Porto Marghera shut down completely until January / First time in the history of the Italian complex

Qapco and Honam project delayed

Industry threatened by falling margins and exports

French engineering federation calls for financial assistance for automotive suppliers

US demand forecast to rise 7.1% annually to 2012 / Growth boosted by strong demand for starch products

Plastic packaging with steady growth / Significant import volume / Germany main machinery supplier

Global market reaches USD 6.1 bn / Annual growth of 6.1% forecast for next five years

US Food and Drug Administration spreads its wings / Offices in China, India and Europe

Euromap sees dark clouds on horizon for European manufacturers after record 2007 / Order downturn of “historic dimensions / Association forecasts lower sales for 2009 / Very strong global market position

Cefic forecasts decline in output of 0.6% in 2008

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

Congress urged to include suppliers in plans

China and EU sign revised product safety agreement / Trilateral meeting in Brussels / Call for common standards

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

Middle East: Considerable growth in imports / Germany by far the largest supplier