PIE 1176 of 08.08.2025 – Plastics Information Europe

PIE issue 1176

TRADE WAR US-EU trade deal invites criticism from industry / Framework agreement on energy purchases ‘completely unrealistic'
UK-US TRADE US plastics association lauds UK agreement / Deal supports US trade surplus / EU shops at competitive disadvantage
POLYMER PRICES Polyethylene July: Rollover predominates with few exceptions / Supply surplus plays into converters' hands / Demand remains slow; further slump not expected / Imports offset European plant cutbacks
POLYMER PRICES Polypropylene July: Prices stagnate amid weak demand / Minor downward adjustments expected for August
POLYMER PRICES PVC July: Price stability at start of holidays / Little change with supply and demand / Smaller decline likely in August
POLYMER PRICES Styrenics July: Prices trend lower again / Ample supply, weak demand / Further decline in quotations likely in August
POLYMER PRICES PET July: Little movement on the market / Decline and fall of the summer “season” / Producers cut back output even further / No stimulus in sight for August
UPDATE - POLYMER PRICES Feedstocks July/August
GERMAN ECONOMY Business climate index rises again / Upward trend seen among plastics processors
POLYMER PRICES Engineering thermoplastics July: Abundant supply meets meagre demand across all grades / Europe dozes during summer holidays / Prices to decline further in August
AKWEL French auto supplier caught in downward trend
AUTOLIV Cost-cutting measures bear fruit / Automotive supplier raises sales forecast
GRAMMER Business in the US, China slows down in Q2
OPMOBILITY Mixed results for first half of year / More cost-cutting measures, fewer investments planned
EUROPEAN CAR MARKET Registrations fall in June, H1 / EVs retain lead in market share / UK vehicle output plummets
BASF Q2 profit, sales at Chemicals hit considerably / HMD plant in France now operational
DOW CHEMICAL Hefty dividend cut after steep Q2 sales drop / Outlook sees higher Q3 earnings on cost cuts, potentially higher PE margins
VERSALIS Italian petrochemical group posts heavy losses again / Capacity utilisation falls below 50%
COVESTRO Plastics group stays in the red / Economic conditions remain challenging
WASTE LEGISLATION GERMANY “You pay for the total weight – not just the plastic content” / Why the Single-Use Plastics Fund Act may become a cost trap for packaging manufacturers / PIE interview with lawyer Christoph Schnoor

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