Additional recycling capacity needed to meet rising plastics collection / UK remains dependent on export markets / Wrap report

Plastic compounds production and demand expected to fall in 2019 / Foreign trade to dip and widen deficit / Polypropylene holds largest market share

Trading bloc updates plastic additives regulations / Close alignment with EU rules

Plastics imports decline in first half of 2019 / Domestic consumption of commodities and end products hits rock bottom / Exports benefit from weak Turkish lira

Leaked government report spells out worst-case scenario following no deal

Ambitious legislation focuses on plastics issues / Recycling front and centre / Bans on some single-trip products foreseen / Plastics industry voices support

Recycling programme Wrap reports on “UK Plastics Pact” progress / Strides made in removing PS and black plastics from packaging as well as single-use items

Record number of visitors at Guangzhou venue / Strong focus on innovations in digitisation and e-cars / Trade dispute with US casts a shadow

Plastics processing sales set a record in 2018 / Profitability of companies weak in a European comparison / Great hopes for recyclate / Voluntary initiatives versus national roadmap

Spot prices rise in first quarter / Plastics imports increase at the start of 2019 / Currency weakness unsettles markets / Subdued polymers consumption in 2018 due to recession

Slowdown impacts consumption of polymers / Solid growth for plastics machinery sales in 2018 / Agreement with China could lead to investments in Italian ports

Recycling groups Wrap and OPRL form partnership to tackle goals for packaging labels

VAT reduction expected to increase profits for polyolefins market players / LLDPE futures notations dropped in March on expectations of lower import prices

Plastic products sector hit by economic turmoil in 2018 / Production, consumption and imports decline / Urgent need to reduce dependency on imported feedstocks

National pact on plastic packaging / Government, NGOs and retailers commit to ambitious recycling targets