Polymer additives play a crucial role in achieving optimum potential of plastics even though they constitute about six percentage of plastics (or eight million tonnes compared to 140 million tonnes of plastics in 1999). PVC that accounts for 25 million tonnes is a major consumer of additives. More than 70% or about six million tonnes of additives are used by PVC alone. The regional distribution of additives consumption is shifting towards Asia. Infact, the consumption in Asia is expected to grow faster than other regions. Additives are involved in some of the present environmental issues. Some of the burning issues that require to the resolved in the next few years are:

	Reduction and elimination of heavy metals.
	Reduction of halogen containing flame retardants and other additives.
	Environmental issues of PVC plasticizer.
	Increased recycling of plastics products demanding enhanced additive performance.

The overall growth of additives is likely to be about four percentage - almost marginally lower than the overall growth of plastics in next five years. PVC additives, particularly plasticizers are likely to show only about two - three percentage growth because of increased shift to rigid PVC market as well as the maturity of PVC applications. Some of the additives like nucleating agents, clarifying agents, etc are poised to grow fastest due to increased demand of rigidity-impact balance, clarity and faster productivity to achieve better cost benefits.