PIE 1116 of 08.02.2023 – Plastics Information Europe

PIE issue 1116

PLASTICS ECONOMY 9th PIE Readers' Survey: Majority of European plastics companies believe business situation will not worsen / Few plans to downsize investment projects / Current and evolving market trends
EUROPEAN ECONOMY The recession that never was? / German business confidence continues higher / Economic indicators suggest growth fears overblown
POLYMER PRICES Base petrochemicals, aromatics and feedstocks January/February 2023
POLYMER PRICES Polyethylene January 2023: Production output still reduced in many places / Demand stuck at a low level / Prices now less connected to C2 contract
POLYMER PRICES Polypropylene January 2023: Prices remain under pressure / Only compounds with higher costs are talc-filled / Demand improves slightly / Prices likely to follow C3 higher again in February
POLYMER PRICES PVC January 2023: Prices still in reverse / Intense discussions on starting price for 2023 / Demand remains weak / Rollover likely for February
POLYMER PRICES Styrenics January 2023: Resin prices rise for the first time in months in slipstream of styrene/ Slack demand despite restocking / Major price moves unlikely in February
UPDATE - POLYMER PRICES PET January 2023: Market unsettled by unclear feedstock costs / Brisk imports more than covering the slight upturn in demand / Renewed reductions despite warehouse restocking / Stabilisation expected
LOGISTICS Hapag-Lloyd reports dream earnings / Farewell, 2M: world's largest shipping companies end alliance / Freight rates little changed or lower
POLYMER PRICES Engineering thermoplastics January 2023: Downward trend gains momentum / All types under pressure due to weak demand and cheap imports / Further reductions expected in February
COVESTRO / LANXESS Chempark neighbours share sustainability resources / Cooperation to curb CO2 output / ISCC-PLUS certification
BASF Impairments due to Russian exit of gas unit lead to substantial losses / Profits significantly miss market expectations
BAERLOCHER Additives producer expands capacities worldwide / Solutions for increasing recyclate content of packaging / CEO Arne Schulle talks to PIE
OMV Austrian petchem group accelerates realignment
SPAIN Nationwide plastic packaging tax begins / Consumers can expect higher prices / Competition officials intervene in auctions held by local waste firm Ecoembes
CIRCULAR ECONOMY: AUSTRIA Lower demand reduced packaging recovery last year / 2023 starts with new stimuli
PLASTICS AND ENVIRONMENT US lower house committee: chemical recycling does not support circularity, material recovery / Group tells EPA to retain waste processing classification for such tech
HUNGARY Deposit return scheme set to start in 2024 / MOL to implement, manage system / Tomra tapped as reverse vending equipment supplier
REACH ECHA adds nine chemicals to list of Substances of Very High Concern / Melamine, several flame retardants among problematic products
REACH UK to extend submission deadlines for data by three years / Move covers materials under new rules

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