Management

A year of volatility and transition / Spot prices stay high amid weather extremes and grid bottlenecks / Germany anchors regional dynamics as renewables expand unevenly

A year of consolidation and a ‘new normal' comes to an end / Market stable after end of dramatic fluctuations from energy crisis / Political framework to continue to force players into further optimising diversification, storage, emissions strategies

Freight rates on a roller coaster / Will the Suez Canal soon reopen to major traffic?

German business climate weakens / Processors' mood worsens / European manufacturers send mixed messages

Industry job cuts continue / Loss of more than 40,000 positions since 2019

Trump tariffs shook EU plastics industry in 2025 / 15% duty ignited retaliatory firestorms / Diversification and capacity shifts ahead in 2026

OECD predicts slowdown in '26 / Spain to lead, Italy to lag among EU Big Four / UK expansion to ease

Industry on the brink – BPF / Shutdowns continue / Shops face multiple problems

Peace and calm on most trade routes / Freight rates from China to Europe rise

Heavy shipping traffic on world's oceans causes freight rates to tumble / Intra-Asia routes the exception

Opposing trends in container freight rates: US routes down, Europe more expensive / Port strikes in Belgium, Portugal

Plastics converters could be eligible for industrial electricity price / Recyclers likely left in limbo / EUR 3 bn of taxpayers' money to provide relief / Many details still to be clarified

Surveys show moody manufacturers / German processor morale brightens – Ifo / UK producers more upbeat

Too many ships, too little cargo: shipping companies vying for every container / Freight rates likely to fall

Von der Leyen-Trump handshake has little impact / Container handling in Europe declines

Maersk cautions on freight rates after strong Q3 / Hapag-Lloyd puts 12th container giant into service / Freight rates facing a turnaround?

Business failures to grow in 2025, 2026 / US, Chinese companies drive trend / Four key vulnerabilities highlighted / Better outlook for 2027

Trump-Xi meeting pauses port fee dispute / Freight rates for shipments to and from China rise significantly

Film prices drop in Q3 / Situation remains ‘challenging' / Hopes of small upturn in private consumption by year-end

Ifo business climate index turns upwards again / Plastics industry less pessimistic

Slump in global trade causes freight rates to stagnate

Trade conflict between China and US escalates / Labour strikes add strain to global shipping

Freight rates remain at previous week's levels on most routes

Final quarter kicks off with massive drop in freight rates / Typhoon season essentially locks down major Asian ports

Panama Canal traffic stalls as US tariffs bite / UN warns of fragile shipping outlook / Germany bets on new rail boss amid crisis