BRAZIL

Plastics processing: Local consumption rises 8.5% in 2012 / Trade deficit rises by more than 20%

GERMAN PLASTICS CONVERTERS

Industry association GKV cautiously optimistic for 2013 after flat 2012 / Concerns about volatile polymer supply, high energy costs and cheaper competition

TURKEY

Plastics industry grows strongly again in 2012 / Processing business expands by around 9% / Nevertheless, margins under increasing pressure and investment activity declines / Highly dependent on international raw material markets

FRANCE

Plastics processing sector posts losses in 2012 / Situation not expected to improve this year

US PIPE MARKET

Over 6% growth forecast to 2016 as construction industry sees turnaround / Steel remains top material in value terms / PVC remains leading resin / Freedonia report

US PLASTIC FILM MARKET

Demand to grow by 1.8% annually to 2016 / Material performance and source reduction will drive gains / LLDPE remains leading material / Freedonia survey

BRAZIL

Domestic plastics processing industry unable to meet rising polymer demand / Imports increasingly important / China most important feedstock supplier

EUROPEAN ROTATIONAL MOULDING

Cautious recovery in 2012 / Continued economic uncertainty hits infrastructure projects / AMI report

PET FILM

Expiry of anti-dumping measure relating to products from Brazil, India and Israel

DECORATIVE COATINGS

Eastern Europe has high growth potential / ICDLI industry association presents Pöyry market study

UK INJECTION MOULDERS

Sales expansion could harm financial stability / 111 companies in danger / Plimsoll study

PAKISTAN

Provisional anti-dumping levies on BOPP imports from Middle East, China / Suit by Tri-Pack Films

COMPOSITES

Turkish market expanding at rapid rate / Local composites association joins EuCIA

BOPP FILM MARKET

Malaysia launches probe into imports from Vietnam and other Asian countries

UPDATE - PLASTIC PIPES

EU authorities raid offices of several producers on suspicion of illegal price fixing / Tessenderlo, Pipelife and Wavin searched

BOPP FILM

Global demand rises by 5.5% to reach over 6m t in 2011 / Asia is powerhouse of growth / China accounts for 40% of worldwide production / Ongoing global market consolidation / New AMI report

POLYURETHANE FOAMS

Irwin Seating latest US-company to join international price-fixing case

THERMOFORMING

Growth driven by packaging applications / Market expected to reach 3.9m t in 2017 / BCC Research

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

EVONIK

Price increase for “Plexiglas” and “Deglas” semi-finished goods