Asia is set to lead global polypropylene capacity additions through 2030, with a wave of new and expanded projects driven by accelerating industrialisation, rising middle‑class consumption, and expanding urbanisation across the region’s key economies.
Polypropylene, a versatile polymer used across automotive, packaging, and construction sectors, continues to see surging demand in Asia.
Between 2025 and 2030, the region is expected to add approximately 40.43 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of new polypropylene capacity across 57 planned and 22 announced projects.
Data from GlobalData highlights China and India as the central players in this expansion, with planned additions of 21.87 mtpa and 13.50 mtpa, respectively.
In India, one of the most significant developments will come from Reliance Industries, which continues to cement its leadership in petrochemicals.
The company’s Jamnagar Polypropylene Plant 3, located in Gujarat, will contribute the highest capacity addition in the region at 5.20 mtpa.
Scheduled to commence operations in 2030, the facility will be operated by Reliance O2C Ltd, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd, which holds full ownership of the project.
This major investment underscores India’s growing role in meeting regional polymer demand as the nation expands its downstream manufacturing base.
China remains another major driver of capacity growth, with Fujian Yongrong New Materials Company advancing several large-scale polypropylene facilities in Fujian province.
Its upcoming Putian Polypropylene Plant 2 is set to add 1.10 mtpa of capacity by 2029, marking the largest single addition within China during the forecast period.
Operated by Fujian Eversun New Material Co Ltd, the project complements two other polypropylene plants — Plant 1 and Plant 3 — expected to begin operations in 2026 and 2028, with capacities of 0.90 mtpa and 0.30 mtpa, respectively.
Together, these facilities underscore China’s continued emphasis on bolstering its domestic petrochemicals supply to support robust manufacturing and consumer goods growth.
Elsewhere in Southeast Asia, Indonesia and Brunei are also stepping up polypropylene production capacity.
The PT Pertamina Rosneft Processing and Petrochemicals Tuban project in Indonesia is set to add 1.16 mtpa of capacity, while the Hengyi Industries’ Pulau Muara Besar plant in Brunei will contribute a further 1 mtpa.
Both plants are scheduled to come onstream in 2029 and are expected to strengthen domestic feedstock utilisation and regional trade resilience in polymer markets.
The expansion wave across Asia comes amid a period of transformation in global petrochemicals, where producers are balancing demand growth with environmental performance and supply competitiveness.
Rapid industrialisation, population growth, and expanding consumption patterns across Asia’s key economies continue to underpin polypropylene’s market importance, particularly as industries increasingly substitute materials for lightweight, durable, and recyclable alternatives.
According to GlobalData’s report, Polypropylene Industry Capacity and Capital Expenditure Forecasts with Details of Active and Planned Plants to 2030, the region’s large capital investments reaffirm Asia’s dominant position in global polypropylene supply.
With China and India accounting for over three‑quarters of the planned capacity additions, Asia’s strategic momentum is set to shape the future of global petrochemical expansion well into the next decade.
