Polystyrene and EPS: Production
A mature market led by China
What this tab covers Who makes it and how much: world capacity and output, utilisation, the top producing countries and companies globally and in India, concentration, new capacity coming, and each region's position.| Measure | Figure | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| World capacity | about 20-22 Mt/yr of PS and EPS (indicative), including about 10.6 Mt of EPS (2021) | GlobalData via Offshore Technology (EPS); total indicative | |
| World output | about 15 Mt (2024, indicative) | styrene tile (indicative) | |
| Capacity utilisation | about 65-75% (indicative) | Styrene-chain operating rates near 65-71% were projected by ICIS for 2019-2025 (styrene tile); PS demand is flat in mature markets. | styrene tile; indicative |
| Concentration | top country (China) about 40% (indicative); INEOS Styrolution is the largest single producer (indicative) | GPPS and HIPS are concentrated among a few multinationals and Asian majors; EPS is more fragmented, with many Chinese bead makers. | indicative |
| New capacity | little new capacity: EPS capacity was forecast to rise only from 10.59 Mt (2021) to 10.83 Mt (2026) | About three EPS projects, led by Iran (Dalahoo Assaluyeh, Petro Ramsheh, about 0.17 Mt by 2026) and India (Supreme Petrochem Nagothane EPS Plant 2, about 0.03 Mt). European styrene and PS plants have been closing (styrene tile). | GlobalData via Offshore Technology; styrene tile |
Top producing countries
China 40% · largest producer and consumer, many EPS producers (indicative) South Korea 7% · exporter (indicative) Taiwan 6% · Chi Mei and others (indicative) United States 6% · indicative Europe 12% · INEOS Styrolution, TotalEnergies, Synthos, BASF (indicative) Iran 2% · two EPS projects adding about 0.17 Mt by 2026 (GlobalData) indicative; GlobalData via Offshore TechnologyLargest producers: global
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INEOS Styrolution largest styrenics producer (indicative); has Indian operations | Germany/UK | not published | 2025 | company disclosures |
| TotalEnergies PS in Europe and US (indicative) | France | not published | 2025 | company disclosures |
| Synthos major European EPS producer (indicative) | Poland | not published | 2025 | company disclosures |
| BASF Styropor and graphite Neopor EPS (indicative) | Germany | not published | 2025 | company disclosures |
| Chi Mei Corporation large PS and ABS producer (indicative) | Taiwan | not published | 2025 | company disclosures |
| Kumho Petrochemical indicative | South Korea | not published | 2025 | company disclosures |
Largest producers: India
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supreme Petrochem largest Indian PS and EPS maker; among the top three globally for planned EPS additions (Nagothane EPS Plant 2, about 0.03 Mt/yr) | India | not published | 2025 | GlobalData via Offshore Technology |
| INEOS Styrolution India PS and ABS buyer of imported styrene (styrene tile) | India | not published | 2025 | styrene tile |
| LG Polymers India Visakhapatnam plant where a styrene vapour leak in May 2020 killed at least 12 people; operations halted (indicative) | India | not published | 2020 | indicative |
India has no styrene monomer producer and imports all its styrene, mainly from the Middle East and Asia (styrene tile). PS and EPS are made by Supreme Petrochem and INEOS Styrolution India; national PS demand is not published here.
Position by region
| Region | Position |
|---|---|
| US | Mature market; state bans on EPS foodware reduce packaging demand (indicative). |
| EU | EPS food and drink containers banned under the Single-Use Plastics Directive from 2021; insulation demand supported by renovation rules; naphtha-based styrene closures. |
| India | Fully dependent on imported styrene; PS demand tied to appliances, packaging and cold chain; single-use bans hit thermocol items. |
| China | Largest producer and consumer; overcapacity in styrene drove anti-dumping duties on US, Korean and Taiwanese styrene (styrene tile). |
| Japan | Mature, shrinking; high EPS recycling of fish boxes reported (indicative). |
| Middle East | Exports styrene to India; new EPS capacity in Iran. |