Asia/Pacific demand for PET resin rising The Asia/Pacific region remains critical to understanding the world market for PET. It continues to exhibit exceptional growth in demand and has more than half of the world's resin producers and more than one-third of its total solid-state capacity, according to a report by PCI PET Packaging, Resin & Recycling Ltd., of Derby, England.
Despite having taken some macroeconomic knocks in the last two years, the markets for PET packaging in the Asia/Pacific area have continued to grow, and today are at levels almost 48 percent above those in 1997. The region's markets remain different from the world in general with the carbonated soft drink sector making up a relatively smaller proportion of demand.
This is expected to remain the case. By 2008, carbonated soft drinks should represent a little less than 28 percent of total resin throughput, with 21 percent and 14 percent respectively coming from the mineral water and hot-fill sectors.
The report provides details of more than 400 resin producers now operating within the region. PCI's fully revised fourth edition of its long-term "Supply/Demand Report for PET Resin in the Asia/Pacific Region" costs $4,500 or 4,300 euros. The 314-page report analyzes all aspects of the region's domestic market development through 2008 as well as its production capacity build up.
Tel. +44 (133) 229-5200, fax +44 (133) 229-5225.
U.S. need for TPEs to increase 6.7%
Demand for thermoplastic elastomers in the United States is forecast to increase 6.7 percent a year to 1.4 billion pounds in 2003, according to a report from Freedonia Group Inc. of Cleveland.
Despite strong volume gains, overall pricing for TPEs will be sluggish, with the average price per pound rising 2 percent annually to $2.40 in 2003, leading to a market value of $3.3 billion. As the U.S. TPE industry continues to mature, future gains in demand will increasingly rely on the development of products, applications and markets, and the displacement of latex in the medical product market.
Motor vehicles will continue to be the largest outlet for TPEs, with gains based on efforts to reduce weight and consolidate components, as well as recyclablity of TPE parts. The most rapid annual gains will be in the smaller medical products market, where environmental concerns involving plasticizers and potential allergies to latex are promoting greater use of TPEs in blood bags, stoppers and closures, and hoses and tubing. Styrenic block copolymers are the largest product segment, accounting for 44 percent of total demand in 1998.
The 313-page "Thermoplastic Elastomers" is available for $3,700.
Tel. (440) 684-9600, fax (440) 646-0484, e-mail [email protected] group.com.
Rotational molding growing in Europe
Since the early 1990s rotational molding has been growing at an annual rate of between 9 and 11 percent, and it is estimated that by 2002 total European polymer consumption for rotomolding will exceed 286,000 tons, according to a new report by Applied Market Information Ltd., in Bristol, England.
During the last 10 years, the industry has been enjoying a consistent state of expansion, which has seen the number of companies involved increase to more than 250. In fact, consumption of polymers for rotomolding is growing far more quickly than other mainstream processes and is forecast to continue in this way until 2002.
Linear low density polyethylene accounts for more than 90 percent of all material used for rotomolding in Europe. As rotomolding technology has improved, there has been an increasing trend for its use across Europe, particularly in markets requiring small volumes of large moldings.
"AMI's Guide to the Rotational Molding Industry in Europe" costs 150 or 240 euros ($232). The 178-page report contains detailed information on about 250 companies involved in rotomolding and the number of machines operated at each site.
Tel. +44 (117) 924-9442, fax +44 (117) 989-2128, e-mail [email protected] plastics.com.
Asai economy causes additives market slip
The economic crisis in Asia has caused a decline of 1 percent in the global additive market to $15 billion, while volume increased nearly 6 percent to 17 billion pounds in the 1996-1998 time frame, according to a study by TownsendTarnell Inc. of Houston.
Market growth in the 5 percent range is expected during the next five years, with total worldwide volume exceeding 21 billion pounds by 2004.
The study also analyzes the drivers impacting the future outlook for plastic additives including environmental issues, new technologies, intermaterial competition, supplier consolidation and greater customer focus.
One of the most significant findings is the rapid rise in additive blends for enhanced materials handling, dosage and economics, especially in Europe.
"Chemical Additives For Plastic — 1999" has 15 chapters, covering 15 different families of plastic additives. The 370-page report costs $9,800.
Tel. (973) 347-5300, fax (973) 347-6466.
Report evaluates dry-process recycling
A new report by the Environment and Plastics Industry Council of Mississauga, Ontario, evaluates dry-process recycling technologies for contaminated streams of polyethylene film. It shows there is economic merit in using this processing method over more conventional wash/ dry systems for certain applications.
The report discusses two air-classification systems and four densification processes. The dry-processing system offers opportunity for several PE waste streams where the level of contamination is relatively small but still unacceptable.
"Processing Options for PE Bags and Films in Composite Applications" is available free of charge by downloading a copy directly from EPIC's Web site at www.plastics.ca/epic. EPIC is a council of the Canadian Plastics Industry Association.
Tel. (905) 678-7405 ext. 231, fax (905) 678-0774, e-mail [email protected] cpia.ca.
U.K. economy hurts plastics industry
Economic conditions in the United Kingdom in 1999 acted as a significant constraint to the development of the U.K. plastics industry, according to a new report by the British Plastics Federation in London.
The report presents opinions of 135 of the United Kingdom's leading plastics industry's decision makers. Materials supply, processing and machinery supply are the three main sections. In addition, information on changes in price, stock levels, output, profitability and capital investment are included.
Forecasts and historical information about the plastics industry in the United Kingdom are discussed.
"Business Trends Survey — 2000, The Industry Looks Ahead to a Brighter Future" costs 120 ($190).
Tel. +44 (171) 457-5000.
Medical packaging to see more growth
Revenues in the United States medical and pharmaceutical packaging markets reached more than $2.25 billion in 1999 and further growth is forecasted through 2006, according to a new report by Frost & Sullivan of Mountain View, Calif.
Increasing health awareness and conversion of prescription drugs to over-the-counter drugs are major market drivers. U.S. resin suppliers are gearing up to meet this increase in demand. Advancements in packaging technology have enabled fabricators to produce products with similar performance properties, using less material.
Nearly 60 companies participated in "U.S. Market for Plastics in Medical and Pharmaceutical Packaging" which costs $3,450.
Tel. (210) 348-1018, e-mail [email protected]