Malaysia Plastics Industries, which includes manufacturer, distributor, supplier and exporter

The plastics and plastic products industry is one of the most dynamic and vibrant growth sectors within the Malaysian manufacturing sector.

The Malaysian plastics industry has developed into a highly diversified sector producing an array of products including automotive components, electrical and electronic parts, components for the telecommunications industry, construction materials, household goods, acrylic sheets, bags, bathroom accessories, battery casings, bottles, containers, toys, games and packaging materials.

Plastics in Primary Forms
Malaysia produces more than 60% of the resins used for the manufacture of plastics. Malaysia’s exports of plastics in primary forms make up 51.5% of plastics exports in 2003. China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and Indonesia are the major consumers of Malaysian plastics in primary forms which include:

The abundant supply of nearly 2 million metric tonnes per annum of locally produced resins has contributed to the increase in value added finished products such as packaging materials, storage containers, auto parts, computer components, advanced polymer composites, engineering plastics, bottles, footwear, toys, thermal and acoustic insulators.

PVC compounds and thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) are widely used as materials for items such as cables and wires, hoses, tubes and automotive and motorcycle parts. In addition, PVC, PE, and PP are integral in manufacturing plastic engineering parts such as rods, sheets, pipes, fittings and valves.

Other derivatives of ethylene such as ethylene glycol, terephthalic acid, dimethyl terephthalate, and acrylonitrile are the raw materials used in the production of polyester, nylon, acrylic and other fibers and threads.

Etilinas is a notable trade name for polyethylene (PE) resins originating from Malaysia.

Plastics in Non-Primary Forms
The bulk of Malaysia’s exports of plastic products is plastics in non-primary forms. Major export items are plates, sheets, films, coils, strips and pipes. Malaysia is also one of the world’s leading suppliers of plastic bags, films and other flexible packaging materials to Europe, Japan and Australia.

Films and sheets
Malaysia produces Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) film grades that are ideal as general purpose and heavy duty films. It also exports High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) film grades for the production of carrier bags and thin film applications such as shrinkable polyethylene films and bags.

Pipes
Polyethylene piping compound systems are manufactured for export as they offer significant advantages over ‘traditional’ iron, steel and cement systems. Significantly, polyethylene compound remains free from corrosion in all ground conditions. Being fusion welded, this system also significantly reduces leakage as a result of joint distortion. High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) black compounds are suitable for potable water, sewage and industrial applications, HDPE natural for ducting, while Medium Density Polyethylene (MDPE) yellow compounds are ideal for gas distribution.

Wires and Cables
Malaysia also manufactures Polyethylene and PVC wire and cable compounds for export. These are used in the telecommunications and power industries due to their excellent properties for cable insulation and jacketing.

Other Products
Major exports in the plastics industry include:

A wide range of plastic products such as bottles, disposable tubs, syringes, industrial containers, household wares, and crates are marketed under home-grown brands. As world class exporters of plastics and plastic products, Malaysian companies are also involved in contract manufacturing and supply of plastic parts and components to reputable multinational companies operating in Malaysia including Motorola, Intel, Matsushita and Sony. In addition, local companies supply plastic parts and packaging materials to international companies such as ICI, British Paints, Selleys and General Electric.

Developments
Plastics will be used widely in the production of higher value-added electronics and electrical products such as digital cameras, computers, telecommunication equipment and televisions. Packaging will see new technological development such as the use of metallocene PP and PE as well as multi-layer barrier films. PET packaging is charting new growth milestones in the rigid plastic packaging segment. Forecasts predict an increased use of plastics to replace metal parts in car production.

Trends driving the use of plastics in the automotive industry include cost and weight reduction, production efficiency, better structural functions, noise reduction and aesthetics. Plastics will also be used to create advanced composites for the aerospace, aviation and military industries. Advanced polymer composites and engineering plastics will be deployed in aircraft owing to plastics’ excellent qualities such as stiffness, dimensional stability and comparatively lighter weight vis-à-vis other materials.

Standards