On August 14, 2023, the Ministry of Commerce of China issued an announcement on the preliminary ruling on the anti-dumping investigation on imports of polycarbonate originating in Taiwan. According to the announcement, the investigation agency preliminarily determined that there was dumping of the product under investigation, the mainland polycarbonate industry was substantially damaged, and there was a causal relationship between the dumping and the substantial damage.

What kind of chemical product is polycarbonate?

Definition:
Polycarbonate (PC) is an important engineering plastic with excellent transparency, high strength, and heat resistance. It is formed by the condensation reaction of carbonate groups to form a high molecular weight polymer, and it has good mechanical properties and chemical stability.

Uses:
Polycarbonate has a wide range of applications in various fields. Firstly, it is widely used in the construction industry as a transparent and durable material for manufacturing daylighting panels, insulation panels, and safety glass. Secondly, polycarbonate is extensively used in electronic and electrical products, such as fiber optic cables, electronic device enclosures, and display panels. In addition, polycarbonate is also used in automotive parts, medical devices, eyeglass lenses, and sports equipment.

Industry Status:
According to the report from HJResearch, the global polycarbonate industry reached a market size of 22.933 billion US dollars in 2022, with an expected compound annual growth rate of 3.55%. Major manufacturers include Bayer, Palram, Onduline, SABIC, Twinfix, and Gallina.

Driving Factors:
The growth of the polycarbonate market is driven by several factors. Firstly, the development of the construction industry has led to an increase in demand for polycarbonate. With the increasing requirements for daylighting, insulation, and safety performance, polycarbonate materials are being widely used in the construction field. Secondly, the popularity and upgrading of electronic products have also promoted the demand for polycarbonate. The characteristics of polycarbonate, such as transparency, impact resistance, and high temperature resistance, are suitable for the requirements of electronic devices. Additionally, the rapid development of the automotive industry has provided new market opportunities for polycarbonate.

Challenges:
However, the polycarbonate industry also faces some challenges. Firstly, fluctuations in raw material prices may affect manufacturing costs and product pricing. Secondly, environmental and sustainability issues have become a focus of the polycarbonate industry. With the increasing awareness of environmental protection, there is a growing demand for degradable and recyclable materials, which may create competitive pressure on traditional polycarbonate products.

Industry Outlook:
Despite facing some challenges, the polycarbonate industry has a promising outlook. With continuous technological advancements and emerging new application areas, the demand for polycarbonate is expected to continue to grow. Especially in the construction, electronic, and automotive industries, polycarbonate will continue to demonstrate its excellent performance and provide innovative solutions for these fields. Furthermore, with the popularization of sustainable development concepts, the polycarbonate industry is expected to respond to market demand changes by researching, developing, and producing more environmentally friendly and sustainable products.

In summary, polycarbonate, as an important engineering plastic, has a wide range of applications in the construction, electronic, and automotive industries. Despite facing some challenges such as fluctuations in raw material prices and environmental issues, the polycarbonate industry will continue to maintain stable growth and has good development prospects, driven by increasing market demand and technological advancements.