NEWS
North American plastics machinery deliveries “encouraging” in Q2
Deliveries of primary plastics machinery (extru- sion and injection moulding equipment) in North America increased in the second quarter of this year, according to the Plastics Industry Association’s Committee on Equipment Statistics (CES). After declining by more than 27% in the first quarter, deliveries increased by more than 8% in the second quarter. However, compared with the corresponding period of last year, the figures were down by nearly 13%. The preliminary estimate
of deliveries exceeded US$295 million. Those for single- and twin-screw extru- sion equipment both increased by more than 13%. (For comparison, those for injection moulding rose by more than 7%.) While the value of deliveries of
tion. “What’s happening is not surprising, judging from the macroeconomic environment. Real business investment spending in the second quarter fell, and investment spending in industrial equipment flattened in the second quarter.” The CES also conducts a
Pineda: “Second quarter numbers are encouraging, but shipments remain compara- tively low”
single-screw extruders rose by more than 4% compared to one year ago, the value for twin-screw extruders was down by nearly 30%. “The second quarter numbers are encouraging, but machinery shipments remain comparatively lower than the previous quarters,” said Perc Pineda, chief economist at the associa-
quarterly survey of plastics machinery suppliers that asks about present market conditions and expectations for the future. In the coming quarter, 56% of respondents expect conditions to improve or hold steady – lower than the 70% that felt this way in the previous quarter. Over the next 12 months, 53% expect market conditions to be steady-to- better – down from 60% in the previous quarter’s survey. Exports in the second quarter reached nearly
$379m – a 4.3% increase from the previous quarter. Mexico, Canada and Germany remained the largest US export markets – and together accounted for 53% of the total. Exports to China rose
more than 11% in the second quarter, but this was 37% lower than during the same period in 2018. There are also trade issues to be resolved, he said.
“Mexico has ratified the
US-Mexico-Canada Agree- ment (USMCA), but the US and Canada have yet to sign off on this trade pact. Unless that is resolved, the uncer- tainty from the ongoing US-China trade dispute will continue to run high and will negatively impact not only the plastics industry but the global economy,” said Pineda. �
www.plasticsindustry.org
Turkish slowdown hits Deceuninck
Belgian plastic profiles extruder Deceuninck blamed a slowdown in the Turkish economy for a fall in perfor- mance in the first half of the year. Sales decreased by more than 8% to
around €312 million (US$341m). This led to an 8% decline in EBITDA to around €26m (US$28m). “The effects of the economic downturn in Turkey continued into 2019,” said Francis Van Eeckhout, CEO of Deceuninck. “We remain convinced of its long term potential – because of its large domestic market and its potential as export hub. However the
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timing of the recovery remains difficult to predict.” Poor sales to Turkey were slightly
offset by growth in emerging markets – but combined sales to these territo- ries fell by 28%. Sales in the USA rose by nearly 2%, while sales in Europe – the company’s main market – remained stable at around €171m (US$187m) for the period. Strong performances in Spain, the UK and Poland was offset by weaker demand in France. “In Europe we are making good
progress with the integration of Western and Central Europe and the
PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION | September 2019
launch of our new product ranges,” said Van Eeckhout. “We are also happy that our new recycling plant is ramping up as this is a key element in our sustainability commitment.” The recycling plant, in Diksmuide in
Belgium, will eventually allow the company to recycle up to 45,000 tonnes/year of PVC – equivalent to around 2m window frames. In addition, the company is optimis-
ing its product range and integrating its Western and Central Europe regions under a single management team. �
www.deceuninck.com
www.pipeandprofile.com
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