Markets Other Economic Trend

Powerless in the face of force majeure? / What converters need to know if their supplier stops delivering

PIE Readers Survey: Mostly optimistic business mood in Europe's plastics industry / Increasing willingness to invest / Feedstock costs and availability main issues / Return to pre-pandemic levels not before 2021

Global economic development forecast of 4.6% in 2021 / Buoyant H2 growth expected on vaccine rollouts despite bottlenecks / Return to pre-pandemic levels only by 2022 / Euler Hermes report

Turbulent business development in German-speaking Europe due to coronavirus crisis / Diversification pays off / Exports weaken slightly / Investments pick up / Considerable opposition to “EU plastic tax”

Companies introduce strategies to protect against Covid-19-related disruptions / Survey shows 30% of firms considering near-shoring / Euler Hermes report

Fifth poll on business developments in European plastics industry / Only participants receive the exclusive evaluation

Industry recovery in German-speaking countries still slow / Is the low point behind us? / “Lockdown light” provokes criticism / “Work from home” divides employers and employees / Second Covid-19 survey

Insolvencies to rise amid Covid-19 crisis / Hardest hit countries in 2020-2021 include US, Brazil, China / Euler Hermes report

German-speaking Europe hit hard by Covid-19 / Capital spending halted / Delivery problems eliminated / Liquidity an issue for automotive / Supply chain polarised

PIE Readers Survey: European plastics companies withstand Covid-19 in H1 / Many expect better business performance in the second half-year / Sales volumes are and will remain a top concern / Supply chain strategies changing

Fourth poll on business developments in the European plastics industry / Only participants receive the complete evaluation

Digitalisation investments can help protect against disruptions in the suplly chains / PwC survey

Economic mood appears to be at all-time low / Coronavirus puts the brakes on automotive industry / Hard times for suppliers / Investments in packaging sector on schedule

Covid-19 impacts on the European plastics industry / Concerns for business performance change during crisis / Image of plastics appearing less negative / PIE flash survey

GDP to contract by 3.3% this year / EU market could see impaired border restrictions until 2021 / Euler Hermes report

Covid-19 lockdowns could wipe out USD 2.4 tn of trade volume / Recovery expected in H2 2020 and 2021 / Rise in protectionism a concern / Euler Hermes report

Industry urges USD 1 bn in aid for recycling in pandemic / Plastics groups lead initiative

How the German-speaking plastics industry is dealing with the consequences of Covid-19 / From value chains to solidarity in companies / Short-time working a relief but not a long-term solution

Considerable delivery delays due to coronavirus pandemic / "Rotation has been disrupted" / Ships piling up at Chinese ports / Cargo rates collapsing / Situation not expected to normalise until after summer

PIE Readers Survey: Europe's plastics industry largely weathers the storm / One third of companies plan to invest more / Plastics-related regulations a growing concern / Majority expect backlash against plastics to impact business

Major decline in German-speaking Europe / Development index falls to ten-year low / Automotive crisis leaves considerable scars / Plastic bashing begins to impact business / Glimmer of hope with first signs of an upturn

Plastics production and sales climb in 2019 / Insolvencies set to rise / Automotive sector under pressure

European industry's outlook appears more subdued / Many companies worried about impacts of global trade conflicts, the automotive crisis and regulations / PIE Readers Survey

“Recover” act to improve recycling infrastructure / Support along the entire national value chain

World's leading plastics and rubber trade fair underscores top position / Düsseldorf the industry's meeting point with 225,000 visitors making the trip / Percentage of international guests increases again / Circular economy a dominant topic