Page 18 - Plastics News December 2019

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Country name Current status and outlook for the plastics industry Current issues affecting plastics industry
● Europe showed a 9% shrink in overall value, caused ● Trade is now threatened with tariffs if there is no
principally by reduced sales in markets outside the deal and we are thrust back on WTO rules.
EU (i.e. Turkey -37%)
● The NAFTA area remains afloat (+1%) thanks to still ● 'Single-Use Plastics', and potential government
growing sales to the United States (+15%). Exports measures to reduce 'problem plastics' through either
to South America have decreased (-6%), even though bans or taxes.
the most important markets are showing signs
of recovery: +5% for Brazil, a surprising +18% for
Argentina and +12% for Colombia
● Exports to the Asian market show a return to ● A tax on ''virgin plastics' has been mooted.
stronger growth (+10% overall) with good progress
for the Far East area (+13% as an average, with
+39% for China). The flow towards the Middle East
revealed a slight weakening (-1%), reflecting the
collapse in exports to Iran (-83%)
● There was an overall decrease in exports towards
the African continent, reflecting lower demand both
from Mediterranean Africa (-26% on average) and
from sub-Saharan countries (-13%)
Austria ● Imports of products in 2019: 212,702,771 or -5,40% ● The decreasing automotive business cycle affects
the plastic and rubber machinery.
● Imports of products in 2018: 439,011,432 or 6,69% ● Packaging industry looking for smart solutions in
order to make innovative offers to the market
stakeholders.
● Exports of products in 2019: 955,746,087 or -5,10% ● Industry needs to be aware of the changes in the
mind of EU and national level regarding recycling
quotas and recyclability.
● Exports of products in 2019: 2,011,168,803 or 4,76% ● Not only the raw materials get more diverse but
the machinery also needs to handle the diverse and
changing materials.
● Plastic consumption in 2019: 315,955,084 or -3,97% ● Design for recycling for plastic and rubber products.
● Plastic consumption in 2018: 618,619,629 o 20,40% ● The new European commission and its initiatives
to tackle climate change, energy efficiency, waste
reduction etc. will impose a huge effort for the
industry dealing with plastic and rubber.
● Employees in 2018: 7107 or 8,62% Instability in the export market.
● Employees in 2019: 7024 or 2,20%
UK ● The UK plastic industry is vulnerable to Brexit as it ● Impact of Brexit on competitiveness
imports over 50% of its raw materials and 90% of the
machinery and the equipment used.
● A significant proportion of firms have foreign parents ● General reputation of plastics
consequently investments have stalled, until there
is greater certainty.
● Trying to change the industry by encouraging higher ● Waste and litter management
recycling levels, introducing eco-design tools such
as pack-score and pushing forward, with operation
‘Clean-Sweep’.

Plastics News December 2019 18