Geneva, Switzerland (Enmaeya News) — Seven countries produced more than two-thirds of the world’s four most common types of plastic in 2024, according to new data. China, which ranks first, produced an amount equivalent to the combined output of the next six countries.

The figures were released by British environmental consultancy Economia and research group Zero Carbon Analytics. They come as 184 countries negotiate in Geneva on the first-ever treaty aimed at ending plastic pollution.

The study focused on the production of the most widely used polymers: polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) used in beverage bottles, and polystyrene (PS).

China accounted for 34% of production of these four major polymers last year. The United States produced 13%, Saudi Arabia and South Korea each produced 5%, India 4%, Japan 3%, and Germany 2%.

An older study by energy data company Wood Mackenzie showed plastic production is concentrated among a few large companies, some state-owned. Just 18 companies produce more than half of the world’s plastic polymers.

China’s state-owned Sinopec is the largest global producer, making 5.4% of the world’s plastic. ExxonMobil of the United States produces 5%, LyondellBasell 4.5%, Saudi Arabia’s Aramco 4.3%, and China’s PetroChina 4.2%.

Top European producers include Britain’s INEOS at 2.8% (seventh), Austria’s Borealis at 2.3% (tenth), and France’s TotalEnergies at 2% (eleventh).

Worldwide, more than 450 million tons of plastic are produced annually. Half is single-use, less than 10% is recycled, and about 8 million tons of plastic waste enter oceans each year.

Plastic waste, including microplastics, pollutes soil and air, raises ocean temperatures, acidifies waters, disrupts carbon absorption, and harms biodiversity.

Plastics also generate 1.8 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually — more than the combined emissions from aviation and shipping.