WPC in China

Encouraging data and forecasts were issued by the Wood-Plastic Composites Committee (a division of the Chinese association of plastics processors) at the sixth International Forum on wood-plastic composites (WPCs), held in Ningbo (China) on November 3 and 4, even though some sector operators were left rather perplexed.
Indeed, production of WPCs in China reached 680 thousand tons in 2011 - with a nominal capacity that could even touch 1.2 million tons - but some companies still have fears, linked mainly to the likely continuation of both the stagnation in exports and the uncertainty on the domestic market. The above result is determined by fierce competition and, even though bolstered by government incentives, seemingly influenced, for the moment at least, above all by a general quest to find environmentally sustainable solutions. As far as state intervention is concerned, there has been something of a slowdown in the construction sector; on the other hand, there has been hefty investment in the reconstruction of the province of Sichuan, hit by an earthquake in 2008, involving the use of at least 50 thousand tons of wood-plastic composites.
China is currently the world's second leading manufacturer of WPCs, after the USA, producing around 20% of the total; 45% of its production is comprised of  PVC-based composites while products based on PE, PP, ABS and other plastic materials make up the other 55%.