Processors under pressure

EuPC states that plastics converting companies have come under renewed pressure through increasing raw materials prices. There has been a sharp upswing in prices across the board for most polymers, commodity and engineering, and this is both seriously compromising processors with their customers as well as threatening profitability. EuPC's member national associations are reporting increases of up to 20% since December 2011. As much as 70% of their selling price is accounted for by raw material costs and their international competitiveness is extremely vulnerable when, as at the moment, they don't appear to have a level playing field with Asian processors.