News Plastech
The growing scale of online shopping and returns is placing greater demands on logistics. Packaging automation is intended to handle varied orders more efficiently, reduce manual work and accelerate the return of products to sale.
Qemetica has started selling agricultural products in the Australian market through Qemetica Agricultural Solutions Australia. The group describes Australia as a strategic point for expansion in the Asia-Pacific region.
Milar Sp. z o. o., part of the Biesterfeld Group, is expanding its distribution mandate for DuPont's Molykote specialty lubricants portfolio in Poland. From 1 August 2026, distribution of the brand on the Polish market will be consolidated under Milar.
Polytives GmbH has entered into a distribution partnership with Canadian company Simcoe Plastics Ltd. The cooperation is intended to provide direct access to polymer additives in the Canadian market and serve as a basis for further expansion in North America.
The Wittmann Group has established Wittmann Maroc Sarl in Casablanca to serve growing demand for injection molding technology in North Africa. Operations began on September 1, 2025, with Redouane Soukrat appointed as general manager.
The European plastics industry faces challenges from strict regulations, rising recycling demands, and record-high energy costs. Production is shifting outside the EU, risking dependence on imports and weakened competitiveness.
Haitian International reported first-half 2025 revenue of RMB 9.02 billion, up 12.5% year on year, with sales volume rising 8.8% to 29,438 injection molding machines. Overseas revenue increased 34.7% to RMB 3.82 billion.
At the start of August 2025, as expected, producers rolled over last month’s prices, but by the middle of the first week they began offering small discounts.
Specialty chemicals company Lanxess signed a contract to sell its Urethane Systems business to Japanese UBE Corporation.
Interview with Grzegorz Wróbel, Bole Sales Manager Poland.
As previously reported by Chem-Courier, demand for food film and plastic bottles may increase in the near future due to European events such as the Olympics and the Football Championship, which will take place this summer.
PE, PP demand continues to remain low in Poland. Market players note that off-grade material has been more popular this month.
Sluggish demand continues to negatively affect market conditions. Low demand in Europe is likely to prompt further price declines next month.
KraussMaffei is selling its Swiss subsidiary Netstal Maschinen AG to Krones AG, a a long-standing Netstal customer that manufactures machines for filling and packaging beverages and liquid foods.
After two years venturing the North American market where Syncro Group USA is currently consolidating its new headquarters, Paolo Gasparotto, come back home in a new vest: Group Sales Director.
The majority of players expect recycled polyethylene's (R-PE) tough trading conditions to continue into 2024 due to ongoing bearish macroeconomic conditions, although many expect this to improve compared with 2023.
The polyolefin market has started reviving in H1 January. Market players say that in addition to completing December deliveries, they already have new orders for PP and PE, with the former bought more frequently than the latter.
Demand has been low in the Polish polyolefin market in the last pre-holiday week, according to Chem-Courier’s data. Converters have been tapping into their raw material stocks or purchasing only small batches.
According to estimates by the Amaplast-MECS Statistical Study Center, in 2023 the Italian plastics and rubber machinery production could set a new all-time record for the sector of over 4.8 billion euros, racking up a gain of at least three points over 2022.
According to traders, clients have been ordering both large lots of several hundred tonnes and small ones of under 24 t delivered on pallets.
Despite raw material depreciation, converters did not buy more, they continue to purchase raw materials only on an as-needed basis. Some of them are using the stocks built during previous months
Polish converters continue to buy polyolefins on an ad hoc basis, and if possible, hold off new purchases in anticipation of further price cuts. Packaging remains one of the most active consuming industries.
Although polyolefins have got cheaper this month, converters have still been holding off restocking and have been reduced purchases compared with October.
Monomer contract prices were announced early this week.
Converters, as usual, have been sluggish in the market in late October. All of its players have been waiting for new price announcements.
According to Chem-Courier’s data, PE demand is below average in Poland. PP, especially random copolymers and high-MFI injection-moulding grades, in contrast, are sought after. However, a shortage of those PP types led to inability to fully cover the current customers’ needs.
Chem-Courier forecasts polyolefins to hold their value until the end of the month.
The end of September has seen increased demand for polyolefins compared with the middle of the month in the Polish market.
Factory automation company reinforces global leadership.
Lerg S.A. has acquired a total of 76 per cent of WeButex Kunststoffbearbeitung GmbH, one of the best-known processors of thermoset laminates.
Film LDPE grades, especially those with MFI=0.3, have been unavailable on the Polish market this week.
Polyolefin converters are far from active now, according to Polish market players.
According to Chem-Courier’s data, the Polish polyolefin market was awaiting the announcement of new prices last week.
A reported shortage of polyolefins in Poland has caused panic among converters.
Demand for polyolefins has strengthened in Poland since last month.
"Many customers are interested in prices and will most likely start restocking in August" - a market participant said.