A study of thermoplastic polymer demand in Western Europe shows a slightly improving picture, with an especially intriguing forecast for recyclers of plastic.
The study, conducted by Applied Market Information Ltd., (AMI) Bristol, U.K., shows polymer demand in Western Europe grew 3 percent in 2002 after slumping in 2001.
Concerning the near future, the study’s authors note that the European Union (EU) mandates concerning end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) could change the types of polymers used in the auto components market.
The automotive market is a large one for polymers makers, the report notes, and one that tends “to hold up better” in cyclical markets, according to AMI.
Less predictable, the reports author conclude, are exactly which polymers might be in demand if recycling mandates figure into the equation. “Concerns regarding the implementation of EU legislation concerning the recycling of cars may lead to a change in the materials specified,” a press release summarizing the report states.
Following ELV mandates, “May lead to a trend towards polypropylene and other polyolefin-based materials that are perceived to be easier and cheaper to recycle than styrenic-based materials,” the release adds.
Commodity resins most commonly used in packaging will continue to remain in demand, the report forecasts. This is “mainly because of the strength of packaging markets, particularly for injection-molded and extruded polypropylene and ongoing growth in the PET bottle and sheet sector,” says the release. According to AMI, current growth is largely being driven by packaging applications.