NORTHERN AND EASTERN EUROPE

Poland's plastics industry shows signs of economic recovery / Average order book size growing in Finland

EUROPEAN CAR INDUSTRY

Lack of rare earths could delay, stop German auto production / Shortage halts some component lines

EUROPEAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRY

Poor start to 2025 on weak demand, output / High energy costs undermine global competitiveness / Dependence on imports grows

EPS

Turkey expands share of EU imports / China now also key player / Very few imports from outside EU go to Germany

LOGISTICS

Number of sunken ships drops to new low / Freight rates trend higher

SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING

Recycled materials, fibre-based formats lead packing design trends / Plastics top of global market – Smithers report

EUROPEAN CAR MARKET

April registrations send mixed messages / EVs retain lead in market share / BYD outpaces Telsa – report

SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING

Progress and challenges in US recycled content goals – report

MEDICAL PACKAGING

Pharma manufacturers under pressure: focus shift to monomaterial blister packs / PVC packaging from Germany's ‘yellow bag' non-recyclable / EU to review privileges

LOGISTICS

Relevance of Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive being questioned by Germany, France / Tariff calm between US and China causes confusion, impacts freight rates

GERMAN ECONOMY

Mood among plastics, rubber processors brightens / Ifo business climate index rises

EUROPEAN CAR INDUSTRY

Reports of 10,000 job losses already this year – Clepa / More redundancies likely / Brussels softens CO2 guidelines

CENTRAL ASIA

Sibur acquires stake in loss-making Kazakh plastics processer / Russian plastics industry seeks to expand foothold in Central Asia / China shows economic interest in region

PACKAGING SPAIN

Household recycling rates up / Efforts to beef up municipal waste collection system pay off – Ecoembes

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Policies proposed for EU chemical industry shift to renewable carbon – RCI report / Dutch team outlines transition plan

LOGISTICS

Trade war truce between US and China pushes freight rates up

FLEXIBLE PACKAGING

Industry situation worsens in Germany / Manufacturers pessimistic about current year – IPV member survey

RIGID PLASTICS RECYCLING

Polyolefins reclaim capacity growth stalls in Europe on lower demand / Challenges in collection, sorting systems persist / Extra capacity needed to meet PPWR targets

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

Dow imposes order freeze for LDPE plants in Germany

IRAN

Petchem production on upward trajectory despite sanction pressure / Economic crisis impacts local consumption / Results of export-diversification campaign unclear