Martin Bäcker

GERMAN ECONOMY Will the German plastics industry benefit from the EUR 1 tn special fund? / Assessment by PIE market expert Martin Bäcker	26.03.2025
LOGISTICS Trump's attacks on Houthis could cause freight rates to skyrocket / Price of polymer imports to Europe expected to increase	21.03.2025
TRADE WAR EU Commission plans retaliatory tariffs; PE reportedly targeted / Move could aid European producers / US-Houthi attacks expected to aggravate impact of US tariffs	19.03.2025
PLASTICS RECYCLING SHOW EUROPE AI innovation showcased in Amsterdam / Conference programme covers current and future recycling challenges / PIE joins trade fair with own stand	11.03.2025
LOGISTICS The renaissance of the pork cycle: are shipping companies digging their own graves again?	14.02.2025
LOGISTICS Onset of winter affects US goods traffic / Houthi militia to cease terrorist attacks on Red Sea shipping	24.01.2025
POLYMER PRICE FORECASTS Upward trend for several quotations in February / US trade policy poses danger	16.01.2025
YEAR-ENDER: EUROPEAN RECYCLATE MARKET Insolvencies abound as industry faces slowdown / Wider price gap to virgin plastics weighs heavy / Two more difficult years / Will Trump policies aid EU recycling sector?	19.12.2024
YEAR-ENDER: POLYMER PRICES Cheaper materials from Asia pressure European manufacturers / PU, PET under special focus / Trump policies could raise European production costs / “If construction doesn´t take off by March, the year is over.”	17.12.2024
LOGISTICS Shipping companies to buy more CO2 certificates for container transport 1 January onward / Freight rates likely to rise	06.12.2024
UPDATE - PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS Polyolefins: Slovnaft cracker faces technical issues / Force majeure declared for PE, PP downstream lines	03.12.2024
LOGISTICS Backlog at Europe's ports drives up freight rates / Container shortage in China	15.11.2024
POLYMER PRICE FORECASTS Slight discount on naphtha pressures precursor prices / Polymer quotations to rise from February	14.11.2024
LOGISTICS Another Trump presidency is a step in the wrong direction – analysts / Port strikes in Canada put pressure on chemical industry	08.11.2024
UPDATE - RECYCLING UK Waste management group Viridor to shutter mechanical recycling plant in Avonmouth / PET bottle recycler QC Polymer insolvent	07.11.2024
KI GROUP SUMMIT FAKUMA Discussions on current state and future of plastics industry / Polymer price forecasts for optimising purchasing strategy	22.10.2024
PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS Challenging times for the plastics industry / Is OPEC oil production pushing us into deflation?	15.10.2024
UPDATE - LOGISTICS Port strikes ends in tentative agreement / Shipping companies consider imposing congestion surcharges	04.10.2024
LOGISTICS Threat of strike on ports of US East Coast, Gulf of Mexico continues / Typhoon Bebinca paralyses Chinese ports	20.09.2024
BUTADIENE China to lead world's capacity additions / India another key contributor / Price pressure on the European market continues	24.06.2024
NPE US plastics trade fair attracts significantly fewer visitors than 2018 / Europe's weakness becomes North America's strength	24.05.2024
PVC MARKET Orbia's PVC plant expansions on hold / CEO Bharadwaj: “Weak period will last five to seven years” / PIE analyst confirms ongoing price declines in Europe	29.02.2024
POLYMER MARKETS What influence does the conflict in the Middle East have on the supply situation and polymer prices? / Interview with PIE price expert Martin Bäcker	30.01.2024
PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS Asia to add most propylene output this decade / Global capacity to increase more than 46% – GlobalData	14.12.2023
FAKUMA Is a trend reversal around the corner? / Head of PIE price team Martin Bäcker, industry expert Dimitri Koranis discuss volatility of polymer prices, energy costs	18.10.2023