Global market reaches USD 5.2 bn in 2015 / Desktop printer sales drive gains

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

Steady growth of 1% annually anticipated over next five years / PP and PET gain in popularity / Production in Italy, France and Spain struggles / AMI directory

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

Fierce competition and high volatility drive consolidation in Germany / French state fund for renovations / New UK market leader is born / Cladding segment increasingly trends towards grey EPS / Prolonged use of HBCD has no notable market relevance

Market remains below 2007 peak at EUR 6 bn in 2015 / Trend is reversing / Demand will pick up over next five years / AMI report

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

US market to grow by nearly 5% to 2019 / Construction and electronics sectors to be best performers / Healthy demand from packaging / Freedonia report

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

Regulatory pressures limit US and Canada growth / Production could shift to Mexico / Grand View Research report

European market to grow by 2% per year to 2019, led by eastern Europe / PCI Films study

Growth in cold storage in Asia and Middle East boosts global demand / Output forecast to grow by 4% per year to 2019 / IAL Consultants directory

Germany's Federal Cartel Office imposes EUR 75m fine on five acoustic insulation producers for alleged price fixing

Spanish technology centre to be beta tester for Ultem resin / Agreement with Stratasys

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