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Middle East Conflict
Latest news and market reports on the impact on the plastics industry.
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In the Spotlight
EUROPEAN CAR INDUSTRY
Sales improve in Q1 / EVs approach 70% of market
— By Eric Culp — First-time car registrations in Europe in the initial three months of 2026 grew 4.1% from the same period last year, according to the European automobile manufacturers’ association ACEA. Measured on an annual basis, sales in March surged 11.1% to nearly 1.6 mn units in the EU, EFTA, and... (06:00)
PETROCHEMICALS
South Korea, Japan move to government support for polymer supply chains amid Middle East crisis
— By PIE staff — South Korea and Japan have announced government support measures for their respective petrochemical sectors as disruptions to Middle East oil supply tighten feedstock availability across East Asia. In South Korea, a support programme worth KRW 674.4 bn is aimed at helping producers secure... (23.04.2026)
MARINE LITTER UK
Activist group ‘names and shames' biggest pollution offenders / Nine of worst 12 brands are ‘giant plastics polluters' / BPF challenges report's production figures
— By PIE correspondent — Following its latest clean-up campaign across UK and Irish beaches, environmental pressure group Surfers Against Sewage has named the 12 brands, and their parent companies, it says are contributing most to the UK’s “single-use packaging pollution crisis” in its latest report, The... (23.04.2026)
INEOS
Sale of Inovyn's Italian chlor-alkali operations to industrial holding Esseco / Start of consolidation in PVC business
— By PIE staff — UK petrochemicals group Ineos has announced it is selling the Italian chlor-alkali business of its PVC subsidiary Inovyn. Inovyn Produzione Italia, with sites in Rosignano and Tavazzano, is set to be acquired by local industrial holding Esseco Industrial, the companies said. No details of... (22.04.2026)
PLASTICS INDUSTRY SPAIN
Administrative burden drains resources needed for development / CEP study points to consolidation amid volume growth
— By Vladislav Vorotnikov — Spain’s plastics industry is steadily losing competitiveness, leaving it increasingly vulnerable to global instability, such as the ongoing conflict in Iran, said Isabel Goyena, director general of the Spanish association of industrial plastics ANAIP. Over the past two decades,... (22.04.2026)
PLASTICS MACHINERY
US lowers import tariffs, simplifies regulations / PIE interview with VDMA expert Mikula Thiem
— By PIE staff — At present, nothing is as constant as change in US trade policy. President Donald Trump recently revised import regulations once again and, among other measures, tightened import tariffs on steel. Since 6 April 2026, machinery manufacturers exporting to the US no longer have to calculate... (22.04.2026)
Middle East Conflict
Polyglobe
The Iran war and its consequences for the plastics industry

Tensions in the Middle East have reached a new peak: following the recent attacks by Israel and the US on Iran, the geopolitical situation continues to escalate. Energy prices, raw material availability and logistics flows are sensitive to the escalation in this key region.

PIE – Plastics Information Europe analyses the scenarios that are now conceivable and how they could affect energy and raw material markets, supply chains and competitive structures in Europe.
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Latest News
POLYMER PRICES
Polyurethane feedstocks April: Sector develops into pure seller's market / Massive mark-ups / Demand was, is, and remains weak
 		11:00
PLASTIC PACKAGING GERMANY
Bundesrat calls for amendments to PPWR / Implementation remains uncertain
 		06:00
HYDRODYN RECYCLING
German recycling tech specialist enters insolvency proceedings
 		06:00
BOROUGE INTERNATIONAL
JV with Wanhua unit to review construction of Chinese PE complex
 		06:00
WASTE PLASTIC UPCYCLING
Vitol subsidiary plans pyrolysis plant in Netherlands / Two projects in Denmark abandoned
 		06:00
AGILYX
Norwegian recycling specialist becomes majority shareholder in GreenDot
 		23.04.2026
TOSAF
Masterbatch plant scheduled to open in Poland / Start-up set for Q2
 		23.04.2026
LOLAAR
Dutch injection moulder in liquidation
 		23.04.2026
POLYMER PRICES
Butadiene May: Feedstock at four-year high
 		22.04.2026
More...
Price Reports and Announcements
POLYMER PRICES
Polyurethane feedstocks April: Sector develops into pure seller's market / Massive mark-ups / Demand was, is, and remains weak
 		11:00
POLYMER PRICES
Butadiene May: Feedstock at four-year high
 		22.04.2026
AOC
Higher hikes than planned for polyester resins, vinyl ester resins, and gelcoats in Mai
 		22.04.2026
POLYMER PRICES
Engineering recyclate April: Prices surge / Securing material takes priority over price / Further increases expected in May
 		21.04.2026
POLYMER PRICES
Standard recyclate April: Rising prices for virgin material are prompting processors to turn to recyclates / Prices catch up with primary material / Upward trend continues
 		20.04.2026
POLYMER PRICES
China engineering thermoplastics March: Prices rise sharply / Higher feedstock costs driven by skyrocketing crude / Quotations rise further as Middle East conflict continues
 		17.04.2026
POLYMER PRICE FORECASTS
Raw materials, intermediates continue upward trend
 		16.04.2026
AOC
Third price increase since March / Interplastic follows suit
 		15.04.2026
POLYMER PRICES
Standard thermoplastics trend April: Greater hikes than ever before / Disruption due to Middle East war causes prices to surge
 		15.04.2026
PIE SPOT PRICE MONITOR
Price surges in Europe of 75% or more are beyond anticipation / Rise likely to continue
 		15.04.2026
More Price Reports...
More Announcements...
Readers' Choice
PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS
Polyolefins: MOL announces restrictions on all products
 		14.04.2026
PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS
LDPE: TotalEnergies declares force majeure for supplies from France
 		14.04.2026
IRAN WAR
EU inflation spikes / Prices to continue climb, growth to slow / Rise in UK GDP likely over
 		20.04.2026
LOGISTICS
Shipping companies under pressure / Mutual blockade of Strait of Hormuz drives diesel prices even higher
 		16.04.2026
FLEXIBLE PACKAGING
PE films in Europe significantly more expensive / Further price rises expected amid Middle East conflict
 		20.04.2026
PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS
Vynova declares force majeure on PVC from France and Germany
 		13.04.2026
PETROCHEMICALS
South Korea, Japan move to government support for polymer supply chains amid Middle East crisis
 		23.04.2026
PVC IMPORTS
Geopolitical risks aggravate supply situation / Shift in import flows / European PVC market set to remain under structural pressure if no recovery seen in construction
 		16.04.2026
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Date of print: 24/04/2026
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