Markets Regions and Countries German-speaking Countries

South German ethylene pipeline dedicated in Munich

Imports from outside the EU on the rise / Main supplier Italy suffers considerable setback / Poland continues to make inroads

Bvse recyclers have much too worry about / Inclement weather affecting demand / EEG tariffs are strong barriers

Swiss plastics industry sees sales fall to CHF 15 bn last year / Pressure from euro crisis and strong Swiss franc / Processed volume amounts to 812,000 t / Productivity declines / Packaging industry also weak / Recovery expected during 2013

Full-year 2012 output sinks 3.4% after especially dismal Q4 / Outlook clouded by economic weakness / US shale gas competition worries the sector / Germany leads Europe in recycling

Germany's IK sees little change in 2012 revenues from previous year / Production at 4.2m shows slight drop / Optimism remains for 2013

IK general manager Ulf Kelterborn: The mood within the industry segment has improved

Mixed plastics recyclers complain about dramatic dearth of sorted material / Call on industry to restructure itself

Business weakens more than expected in the second half of 2012 / Export trade deteriorates / Capital spending and employment still on a high level / Industry's expectations now higher

Production rise in 2009-2011 / Industry still robust / Demand up 5% annually / Technical applications show the strongest growth / Consultic study

South German ethylene pipeline in trial / All disputes settled / 240,000 t/y of C2 in first phase

Plastics industry holds its own in H1 2012 market turbulence / Expectations of slackening business going forward / Raw materials and euro crisis continue to bite

Plastics industry sales recede slightly in 2011 / Employee numbers down / Economy pressured by Swiss franc and European debt crisis

German manufacturers still in a good position / Exports expected to decline / Pressure from electricity costs / Latest data from German packaging producers' association

Sector posts core machinery production record in 2011 / Asia is leading export destination / Domestic market strong / 2012 expected to see slight decline / Renewed growth in 2013

Detailed 2011 figures for Germany released / Volume sales grow faster than sales by value / Margins pressured by high polymer prices / End markets apply the brakes because of high costs

German packaging producers association warns of rising raw material prices / Survey nevertheless shows optimism for Q2 economic development

Slower growth in H2 2011 / Stabilisation at high level looks likely in 2012 / Euro crisis looms on the horizon

ZVEI: Business situation in Germany still healthy / July orders slightly above last year / Drastic price increases with rare metals / Record exports in first six months

Plastics industry sees across-the-board recovery in 2010 / Processing volume up 10% to 910,000 t / Pre-crisis levels nearly reached / Improved productivity / Swiss association forecasts stable business

Negotiations to establish bio-based succinic acid joint venture / World-scale plant to start up by 2013 in Spain

Business boom continues in H1 2011 / Companies increase staff, capital spending / Few anticipate major problems with nuclear power phase-out / Economic cooling looks likely

Electrical industry sets export record

Sales slightly above pre-crisis levels during first four months of 2011 / Growth rates flatten / Pressured by higher costs

ZVEI expects German boom to continue in 2012 / High raw material prices raise concern