Markets Processing General

Plastics industry in strong recovery mode in 2015 / Thermoplastics consumption rises by 3% to 5.5m t / Strong acceleration in Q4 / Demand from automotive segment particularly high / Biotechnology continues to play an important role

Sales just shy of EUR 60 bn level / Exports to Eurozone continue to drive growth / Volumes processed stable at 2014 level / 2016 growth expected to resemble that of last year / Cautious optimism

IK member companies optimistic about 2016 / Selling prices likely to be increased

Eye on the world: A journey from Brazil to China, from Russia to Italy / Challenges experienced by most countries

Takeovers, mergers and consolidations: Changes in the plastics production, packaging and automotive industries / No going back to the way things were

Steady output of plastic products / Growth slows in first three quarters of 2015 / Economic development shifts towards country's central and western regions / CPRJ reports

Sales after first nine months of 2015 match those of last year / Packaging products perform above average / Construction and semi-finished goods barely move / Technical parts and consumer goods looking up / Positive mood despite feedstock upheaval

Polymer production grows by 4% in 2014 / EU 28 trade surplus widens / Turkey still most important resin buyer / PlasticsEurope recommends landfill ban to improve recycling / "Plastics – the Facts 2015"

“Our industry needs reliable suppliers!” / IK president Roland Roth on the situation on the polyolefin market / Need for more choice / US processors could become a threat

PIE talks to Ron Marsh, head of the Polymers for Europe Alliance, about the goals of the plastics processors‘ initiative / "Best European Polymer Producer" award

Plastics processors' association FEP criticises poor support from petrochemical producers / Low oil price and higher margins not being passed on

Feedstock price swings reflected in the statistical H1 balance sheet / Depressed sales at the start of the year gradually lifted by cost rises / Full-year revenues could set new record

BPF survey points to improved business confidence / Increased expectations for higher sales and investments

Plastics industry sees dynamic growth / Processing rises by 7% in 2014 / 3.1m t polymer consumption / Dependent on feedstock imports / Few petrochemical projects / Large-scale investment in packaging

Germany's GKV industry association says plastic processors can apply for specific tariff quotas / Cooperation among European associations / Long-term application process

EuPC unveils agenda of “Polymers for Europe Alliance” / Pan-European platform to address recent spate of FMs / Potential legal action against producers / Lobby work against EU import tariffs / Potential group purchasing platforms for imported material

Plastics sector recovers slightly in 2014 / Rise in revenues and processed volumes put an end to previous downtrend / Recovery short-lived / Franc revaluation brakes economic development

EuPC general assembly yields “strategic alliance” for European polymer supplies / Former RPC chief executive Ron Marsh to steer efforts / Strong criticism of producers and EU's import duties on plastics

Processors eye 8% annual growth in African plastics demand to 2018 / South Africa accounts 25% of plastics processing sites / AMI database

2015 sales growth to be led by automotive sector / Increased sourcing from foreign suppliers / Lack of skilled workforce remains key issue / MAPP survey

Swiss franc's gains hit plastics industry particularly hard / Exports cave in

Plastics consumption down in 2014 / Lack of investment / Too many small businesses / Only slight signs of recovery / Efforts to switch to "green" chemistry not sufficient / Study by Plastic Consult

BPF poll reveals ”further flat lining of business confidence” for 2015 / Number of companies expecting rise in profitability sales / Little investment planned / Recruitment of trained staff remains problematic

Sales hit new high in 2014 / Record number of employees / Widespread confidence for 2015 / GKV president still sees big challenges in energy policy and lack of trained personnel

Economy slowly looking up after double recession / Plastics exports rise / Processing sector shows signs of improvement / Tools production pointing up