Markets Processing General

Production climbs by more than 20% in value in 2008 / Scepticism gives way to cautious optimism for 2009 / Plastics converters anticipate rise of 10% for second half-year / Construction sector booms with state investments

Recession tightens its grip / Polymer production expected to contract by 30% this year / Return to 2008 level unlikely before 2011 / Significantly slower growth in volume of plastics processed

Sales down more than 20% year-on-year in first quarter of 2009 / Strong downward pressure from technical components / Building materials and packaging perform slightly better

Follow-up: Polytec to retain two Peguform facilities / Core of future composites strategy

Industry ends 2008 on a positive note / Packaging performs best / Outlook for 2009 is troubled

Plastics production in its infancy / Five major petchems complexes under construction or planned / Many small plastics converters / High energy and material consumption due to outdated machinery

Central European country leads market growth / Consumption levels pass Scandinavia / More than 2.3m t of thermoplastics processed / New AMI report spotlights over 1,000 companies

Voestalpine plastics business acquired by Inteva

Arques sells 85% of shares to management

Closure of manufacturing units in Canada / About 1,110 jobs affected

Demand again grew faster than GDP in 2007 / Consumption 52.5m t / Germany still the biggest producer / Half of European plastics waste is recycled / PlasticsEurope report “Compelling Facts about Plastics 2007” on the EU27 plus Norway and Switzerland

Rise of 27% rise in value of plastics production in 2007 / Pipes and profiles segments on the brink of consolidation / More stringent safety regulations for the chemical industry

French injection moulding company files for protection from creditors

Profile manufacturer maintains strong growth / Capacity expansion / Tailor made production lines supplied by Battenfeld Extrusionstechnik

Largest Chinese industry supplier goes belly up / Number of producers halved this year / Further insolvencies expected

Acquisition by Monomoy Capital is finalised

Plastics consumption set to fall by 3% in 2008 / Machinery manufacture continues to benefit from strong exports / Injection moulding machines still weak / Date delayed for chemical industry roundtable

Converters' association says prices must rise

Plastics market growth unabated / Now Europe's fourth largest processor / Per capita consumption above 60 kg / Industrial park for converters in special zone near Istanbul

US automotive supplier files for Chapter 11 reorganisation / European plants not affected

Trade deficit is affecting plastics processors / Abiplast: State should facilitate fair competition

KAEC Plastics Valley to be developed at Rabigh / “Centre of excellence” / Cooperation with US state of Ohio

Production to be shifted to Précigné

Johnson Controls establishes jv to acquire interiors business / Profits expected from 2010

Satisfaction with previous year's figures / Crisis in the US auto industry gradually being felt / Latest innovation is actively controlled air flaps