Plastic thermoforming materials market shrinks 8% to USD 972m despite higher volumes / PET contribution falls 7% to USD 424m / Pagev report

A country muddles through the swamp / Political warfare inhibits progress / Plastics consumption rises in 2016 / Auto industry orders more engineering thermoplastics / Can it compete internationally?

German manufacturers very positive about economic situation shortly before "interpack" trade fair / High feedstock prices still dampening sales and profits / Further consolidation on the European market

Composites can open up new horizons in the construction industry / New focus at the “JEC” trade show in Paris / Automotive and aerospace industries still strong / Record visitor numbers / Attention turning to the lack of recycling options

EU plastic components suppliers achieve sales of over EUR 22 bn / German plastics processing still leads the field / France bottoms out / Spain makes a comeback / Central Europe continues to show strong growth

New record for sales and output in 2016 / Year of superlatives / Building is largest end-use market

UK plastics industry seeks clarity over Brexit / Concerns surrounding free market access continue / Skills, supply chain and workforce issues unlikely to go away soon

Electronics to remain dominant consumer for thin and ultra-thin films / Miniaturisation and soaring spending boost demand / Asia will keep largest share of world market / TMR report

British Plastics Federation outlines priorities for Brexit talks / Single market access “crucial” / Converters depend on EU for polymer / Some 40% of plastics firms foreign-owned

Company investments drive growth / Plastics processing segment suffers from ageing technology / No access to key growth markets / Focus on new technologies and recycling

Global sales to grow by 4.1% per year to 2024 / Asia Pacific to overtake Europe as largest consumer / TM Research report

Plastics processing industry sales down 13.5% in H1 / Negative outlook for full-year revenue

Global market to expand by 5.8% per year to 2024 / Asia Pacific share forecast to grow to 63% / TM Research report

Global market expected to grow by around 5% annually to 2020 / Food packaging accounts for two thirds of use / Growth to be driven by BRICS countries / Technavio report

Average companies' budgets rise to over USD 6,000 in 2016 / Plastics represent 73% of all prints / Survey by 3D printing company Sculpteo