BOPA FILMS

Global market growth driven by rising demand for simultaneous stretching technology

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

GLOBAL SLEEVE LABEL MARKET

Consumption to rise by 5.6% annually to 2019 / Heat shrink sleeve label format dominates / Smithers Pira study

PVC PROFILES

Polish, Russian and Ukrainian profiles industry under pressure / Market predicted to decline by 2.7% per year to 2017 / Interconnection report

BOPP FILM MARKET

Global demand expected to grow by 5-6% per year / Shift in balance of power to China, India and the Middle East / AMI study

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

SPECIALITY FILMS

Global market to grow by 6.4% per year to 2019 / Strong demand from flexible packaging and construction sectors / TM Research study

EPS MARKET

Polish industry association sues two processors over poor quality / Additional lawsuits in the making

WIND ENERGY

European market slows in 2013 / Southern Europe and France as main obstacles to growth / Weak demand for composites and reinforcements

POLYURETHANES

Flexible foam producers fined EUR 114m for price fixing / EU sees antitrust offence confirmed

MOULDED PLASTICS

Global market forecast to grow by nearly 5% per year to 2019 / Strengthening automotive demand / Transparency Market Research study

CHINA PLASTIC PIPES

People's Republic is world's largest producer and user of plastic pipes / 11m t produced in 2012 / Increasingly competitive on a global scale

POLAND

Plastic processing: Production value continues to climb despite 2012 volume drop / Blustery economic headwinds picking up / Construction sector in a hole following completion of large projects / New impetus for growth starting 2014

PP FILM MARKET

European demand to rise by 2.2% annually through 2017 / Growth returns to western Europe / PCI study

BRAZIL

Plastic resin imports climb 26% in H1 / Converted plastics consumption rises 6.7% / Only 1.5% rise in production forecast for 2013

PLASTICS PROCESSING EUROPE

Technical Parts: Changing European landscape / Germany expands leading position / Central European countries on the advance / France undergoes massive restructuring

GERMAN PLASTICS CONVERTERS

Sales bounce back to 2012 half-year level / Seasonal peak shifts into April / Packaging and technical parts see gains / Export trade picks up again / Improved outlook for full year

AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLY FRANCE

German premium brands give boost to suppliers amid slump / Poor domestic demand compensated by healthy international business

GERMAN INJECTION MOULDING MARKET

Showing modest growth / Demand boosted by pickup in automotive industry / AMI report

FRANCE

Plastics Processing: 2012 volume drops to 4.5m t / Further declines expected in 2013 / Heavy losses in the automotive sector / Insolvency filings on the rise / Market expected to rebound in 2014