EU market for plastics and additives once again under pressure

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Polymers for Europe Alliance was set up by the European Plastics Converters association (EuPC) in 2015 due to the shortage of polymers for converters in Europe. Its objective is to build and maintain good communications between suppliers and customers of polymers and additives in Europe following the catastrophic situation during the first semester 2015.

The issue that is today threatening large parts of the plastics conversion industry in Europe is the supply of Titanium Dioxide where unplanned maintenance shutdowns are limiting production, thereby restricting output and driving up additives prices to uncompetitive levels. No extra volumes seem to be made available for Europe by the producers from outside the EU to support the growth in the plastics industry markets, especially for some PVC building applications and polymer masterbatches.

“We call upon all the TiO2 producers to help our plastics converting industry to create a global level playing field to secure the development of our business in Europe,” says Ron Marsh, Chairman of the Polymers for Europe Alliance.

At the same time some polymer supplies are getting very tight and plastics converters have difficulties to pass on the large price increases to their customers. It seems that the margin of the converters sandwiched between polymer suppliers and users of plastics is being squeezed in growing markets, and this is damaging business prospects in the first quarter of 2017.

In this context, the Best Polymer Producers Awards for Europe 2017, an initiative by the Polymers for Europe Alliance, become even more interesting. The Awards will give a clear indication which polymer suppliers will have won the trust of the European converters when it comes to material delivery reliability. The Awards voting is open for all users of polymers in Europe until 15 May 2017. The final Awards Ceremony will take place during the Gala Dinner of the European Plastics Converters Annual Meeting on 1 June 2017 in Madrid.

 

About Polymers for Europe Alliance

The Alliance was initiated by the European Plastics Converters association (EuPC) during its General Assembly in May 2015. It is an online, confidential information platform open to all parties who have an interest in the competitive conversion of polymers in Europe. Its objectives are to provide factual public information on the status of the polymer supply situation in Europe and to re-establish a constructive dialogue with the supply base.

Some initiatives of the Alliance in 2016 include the launch of the Best Polymer Producers Awards for Europe as well as an exploratory industry study to assess the level of competitiveness of the European plastics converting industry.

www.polymercomplyeurope.eu/pce-services/polymers-europe-alliance

 

About European Plastics Converters (EuPC)

EuPC is the EU-level Trade Association, based in Brussels, representing European Plastics Converters. Plastics converters (sometimes called "Processors") are the heart of the plastics industry. They manufacture plastics semi-finished and finished products for an extremely wide range of industrial and consumer markets - the automotive electrical and electronicpackaging, construction and healthcare industries, to name but a few.

www.plasticsconverters.eu

 

About Polymer Comply Europe (PCE)

PCE is a service provider for the plastics industry specialised in EU legislation. Since 1989 we have been closely working with the industry developing an in-depth knowledge and wide experience in EU Regulatory Compliance, Association Management and Projects & Studies.

Due to the increasing complexity of EU legislation, companies can benefit from more legal and technical advice. Companies involved in the plastics industry can get support on how to cope with this burden and our experts can provide you with the best expertise. You will receive informed advice from our best EU experts. For this we decided to develop a pool of EU plastics experts under our service company Polymer Comply Europe, based in Brussels.

www.polymercomplyeurope.eu

Eva Schneider

Communications Officer, www.polymercomplyeurope.eu

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About Polymer Comply Europe

Polymer Comply Europe (PCE) is a service provider for the plastics industry specialised in EU legislation. Since 1989 we have been closely working with the industry developing an in-depth knowledge and wide experience in EU Regulatory Compliance, Association Management and Projects & Studies.

Due to the increasing complexity of EU legislation, companies can benefit from more legal and technical advice. Companies involved in the plastics industry can get support on how to cope with this burden and our experts can provide you with the best expertise. You will receive informed advice from our best EU experts. For this we decided to develop a pool of EU plastics experts under our service company Polymer Comply Europe, based in Brussels.

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www.polymercomplyeurope.eu