PIE 1169 of 22.04.2025 – Plastics Information Europe

PIE issue 1169

TRADE WAR US punitive tariffs cause uncertainty among plastics processors / Numerous materials exempt from duties
POLYMER PRICE FORECASTS PIE extends forecast horizon for polymer prices to six months
LOGISTICS Low water puts strain on inland shipping / Transport from China to US, Northern Europe becomes more expensive
NESTE Finnish oil refiner to cut over 500 jobs / Move follows profits collapse in 2024
LYONDELLBASELL / COVESTRO Final closure of styrene plant in Netherlands
WEBASTO Automotive supplier to cut 650 jobs
NESTLÉ Food giant sells, shuts plants in Germany / Plastic-bottle filling affected
TRONOX Titanium dioxide manufacturer to shut plant in Netherlands
TRADE CEE Experts weigh in on potential trade war escalation / “EU businesses, including PE suppliers, can benefit from import restrictions”
US-INDIA TRADE India set to continue bilateral trade agreement talks / Tariffs could impact only 0.1% of Indian GDP – experts / Pharma, textile industries to be hardest hit
AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY EUROPE Suppliers fear double impact of tariffs / Associations urge ‘negotiated solution' / Carmakers fined nearly EUR 600 mn for cartel participation
GRAMMER Automotive supplier closes 2024 in red / Difficult product launches, volume shifts
HELLA Automotive supplier to close German subsidiary / Under-utilisation puts pressure on operating profit
UBC COMPOSITES Automotive supplier files for insolvency under self-administration / Reduction of orders, capacities possible
ADVAL TECH Automotive supplier doubles net loss / German, Hungarian, Mexican locations burden profitability
BORYSZEW German auto supplier subsidiary slides into insolvency / 500 employees affected
POLYMER PRICES China standard thermoplastics March: Quotations for nearly all grades trend lower / Imbalanced supply-demand, drop in feedstock costs / Outlook mixed with impact from tariffs expected
POLYMER PRICES China engineering thermoplastics March: Prices drop across the board / Feedstock costs follow crude lower / April quotations seen trending stable to down
POLYMER PRICES North America March: Prices trend mostly sideways / Weak basis, falling feedstock prices and “enormous uncertainty due to tariffs” / Further reductions likely in April
POLYMER PRICES Standard thermoplastics trend April: Tariff disputes hinder early agreements for polyethylene / Declining costs put pressure on prices for PP, PS, EPS
POLYMER PRICES Standard recyclate April: Demand increases slightly but no sign of a turnaround / Recyclers still under strong cost pressure / Small boom in PET market
POLYMER PRICES Engineering recyclate April: Demand hobbles along like a wounded animal / Prices surprisingly stable
EU PACKAGING REGULATION PPWR's key questions remain unresolved / Recyclate, reuse biggest challenges

PIE Print articles in full length

These links will take you to the full online versions of articles published in the latest five PIE print editions.