3. Production and consumption

Total worldwide PC capacity was estimated at 4.7 million tonnes in 2012.

PC is polymerized worldwide by a relatively limited number of producers, two of which are dominant: Bayer and Sabic, formerly General Electric (table 1 ).

Somewhat further back, several Japanese companies supply markets in Asia, either independently or in association with the world's major producers. Japanese producers Idemitsu, Teijin, Mitsubishi Gas, Styron and Kasei supply Asian markets.

Styron, part of Dow Chemical, became independent in 2010. Also in 2010, DSM, one of Europe's PC pioneers, swapped its Xantar PC with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, in exchange for the polyamide Novamid.

PC production capacity (table