[bryanlarsen]

China's gasoline use is down substantially. Industrial use is up, but much of that is re exported via plastic etc.

[nradov]

Right, that's exactly the point. Regardless of the consequences, worldwide fossil fuel consumption will continue increasing. Those stable organic molecules with energy rich chemical bonds are so damn useful for everything that enables modern industrial civilization and there is no substitute.

[bryanlarsen]

No, plastic usage world wide is less than 10% of fossil fuel usage. Only in China can the plastic increase compensate for lowering demand because they are the factory of the world.

[nradov]

Buddy you're really missing the point. Fossil fuels are used as inputs into a huge number of manufactured products, not just plastic.

[bryanlarsen]

All of which combined are well under 10%.