PLASTIC'S EUROPE PRESS CONFERENCE AT 2018 PLASTPOL

For several years it has been Plastpol tradition to present the latest plastics industry
data for Poland and Europe

The  synthetic materials converters association PlasticsEurope use Targi Kielce to present the latest data that indicates that the processors' demand for plastics has been growing and the industry has been dynamically developing.  Plastic consumption in Poland in 2017 amounted to 3.5 million tones - this was the increase of 9% compared to 2016.  This is a very good result juxtaposed with whole Europe whose increase is estimated at 3.5% and the demand at the level of 51.7 million tonnes. Poland's demand for plastics represent's 6.8% of the average European demand.  Demand for plastics ranks Poland sixth in Europe, right after Germany, Italy, France, Spain and the Great Britain.   The overall plastic consumption in particular business segments - packaging industry's demand accounts for 32.5%, (a slight decline compared to last year). In construction sector the demand increased from 24% to 26%.   The automotive (the increase to 10.3%) and E&E (the increase to 6.4%) sectors have demonstrated a constant demand increase.

This substantial Polish converters' demand increase for virgin material means that Poland imports large quantities of polymers which is reflected in the negative trade balance with foreign countries. This imbalance has further increased to each PLN 2202 thousand tones in 2017.  For many years Germany has been Poland's main trading partner in intra-community export and import of plastics in primary forms as well as plastic products.   Outside the EU, Ukraine and Russia are Poland's largest export markets - Ukraine for primary plastics forms and Russia for finished good . Outside the EU, most plastics in primary forms are imported from South Korea. Plastic products are mainly imported from China.

According to CSO, the employment growth in plastic and rubber industry’s manufacturing companies was rated 6.2%. This sector annual production increase reached 9.8%. Yet according to PlasticsEurope estimates, the plastic manufacturing sector as such increased by approx. 9,1%. Plastic and rubber producers are willing to invest in production capacities - 2017's investments increased by 7.2% compared to the previous year with the total value of PLN 4.1 billion, it is approx. 4.7% of the sector sales value and 8.3% of the total investment value in the whole industrial processing business sector.

The PlasticsEurope Polska analyses also indicate that among over 300 largest plastics processing companies in Poland, more than 2/3 are companies with Polish capital which account for 56% of the group turnover.  Foreign capital represents 20 countries, and the greatest number of investors come from Germany, France, Austria and Italy.

The global plastics production volume in 2017 is estimated at the level of 348 million tonnes which indicates an increase of 3.8% compared to the previous year. Forecasts by 2021 indicate that the growth will remain at a similar level, with lower level for standard materials compared to constuction materials (3.7% and 4.5%, respectively). The versatility and usability of plastics as materials for the production of many different commodities is undoubtedly the booster of this uninterrupted, global-scale growth.

Kazimierz Borkowski, Managing Director of the PlasticsEurope Poland Foundation spoke at the 2018 PLASTOP. In his opinion  "Plastics have become commonplace in almost every area of ​​life, they contribute to the hygiene, safety and food safety improvement. Plastics make it possible to innovate. This development is often impossible to achieve without plastics. Not always are we able to appreciate the benefits. This unusual material is often seen from the rubbish perspective which poses the environmental problem.  Polish and European plastics industry face challenges which could have a negative impact on the plastics industry competitiveness. These are related to the Plastics Strategy announced by the European Commission at the beginning of the year and the implementation of the Circular  Economy.  Restrictions related to specific products, as it was the case of plastic bags may also be imposed. It is equally important to stop marine environment pollution caused by abandoned plastic waste. The industry has implemented promotion programs for plastic waste management  proven solutions and correct consumer behaviour promotion. "