PLASTIC ADDITIVES - THE EUROPEAN MARKET IN A GLORAL FNVIRONMFNT

摘要

In 2006 the European market for plastic additives had a volume of 2680 thousand tons and a market value of 4,4 billion EURO. The European market represents about 22% of the global market. The European plastic additives industry operates under challenging conditions. As the Western European market is mature it offers little growth opportunities and suffers from high raw material costs and increasing regulatory burden. Eastern Europe shows good growth opportunities due to the improving economical situation reflected in various new polymer- and compounding-plants. Only a few additive producers survived the end of the state-directed economies, so the Central and Eastern European markets today are mainly served by imports.The additive industry has to deal with the globalization as a threat and an opportunity. The markets are moving east while companies from the east are targeting Europe as a potential market. The shift of plastic processing industry to the east is an advantage for the European additives industry as proven quality and service can be offered based on longtime cooperation.