United States Plastic-to-fuel Market Outlook (2023 to 2033)

With US$ 1,296.6 million in the current year 2023, the United States plastic-to-fuel industry is anticipated to reach a worth of around US$ 1,926.9 million by the end of the year 2033. During this projection period, the market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of roughly 4.5%.

The global demand for alternative energy technology owing to dwindling natural resources, and the rising United States of plastic are among the leading factors of the market growth. The need for composting plastic technology that decreases landfill trash and turns this waste into combustible fuel that complies with environmental regulations is driven by the rise in the production of waste plastic.

Abundant raw material availability paired with their low cost, more often free of any cost, is drawing more participants in this industry. This is because pre-processing has expenses associated with it, and low pre-processing costs are necessary to maximize the profit margin incurred through the use of plastic-to-gasoline machines.

Don't pay for what you don't need

Customize your report by selecting specific countries or regions and save 30%!

What is the Future of the United States Plastic-to-fuel Industry?

Growing plastic trash on the land as a result of the nation's increased plastic output has created a massive United States plastic-to-fuel industry opportunity in contemporary times. Roughly more than 14 million tonnes of plastic were used in containers and packaged products as per the numbers based on the United States Environmental Protection Agency back in the year 2017.

In a bid to help the environment enthusiasts, gamers are being encouraged to recycle plastic as the amount of plastic trash in landfills increases which is anticipated to have fuelled the United States plastic-to-fuel market key trends and opportunities.

What are the Key Challenges Experienced by the United States Plastic-to-fuel Market Players?

Pre-processing of discarded plastic is very essential in some operations, adding up a substantial cost to the whole process and limiting the profit margin for the market players. For instance, the American Chemistry Council predicts that the capital cost of a single plastic-to-diesel machine ranges from US$ 10 Million to US$ 18 Million.

Although industry participants are working on methods to minimize pre-processing of plastic fossils, these requirements still limit the participant’s capability from realizing their full potential. Nevertheless, complexities associated with the conversion technology, in addition to high initial setup expenses for a plastic-to-fuel conversion facility, are experienced as the key obstacles to market growth.

By the year 2026, it is predicted by the market statistics that liquid fuel will hold more than 80% of the market for plastic-to-fuel. One tonne of plastic trash is paralyzed to produce more than 100 gallons of gasoline.

Attributes Details
United States Plastic-to-fuel Market CAGR (2023 to 2033) 4.5%
United States Plastic-to-fuel Market Size (2023) US$ 1,296.6 million
United States Plastic-to-fuel Market Size (2033) US$ 1,926.9 million
Nikhil Kaitwade
Nikhil Kaitwade

Principal Consultant

Talk to Analyst

Find your sweet spots for generating winning opportunities in this market.

United States Plastic-to-fuel Industry Historical Analysis (2018 to 2022) Vs. Forecast Outlook (2023 to 2033)

Though the United States plastic-to-fuel market got established a very long time ago, the technology is getting improved each year as can be witnessed by the accelerating growth rate. Also as the global energy requirement is enlarging so is the technology for obtaining fuel from alternate sources.

However, the plastic-to-fuel market in the United States experienced a severe jolt during the outbreak of the pandemic with prices of petroleum dropping significantly. Due to the shutdown or partial closure of important petrochemical plants and refineries, conventional crude oil consumption decreased by 7% to 8% in 2020 compared to 2019.

After the COVID-19 pandemic was contained, the increased use of crude oil as a fuel in emerging economies caused by the growth of their automobile industries is projected to drive the plastic market throughout the projection period.

Considering the country's expanding energy needs and its existing infrastructure, the market development is anticipated to reach some new heights in the coming days. According to the United States Energy Information Administration (USEIA) report, coal, natural gas, and petroleum made up around 79% of all primary energy produced in the country in the year 2018. So over the forecast period, this rising trend of energy consumption in the United States is anticipated to boost the market.

Comparative View of the Market

United States Plastic-to-fuel Market:

Attributes United States Plastic-to-fuel Market
CAGR (2023 to 2033) 4.5%
Market Value (2033) US$ 1,926.9 million
Growth Factor Growing need for petroleum products with the ever-increasing need for energy sources in the present world.
Opportunity Advancing technologies for better conversion of plastic into fuel with competitive prices create more opportunities.
Trends Partnership ties of market players with conventional fuel suppliers is the key strategy adopted.

United States Plastic Recycling Market:

Attributes United States Plastic Recycling Market
CAGR (2023 to 2033) 13%
Market Value (2033) US$ 3,390 million
Growth Factor Rising environmental concern for mounting plastic waste has propelled every type of sustainable activity.
Opportunity Government investment in the cause of a cleaner and greener environment to propel the market further.
Trends Better sourcing of raw materials through extensive networking is the critical strategy adopted by the players.

Plastic Additives Market:

Attributes Plastic Additives Market
CAGR (2023 to 2033) 8.5%
Market Value (2033) US$ 24,200 million
Growth Factor A significant market trend is a move towards the creation of bio-based polymer additives.
Opportunity Strong market demand is also anticipated in the upcoming years as a result of strict environmental regulations by organizations like the FDA.
Trends A significant market trend is a move towards the creation of bio-based polymer additives.

Get the data you need at a Fraction of the cost

Personalize your report by choosing insights you need
and save 40%!

Category Analysis

Which is the Most Suitable Technology for the United States Plastic-to-fuel Industry Players?

As per the United States plastic-to-fuel market analysis report in 2022, the leading segment based on technology and the source of 65.3% of worldwide revenue is pyrolysis technology. Compared to previous technologies, this method processes mixed, unclean, and filthy plastics more effectively consequently garnering more popularity than the other segments.

Additionally, a variety of fuel types, including synthetic gas, solid residue, and biofuel, produced with this method have made plastic pyrolysis machines for sale very common in the United States market. So even during the projected period, these variables are predicted to propel pyrolysis technology making it a significant segment during the projected timeline as well.

On the other hand, because of the rising global need for hydrogen, this technique is also becoming more prevalent and is expected to gain some higher traction in the forecasted years than before. Fluidized bed reactors, entrained flow gasifiers, countercurrent fixed bed gasifiers, co-current fixed bed gasifiers, and plasma gasifiers are a few examples of the various types of sub-segments of the gasification technology segment.

Contrastingly, depolymerization technology is very effective for complex polycarbonate structures and converts them into gasoline, something that other technologies cannot do. Such an advantage of this technology segment is expected to favor the growth of the United States plastic-to-fuel shortly.

Who are the Prominent End Users of the United States Plastic-to-fuel Industry?

As per the United States plastic-to-fuel market survey report in 2022, the crude oil segment dominated the market and generated 55.1% of worldwide revenue. Well over the forecast period, this segment is expected to grow due to the widespread use of crude oil made from waste plastic in vehicles, and other required areas.

Interestingly the Hydrogen segment of the market is witnessing exponential growth through these years and has turned out to be a lucrative category for many market players. Since hydrogen fuel cells are regarded as a pollution-free source of energy and are frequently used to power automobiles and buses, their use has increased significantly over the past 10 years. During the projection period, these variables are projected to fuel the generation of hydrogen from plastics.

Regional Analysis

Country China
Share/CAGR 6.5% CAGR
Market Trends Throughout the upcoming years, rising industrialization and urbanization in this country are anticipated to drive the plastic-to-diesel fuel market expansion.
Country India
Share/CAGR 5.2% CAGR
Market Trends Over the forecast period, the plastic-to-fuel market expansion is anticipated to be fueled by favorable government policies and regulations that support the development of renewable energy technologies.
Country Germany
Share/CAGR 16.5% Share
Market Trends High plastic recycling rates in nations like Germany, Austria, Wales, and Switzerland are expected to encourage industry participants to create effective plastic-to-fuel technology.

These nations produce a remarkably large amount of plastic garbage which provides a key advantage for these countries. There is a plentiful supply of waste plastic that is used to produce fuel turning these countries into key competitors for the United States' plastic-to-fuel market share.

Meanwhile in the United States, as stated by the federal, local, and state administrations, the project "plastic-to-fuel" does not fit within the classification of recycling and is thus not eligible for recycling clearance. The market for plastic-to-fuel is predicted to expand more slowly as a result of this aspect.

How Strong is the Competitive Landscape for the United States Plastic-to-fuel Industry?

By acquiring roughly about 40% of the market share in terms of revenue in the year 2019, Vadxx led the United States. plastic-to-fuel market share in terms of total sales of fuels, followed by Agilyx and RES Polyflow, in that order.

The market for plastic-to-fuel in the United States is predicted to have a profitable development potential due to the rising demand for plastic-to-fuel machines. Gasoline is the petroleum fuel that Americans use the most, according to the United States Energy Information Administration that is estimated to be around 392 million gallons per day, finished motor gasoline was used in the year 2018 and accounted for nearly 45% of all United States petroleum consumption.

The country's cosmetics business is also expected to grow as a result of rising cosmetic product sales, which present an emerging trend in the market as cosmetics are produced in large quantities using petroleum-based materials. Consequently, the expansion of the cosmetics sector in the United States is anticipated to substantially support the sales of plastic pyrolysis machines.

The polyethylene fuel market expansion in the United States is anticipated to be accelerated by plastic-to-fuel companies' increased attention on boosting the capacity and processing capacities of the machine that turns plastic into oil primarily used for turning waste plastic into oil. Innovations that use plastic as fuel are opportunistic and reflect well on fuel-safe plastic makers.

Nevertheless, the current situation of turning trash into fuel is less lucrative than that of producing conventional gasoline making it very challenging for the market participants. Economies of scale are the main issue that presents a key hindrance for the plastic gas market in the United States Most producers have noticed that the quality of the feedstock has a significant impact on the quality of the fuel making it a key determinant for the United States plastic-to-fuel market's future trends.

To overcome the mechanical obstacle and reduce the pre-processing costs associated with the sorting of plastic, several studies are being carried out by private as well as national and international organizations. It is anticipated that this current market trend of investing in Research and Development for finding better solutions to the snowballing problem encourages the United States plastic-to-fuel market expansion further.

Market future trends are also anticipated to be aided by the growing practice of providing technology to third parties to increase their market share and penetration. For example, in the month of January of 2015, Green Envirotech Holdings and the Cenco Leasing Co., which is based in Texas, signed a contract under which the former awarded the latter an exclusive license to commercialize its unique technology of turning used tires and plastics into hydrocarbons.

Currently, the US plastic-to-fuel market is highly fragmented with few businesses offering commercial plastic-to-fuel solutions since this technology of developing a machine that turns plastic into fuel is still in progress. To expand and endure in the market, businesses are now focusing on providing long-term value to their shareholders. The key plastic-to-fuel companies in the United States place high importance on creating solid, low-risk plans that guarantee a sizable profit margin and a solid basis for their stockholders.

In the upcoming years, the established as well as new United States plastic-to-fuel market players should profit from favorable regulatory conditions mixed with government assistance in the form of tax advantages and financial incentives. The United States non-renewable energy sources are raising environmental concerns, which limit the sales of blow-molded fuel tanks and their industrial expansion in the United States.

Recent Developments:

In the year 2019, the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) category contributed to about US$ 85 Million in the total plastics-to-fuel market share providing a key impetus for the United States plastic-to-fuel market growth.

Key Players

  • Plastic2Oil
  • Agilyx Corporation
  • Vadxx Energy
  • Green Envirotec Holdings LLC
  • RES poly flow

Key Segments

By Revenue Generation Model:

  • Fuel
  • Processors
  • Royalties

By Technology:

  • Pyrolysis
  • Depolymerization
  • Gasification

By End Products:

  • Crude Oil
  • Sulphur
  • Hydrogen
  • Diesel
  • Others

By Region:

  • North America
  • Latin America
  • Asia Pacific
  • Middle East & Africa (MEA)
  • Europe

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is the United States Plastic-to-fuel Market?

The United States Plastic-to-fuel Market is valued at US$ 1,296.6 million in 2023.

Who are the key players in the United States Plastic-to-fuel Market?

Some of the key players in the United States Plastic-to-fuel Market include Plastic2Oil, RES Polyflow, Green Envirotec Holdings LLC, Agilyx Corporation, JBI Inc., Envion, Shangqiu Sihai Machinery Equipment Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Beston (Henan) Machinery Co., Ltd., Zhangzhou Qiyu Renewable Energy Technology Co., Ltd.

Which is the key segment by product type?

Pyrolysis is likely to remain preferred through 2033.

Which is the go-to-market strategy?

Players opt for mergers and acquisitions.

Which are the key areas in the United States Plastic-to-fuel Market?

California, Texas, and Florida dominate the US market.

Table of Content

1. Executive Summary

    1.1. USA Market Outlook

    1.2. Demand-side Trends

    1.3. Supply-side Trends

    1.4. Technology Roadmap Analysis

    1.5. Analysis and Recommendations

2. Market Overview

    2.1. Market Coverage / Taxonomy

    2.2. Market Definition / Scope / Limitations

3. Market Background

    3.1. Market Dynamics

        3.1.1. Drivers

        3.1.2. Restraints

        3.1.3. Opportunity

        3.1.4. Trends

    3.2. Scenario Forecast

        3.2.1. Demand in Optimistic Scenario

        3.2.2. Demand in Likely Scenario

        3.2.3. Demand in Conservative Scenario

    3.3. Opportunity Map Analysis

    3.4. Investment Feasibility Matrix

    3.5. PESTLE and Porter’s Analysis

    3.6. Regulatory Landscape

        3.6.1. By Key Country

        3.6.2. By Key Countries

    3.7. Country Parent Market Outlook

4. Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast, 2023 to 2033

    4.1. Historical Market Size Value (US$ Million) Analysis, 2018 to 2022

    4.2. Current and Future Market Size Value (US$ Million) Projections, 2023 to 2033

        4.2.1. Y-o-Y Growth Trend Analysis

        4.2.2. Absolute $ Opportunity Analysis

5. Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By Revenue Generation Model

    5.1. Introduction / Key Findings

    5.2. Historical Market Size Value (US$ Million) Analysis By Revenue Generation Model, 2018 to 2022

    5.3. Current and Future Market Size Value (US$ Million) Analysis and Forecast By Revenue Generation Model, 2023 to 2033

        5.3.1. Fuel

        5.3.2. Processors

        5.3.3. Royalties

    5.4. Y-o-Y Growth Trend Analysis By Revenue Generation Model, 2018 to 2022

    5.5. Absolute $ Opportunity Analysis By Revenue Generation Model, 2023 to 2033

6. Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By Technology

    6.1. Introduction / Key Findings

    6.2. Historical Market Size Value (US$ Million) Analysis By Technology, 2018 to 2022

    6.3. Current and Future Market Size Value (US$ Million) Analysis and Forecast By Technology, 2023 to 2033

        6.3.1. Pyrolysis

        6.3.2. Depolymerization

        6.3.3. Gasification

    6.4. Y-o-Y Growth Trend Analysis By Technology, 2018 to 2022

    6.5. Absolute $ Opportunity Analysis By Technology, 2023 to 2033

7. Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By End Products

    7.1. Introduction / Key Findings

    7.2. Historical Market Size Value (US$ Million) Analysis By End Products , 2018 to 2022

    7.3. Current and Future Market Size Value (US$ Million) Analysis and Forecast By End Products , 2023 to 2033

        7.3.1. Crude Oil

        7.3.2. Sulphur

        7.3.3. Hydrogen

        7.3.4. Diesel

        7.3.5. Others

    7.4. Y-o-Y Growth Trend Analysis By End Products , 2018 to 2022

    7.5. Absolute $ Opportunity Analysis By End Products , 2023 to 2033

8. Market Structure Analysis

    8.1. Competition Dashboard

    8.2. Competition Benchmarking

    8.3. Market Share Analysis of Top Players

        8.3.1. By Country

        8.3.2. By Revenue Generation Model

        8.3.3. By Technology

        8.3.4. By End Products

9. Competition Analysis

    9.1. Competition Deep Dive

        9.1.1. Plastic2Oil

            9.1.1.1. Overview

            9.1.1.2. Product Portfolio

            9.1.1.3. Profitability by Market Segments

            9.1.1.4. Sales Footprint

            9.1.1.5. Strategy Overview

                9.1.1.5.1. Marketing Strategy

        9.1.2. Agilyx Corporation

            9.1.2.1. Overview

            9.1.2.2. Product Portfolio

            9.1.2.3. Profitability by Market Segments

            9.1.2.4. Sales Footprint

            9.1.2.5. Strategy Overview

                9.1.2.5.1. Marketing Strategy

        9.1.3. Vadxx Energy

            9.1.3.1. Overview

            9.1.3.2. Product Portfolio

            9.1.3.3. Profitability by Market Segments

            9.1.3.4. Sales Footprint

            9.1.3.5. Strategy Overview

                9.1.3.5.1. Marketing Strategy

        9.1.4. Green Envirotec Holdings LLC

            9.1.4.1. Overview

            9.1.4.2. Product Portfolio

            9.1.4.3. Profitability by Market Segments

            9.1.4.4. Sales Footprint

            9.1.4.5. Strategy Overview

                9.1.4.5.1. Marketing Strategy

        9.1.5. RES poly flow

            9.1.5.1. Overview

            9.1.5.2. Product Portfolio

            9.1.5.3. Profitability by Market Segments

            9.1.5.4. Sales Footprint

            9.1.5.5. Strategy Overview

                9.1.5.5.1. Marketing Strategy

        9.1.6. ALTERRA ENERGY

            9.1.6.1. Overview

            9.1.6.2. Product Portfolio

            9.1.6.3. Profitability by Market Segments

            9.1.6.4. Sales Footprint

            9.1.6.5. Strategy Overview

                9.1.6.5.1. Marketing Strategy

        9.1.7. Global Renewable

            9.1.7.1. Overview

            9.1.7.2. Product Portfolio

            9.1.7.3. Profitability by Market Segments

            9.1.7.4. Sales Footprint

            9.1.7.5. Strategy Overview

                9.1.7.5.1. Marketing Strategy

        9.1.8. Rudra Environmental Solutions

            9.1.8.1. Overview

            9.1.8.2. Product Portfolio

            9.1.8.3. Profitability by Market Segments

            9.1.8.4. Sales Footprint

            9.1.8.5. Strategy Overview

                9.1.8.5.1. Marketing Strategy

        9.1.9. Klean Industries Inc

            9.1.9.1. Overview

            9.1.9.2. Product Portfolio

            9.1.9.3. Profitability by Market Segments

            9.1.9.4. Sales Footprint

            9.1.9.5. Strategy Overview

                9.1.9.5.1. Marketing Strategy

        9.1.10. Brightmark

            9.1.10.1. Overview

            9.1.10.2. Product Portfolio

            9.1.10.3. Profitability by Market Segments

            9.1.10.4. Sales Footprint

            9.1.10.5. Strategy Overview

                9.1.10.5.1. Marketing Strategy

10. Assumptions & Acronyms Used

11. Research Methodology

Recommendations

Packaging

Plastic Vial Market

April 2024

REP-GB-10941

343 pages

Chemicals & Materials

Plastic Compounding Market

July 2023

REP-GB-15461

324 pages

Packaging

Plastic Caps & Closures Market

May 2023

REP-GB-1205

333 pages

Explore Industrial Automation Insights

View Reports
Future Market Insights

United States Plastic-to-fuel Market

Schedule a Call