As an important producer and consumer of rotomolded products in the world, China's rotomolding market size is expected to reach RMB 30.16 billion in 2025.

As an important producer and consumer of rotomolded products in the world, China's rotomolding market size is expected to reach RMB 30.16 billion in 2025.

Rotomolding, also known as rotational molding, rotational molding, or rotational molding, is a method for hollow molding thermoplastics. The process involves first placing the plastic material into a mold, which is then rotated along two perpendicular axes and heated. Under the influence of gravity and heat, the plastic material in the mold gradually and evenly spreads, melts, and adheres to the entire surface of the mold cavity, forming it into the desired shape. The product is then cooled and shaped to form the finished product.

In terms of formability:

1) Product wall thickness is uniform, with no scrap or welds. Products with a wide range of wall thicknesses can be formed, such as polyethylene rotationally molded parts, with wall thicknesses ranging from 1 to 16 mm. However, due to viscosity, thick-walled products are more difficult to mold. Rotational molding is particularly suitable for molding plastic products with thicknesses of 2 to 5 mm.

2) Rotational molding can typically only produce hollow or shell-shaped products; solid products are difficult to process. Furthermore, the surface condition of the product is highly dependent on the mold cavity surface.

3) The dimensional accuracy of rotationally molded products is relatively low, typically within ±5.

In terms of molding process

(1) Suitable for molding large and extra-large parts. Since the rotational molding process only requires the strength of the frame to be sufficient to support the weight of the material, mold and frame itself, as well as the closing force to prevent material leakage, even when processing large and extra-large plastic parts, there is no need to use very heavy equipment and molds.

(2) Suitable for the production of a variety of small batches of plastic products - since the mold used for rotational molding has a simple structure and low price, it is very convenient to change products.

(3) Suitable for processing large hollow products with complex shapes, which is unmatched by other molding processes;

(4) Plastic products are easy to change color. When the color of the product needs to be changed, only the molding mold needs to be cleaned.

(5) The main disadvantages of rotational molding are: high energy consumption, because in each molding cycle, the mold and mold frame need to undergo repeated heating and cooling; long molding cycle, because it mainly relies on the heat conduction of the plastic under static conditions, so the rotational molding heating time is long; high labor intensity, and poor product dimensional accuracy.

Consumers are demanding higher quality products, driving rotomolded products towards refinement and high performance. For example, thermal insulation boxes must meet requirements such as no black spots, no scratches, and high gloss. Auto parts also have increasingly stringent requirements for dimensional accuracy. It is estimated that in 2029, the output and demand of rotomolded products in my country will be approximately 1.995 million tons and 1.651 million tons respectively.

Forecast of China's rotomolding product output and demand from 2020 to 2029

yellow part: Roto-molded product output (10,000 tons)
Grey part: Roto-molded product demand (10,000 tons)

With the application of new materials and new processes, the performance of rotomolded products has been significantly improved, such as higher strength, better temperature resistance, and longer service life. These performance advantages have led to an increase in demand for rotomolded products to replace traditional materials (such as metal and fiberglass) in the fields of chemical, petroleum, and environmental protection. It is estimated that the scale of my country's rotomolded products market will reach 38.79 billion yuan in 2029. Forecast of China's rotomolded products market scale and growth rate from 2020 to 2029

China's rotomolding products market size forecast and growth rate from 2020 to 2029

yellow part: Rotomolding product market size (100 million yuan)
Grey part: Growth rate (%)

With intensifying market competition and advancing industry consolidation, the competitive landscape of the rotomolding industry is shifting. Leading companies are building competitive advantages through technological innovation, scale expansion, and brand building, while small and medium-sized enterprises are seeking breakthroughs by focusing on niche areas and providing customized services.

Rotomolding Market Development Trends

Emerging fields are on the rise: With the continuous advancement of technology and the expansion of the market, the application of roto-molded products in emerging fields such as health and personal care, new energy, and low-altitude economy has gradually increased. For example, the application of roto-molding technology in the aerospace field has continued to expand, bringing new growth points to the industry.

Process optimization: The rotomolding process has improved production efficiency and yield by optimizing heating and rotation parameters and improving mold design. At the same time, the development and application of new materials have further improved the performance and quality of rotomolded products.

Application of biodegradable materials: To meet market demand for environmentally friendly products, the rotomolding industry is actively developing and applying biodegradable materials. These materials not only offer excellent environmental performance but can also replace traditional plastics to a certain extent, reducing environmental pollution.