Recent data from Germany's Verband der Kunststofferzeugenden Industrie (VKE) levy year 2000 global polymer consumption at 180 million metric tons.

Recent data from Germany's Verband der Kunststofferzeugenden Industrie (VKE) levy year 2000 global polymer consumption at 180 million metric tons, including thermoplastics, thermoset plastics, gelatines lacquers, paints, dispersions, and fibers. It's estimated this number includes 150 million tons of plastics. Engineering thermoplastics (ETP) and high performance plastics (HPP) account for 61 million tons, or 4% of the previous figure. Whereas standard plastics of the like kind as PE, PP, PVC, and P grew at average annual rates of more than 15% during the 1950 and 1960