Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/229372 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Series/Report no.: 
WIDER Working Paper No. 2020/148
Publisher: 
The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), Helsinki
Abstract: 
Plastics are ubiquitous across the region and play an important role in multiple industries. Most plastic products are based on a value chain that is grounded in petroleum refining, posing an environmental challenge. Plastic manufacturing in South Africa suffers from the high cost of polymers as inputs. Mozambique is endowed with large natural gas deposits. This research assesses the potential for the sustainable development of a plastics value chain in Southern Africa, with the aim of future-proofing the industry against changes in the petroleum space while bolstering growth in plastics manufacture and fostering a more equitable regional distribution of plastics activities. This study found that there is strong regional value chain potential between South Africa and Mozambique, with Mozambique producing natural gas feedstock and South Africa providing labour, capital, and technology. South African plastic manufacturers could also benefit from better input prices derived from better priced natural gas from Mozambique.
Subjects: 
feedstock
polymers
plastic products
input prices
regional value chain
JEL: 
L65
O13
O14
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
ISBN: 
978-92-9256-905-1
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
409.05 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.