Biomaterial Industry in China

July, 19, 2016, Mumbai, India: Market Reports on China presents the report, on “Biomaterial Industry in China”. Biodegradable plastics are the major biomaterials that have been put into industrial production.

Biomaterial industry is growing rapidly in China. Biodegradable plastics are the major biomaterials that have been put into industrial production. As of 2015, there were mainly six types of biodegradable plastics being produced in China, namely polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), starch-based materials, polypropylene carbonate (PPC) and polycaprolactone (PCL). As for other bio materials, only bio-polyamide (bio-PA) and bio-polytrimethylene terephthalate (bio-PTT) have been put into industrial production.

In 2015, the Chinese capacity and output of these biodegradable plastics reached about 678,710 t/a and 170,960 tonnes, respectively. 

Currently, in China, some downstream applications of biodegradable plastics are developing rapidly. Particularly, biodegradable agricultural film and 3D printing are two major downstream applications of biodegradable plastics that Kcomber thinks highly of. 

- In 2015, the total domestic output of agricultural film was 2.3 million tonnes, with an average annual growth rate of about 12% between 2011 and 2015. At present, more than 90% of the agricultural film in China is non-degradable agricultural film with PE as a major raw material. Supposing bio-based agricultural film will gradually replace traditional agricultural film, biomaterials will embrace a great opportunity for development.

- From 2012 to 2015, the domestic market value of 3D printing grew with a CAGR of nearly 100%, reaching USD1.2 billion (RMB7.8 billion). This has brought a great demand for PLA, the major raw material of 3D printing. 

It is predicted that, between 2016 and 2020, the domestic demand for biodegradable plastics from agricultural film and 3D printing industries will increase with a CAGR...