182.6 10,883.9
Philippines 5,179.0 4,490.7 5,485.9 5,627.7 7,528.9 6,154.8 7,437.7 7,749.2 8,656.2 8,587.7 8,358.3
India 5,657.3 6,698.4 6,651.8 7,506.2 7,821.4 7,417.1 7,445.9 7,891.7 8,930.8 8,248.3 8,028.0
Australia 8,399.4 8,710.3 9,555.5 9,868.7 11,124.2 11,656.5 11,460.9 10,628.6 9,430.0 8,064.9 7,849.5
Malaysia 7,032.2 8,040.0 9,609.0 9,016.7 9,715.5 9,594.5 9,586.0 8,220.4 8,357.4 7,010.7 6,823.4
Cambodia 1,876.6 1,957.2 2,909.0 3,765.3 5,165.4 5,925.2 6,027.3 6,309.6 6,839.5 6,352.3 6,182.6
Other 73,072.2 77,529.5 71,713.3 77,667.7 87,736.0 87,137.0 95,015.3 93,854.0 92,205.2 81,168.1 79,000.0
172,888.1 185,260.6 182,632.1 195,849.3 217,809.7 214,875.2 230,959.7 229,739.1 236,600.4 216,317.7 210,539.6
Total

Source: Global Trade Atlas Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC
Remark: Calculated by H.S. Code 3916-3926 + Plastics product in other H.S. code

Table 5-6 2017-2020e Top-10 countries of Thailand plastics product import-export by value Unit: Million Baht

Industries sectors 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020e
Import Export Import Export Import Export Import Export Import Export
Packaging 62,140.5 70,946.3 63,016.6 66,880.7 65,972.7 69,951.9 63,188.9 65,301.7 59,944.5 64,695.5
E&E 87,714.9 26,618.7 84,460.8 24,746.0 92,660.9 21,549.3 90,591.2 19,985.1 84,018.5 19,507.4
Construction 15,226.7 11,457.4 16,395.9 8,973.2 17,589.3 9,572.7 17,496.2 9,382.4 15,825.5 9,063.7
Auto Part 41,017.4 24,534.7 41,956.1 25,094.5 42,869.0 26,966.9 41,476.6 23,755.5 39,387.4 23,087.9
Medical Devices 15,969.7 35,562.6 17,068.9 35,912.5 17,544.7 37,598.4 15,599.0 33,749.6 15,553.7 32,861.6
Footwears 1,624.4 834.1 981.5 362.0 1,196.2 402.3 914.9 690.7 1,087.9 529.4
Safety & Security 414.0 973.8 486.0 1,057.2 570.3 847.0 530.1 847.0 478.3 857.3
Housewares 6,601.2 10,887.7 5,988.5 11,209.6 6,503.0 11,130.6 6,894.4 11,645.8 6,146.0 10,344.8
Recreation 5,500.1 2,310.3 7,023.8 3,166.7 7,635.6 3,314.4 7,274.1 3,079.1 6,545.2 2,735.7
Filament (Non-Textile) 21,114.9 34,559.7 22,012.3 37,729.0 23,029.0 41,109.3 20,880.5 34,609.8 20,484.1 34,042.1
Agriculture 1,100.4 4,939.5 1,424.7 4,717.9 1,531.8 4,365.7 1,612.3 4,230.4 1,358.5 4,200.4
Other 11,197.0 8,952.2 12,390.7 9,894.4 12,962.5 9,525.5 13,600.2 9,040.2 11,915.9 8,614.0
269,621.2 232,577.0 273,205.8 229,743.7 290,065.0 236,334.0 280,058.4 216,317.3 262,745.7 210,539.6
Total

Source: Global Trade Atlas Modified by Plastics Intelligent Center: PIC
Remark: Calculated by H.S. Code 3916-3926 + Plastics product in other H.S. code

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 95

Chapter 6

Special Issue: Global-Thailand
Bioplastics Market Watch 2020-2025

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96

Chapter 6

Special Issue: Global-Thailand
Bioplastics Market Watch 2020-2025
Due to the trend of environmental conservation around the world,
entrepreneurs in the industrial sector worldwide, as well as general
consumers start to adapt themselves in business operation and in
livelihood, taken into account more environmental conservation than in the
past. The plastics industry has also adapted itself to seek the guideline for
production and development of environmental-friendly products leading
to ‘Bioplastics’. Bioplastics have assumed an increasing role as they are
alternative products for the environment. They are bio compostable. They
can make use of agricultural products or Biomass which are renewable and
are used as main raw materials to produce bio plastic resin, contributing
to the value creation of agricultural products. Consequently, bioplastics
have become the innovation that truly responds to the concept of Green
Economy. Up till now, many countries worldwide have been greatly
interested in the production and development of bioplastics and driven
the policy to promote the use and the research to improve the properties
of biopolymer, widely expanding the supply chain of bioplastics industry.
Generally, bioplastics can be divided into two types as follows:
• Compostable or biodegradable plastics are plastics produced from raw
materials from plants or some petrochemicals such as Polylactic Acid
(PLA), Polybutylene Succinate (PBS), and Starch blend, etc.
• Non-compostable plastics are plastics produced from raw materials
from plants but have the same properties as general plastics that are
not biodegradable such as Bio-PP, Bio-PE, Bio-PET, etc.
Generally, bioplastics can be produced into many products that
are used in daily lives such as packaging, plastic glasses, food plastic
utensil, household appliances, etc.

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 97

6.1 Global bioplastics industry situation

6.1.1 Situations of the global production of bioplastic resin
According to the global production of bioplastics by European
Bioplastics, in 2019, the total production of bioplastic resin was
appropriately 2.11 million tons, or up appropriately 100,000 tons from
2018. It is forecast that the trend and direction of the production will be
continuously on the rise between 2019 - 2025 with the annual average
growth rate (AAGR) of 2.54 percent, reflecting the increased demand
of bioplastic markets. Many countries in the world especially in Europe
have replaced plastic products from petroleum with bioplastics, especially
single-use plastics to reduce plastic waste that is not biodegradable in
the environment.

Figure 6-1 Global production of bioplastic resin between 2018-2025f

3,000 +5.12% 2,114 +2.54% 2,458
2,500 AAGR
2,000 2,011 2025f
1,500 2022f
In 1,000 tons 1,000

500 2018 2019 2020e 2021f 2023f 2024f
0

Bio-based/non-biodegradable Biodegradable Forecast Total capacity

Source: European Bioplastics, Nova Institute (2019) modified by PITH

The comparison of the shares of production of biodegradable
bioplastic resin and bio-based/non-biodegradable plastic resin revealed
that the production shares were quite similar. In 2019, the shares of
production of biodegradable and bio-based bioplastic resin constituted
56.5 percent and 44.5 percent respectively, which was similar to 2018. It

98

signified that the two types of bioplastic resin were widely and equally used
in the manufacturing sector. However, some properties of biodegradable
bioplastic resin were limited to the applications of some forms only.
Consequently, markets still use bio-based bioplastic resin for processing
into plastic products. It is forecast that the production of the two types
of bioplastic resin in 2025 will continue to have similar shares.

Figure 6-2 Shares of the global production of bio-based and biodegradable
bioplastic resin between 2019 and 2025f

Bio-based Production Biodegradable Bio-based Production
44% Total 2019 56% 45% Total 2025f

2.11 2.46 Biodegradable
55%
Million Tons Million Tons

Source: European Bioplastics, Nova Institute (2019) modified by PITH

Based on the global production of bioplastic resin in 2019, the
shares of the production of the two types of bioplastic resin that were sold
in markets divided by the types of biopolymer revealed that bio-based
bioplastic resin held the total production share of approximately 1.17
million tons with Bio-PE and Bio-PA as the top two bioplastic resin with
the highest production share. It is forecast that the production of the two
types of plastic resin overall will increase to 1.34 million tons in 2025 or
the annual average growth rate of 2.24 percent.
As for the biodegradable bioplastic resin, the production tended to
increase as well. In 2019, the total production of biodegradable bioplastic
resin was 941,000 tons. It is forecast that in 2025, the production of
biodegradable bioplastic resin will increase to 1.12 million tons or the annual
average growth rate of 2.90 percent. The growth of the production of plastic

THAILAND PLASTICS FACTS & FIGURES 2020 AND ITS NEXT 5 YEARS 99

resin comes partly from the increased market demand. At present, countries
around the world promote eco- friendly industry. As the industrial sector must
seek new alternative materials for production of products, biodegradable
bioplastics have become alternative materials with a more increasing role.

Figure 6-3 Shares of the global production of bio-based and biodegradable
bioplastic resin in 2019 divided by types of polymer

Other 1.1% 13.4% PBAT
(bio-based/ 4.3% PBS
Non-biodegradable) 13.9% PLA

PE 11.8% 1.2% PHA

PET 9.8% Total

PA 11.6% 2.11

PP 0.9% Million Tons 21.3% PHA

PEF* 0.0% 1.4% Other
PTT 9.2% (biodegradable)

Bio-based/non-biodegradable Biodegradable

PEF* is currently in development and predicted to be available in commercial scale in 2023.

Source: European Bioplastics, Nova Institute (2019) modified by PITH

According to the forecast of production divided by the two groups of
biopolymer, the bio-based polymer forecast for high growth is Bio-PP, mostly
used in the production of plastic packaging. Moreover, the bio-based polymer
that has been newly developed is Polyethylene Furanoate (PEF) with many
outstanding properties, especially good prevention of gas permeability. The
biopolymer is therefore suitable for the production of plastic packaging. At
present, it is in the process of research and development to improve the
properties and is expected to be on sale in the market around 2023.

Based on the forecast of the trend of the production of biodegradable
bioplastics, it is found that production tends to increase as well. The type
of biopolymer in the group with the highest growth is Polyhydroxy alkanoate

100