Polypropylene (PP) growth rate was 6%/yr until 2000; future growth is expected to slow only slightly. PP's diversity in end uses has helped sustain its growth through 2001-a very slow industrial spending year-and estimates indicate growth for the next two years will be approximately 4%/yr, according to research from Industrial Information Resources. Capacity increases over the past two years such as new unit additions by both ExxonMobil and Dow have brought nearly 1.2 billion lb/yr of new capacity to the market. This has translated into reduced operating rates for some producers as capacity slowly crept past demand. Additional capacity is planned to come online in the second quarter 2002, when Phillips Petroleum begins operation of its new 775-million lb/yr unit at its Bayway refinery in Linden, New Jersey.