Business is pointing solidly upward for German plastics manufacturers, reports by the association of German plastics producers, Verband Kunststofferzeugende Industrie eV (VKE, Karlstr. 21, D-60329 Frankfurt), and the German federal office of statistics, Statistisches Bundesamt, indicate. According to VKE, volume sales of all plastics rose 14% in the first half of 1994, turnover increased 11%. Exports climbed 24%, while import gains were held to 16.5%. Soaring demand, due to re-stocking led to fully utilised capacities.

Official statistics for the German market in Q2 1994 show output of polymerisation products up 10% on average against the 1993 quarter to 1.53m t. The rise against Q1 1994 was 4%. While commodity polyolefins and PVC made only modest gains, technical thermoplastics posted double-digit growth against Q2 1993. PET and polyamide production were 50% ahead, while output of polycarbonates was up 23%. Turnover lagged behind production growth, as polymer prices only began to rise substantially towards mid year.

VKE's figures for individual commodities show PVC reversing its downward trend, although output rose only 0.1% in H1 against H1 1994 (-1.6% in Q1 1994 against Q1 1993). PE growth slowed down to 4% in H1 (5.2% in Q1 ). Compared with H1 1993, PP output was up 12% (12.6% in Q1) and PS up 10.6% (6.4%).

Meanwhile, the German plastics converters association, Gesamtverband Kunststoffverarbeitende Industrie eV (GKV, Am Hauptbahnhof 12, D-60329 Frankfurt), has again raised alarm against polymer price increases ranging up to 70% since the start of 1994. The desperate situation on materials markets is likely to intensify, due to capacity cutbacks for commodities, the association said, adding that its members will be forced to hike prices "considerably", in order to survive.

READER SERVICE: Official German production statistics on plastics raw materials Q2 1994 (with comparative data for production volume and value in Q2 1993 and Q1 1994); VKE figures for H1 1994: PIE-No. 36943.