US plastic sheet market to reach 3.5 mln tons in 2011

Demand for plastic sheet in the US is projected to grow annually by almost 3%, reaching 3.5 mln tons in 2011 with a resin value of US$7.2 bln, as per a report by Freedonia. Resins will account for 39% of the final product costs of US$18.5 bln, while sheet prices are projected to remain stable up to 2011. Growth will be driven by the food packaging and pharmaceutical sectors with polystyrene the leading resin and gains expected for polypropylene and polyester.