YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

Part 3 – Packaging: M&A activity in the plastics packaging sector continues / Global competition changes the landscape / La Seda bankruptcy sale almost wrapped up / Coca Cola's sustainability drive hits a snag

PLASTIC PACKAGING GERMANY

Rising international competition / “Reserved” outlook for Q4 / Suffering from high energy costs / Sector meets sustainability goals / Latest IK industry association poll

FLEXIBLE PACKAGING

European market growth slows to 1.3% in 2013 / Large national differences in value and volume demand / Germany leads the segment / Share of private equity-controlled companies rising / PCI Films report

PLASTIC PACKAGING GERMANY

First five months of 2014 see solid growth / Economy stable / Rising pressure on margins / IK industry association posts detailed figures for 2013

EPS

"Airpop" new name for packaging and moulded parts made of expanded polystyrene

PLASTICS AND ENERGY

German plastics producers keep renewables surcharge exemption / Compromise with EU

GERMAN PLASTICS PROCESSING

GKV industry association sees increasingly dynamic sales growth / Sector posts record revenues in 2013 / Improved profitability / Twin challenges of renewable energy laws and lack of skilled staff

PLASTIC BAGS

New study finds that German carrier bags consumption is significantly lower than elsewhere in Europe / Majority of consumers use bags more than once / Research calls EU proposals on bans unnecessary and unconstructive

PLASTICS PACKAGING GERMANY

Optimism reigns as 2014 gets underway / Facing twin pressures of raw material price hikes and rising energy costs

PLASTIC BAGS

Follow-up: Industry associations criticise a "short-sighted" EC proposal / Allowance of individual regulations goes against a united European market

PLASTICS PACKAGING GERMANY

High energy costs hindering competitiveness / Backbone of German economy bears the brunt / IK forecast

ASSOCIATIONS

EuPC elects new steering committee members / Discussions on industry concerns / Confirms priorities for Europe

PACKAGING INDUSTRY

French Elipso and German IK come together to tackle environmental and sourcing concerns

PLASTICS PACKAGING

Germany's IK sees little change in 2012 revenues from previous year / Production at 4.2m shows slight drop / Optimism remains for 2013

PLASTICS PACKAGING

IK general manager Ulf Kelterborn: The mood within the industry segment has improved

PLASTICS PACKAGING

German packaging producers start 2013 on an optimistic note, new IK association survey shows / Raw materials price situation remains tense

YEAR IN REVIEW

Life is a roller coaster ride, the European plastics industry finds again in 2012 / Forces majeures and consolidation / North-South profitability gap grows as the shadow of Middle East and China shrinks

FRANCE

Flexible packaging producers face “difficult economic environment” / Business slowdown in 2012

PLASTICS PACKAGING

German plastics packaging association IK predicts economic decline in Q4 / Warns of rising feedstock costs, supply shortages

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Roland Roth, president of the German packaging producers' association, talks to PIE about the state of Germany's plastics packaging sector

PLASTICS PACKAGING

German manufacturers still in a good position / Exports expected to decline / Pressure from electricity costs / Latest data from German packaging producers' association

PLASTICS PACKAGING

Detailed 2011 figures for Germany released / Volume sales grow faster than sales by value / Margins pressured by high polymer prices / End markets apply the brakes because of high costs

INTERVIEW

German plastics packaging: Ulf Kelterborn, head of IK business association, talks to PIE about plastic bag bans

PLASTIC PACKAGING

PAFA industry association warns of inflationary pressures linked to high raw material and fuel prices / Cautions that rising costs will have to be passed down

PLASTIC PACKAGING

German packaging producers association warns of rising raw material prices / Survey nevertheless shows optimism for Q2 economic development