NEWS


Otter Tail PVC pipe


sales fall US industrial company Otter Tail saw sales and profits fall in its PVC pipe extrusion division last year.


Sales fell 9% to US$423


million, driven by a decline in sales prices – though this was slightly offset by an 8% rise in sales volume, thanks to additional production capacity.


At the same time,


profits slumped by 15% to US$170m due mainly to the lower sales prices, though was partially offset by lower PVC resin prices. The company also


expects the division to suf- fer this year due to falling prices, offset by increased volumes (due to extra capacity at its Phoenix plant) and flat raw material costs. � www.ottertail.com


Teraplast sees sales and profits boost in 2025


TeraPlast of Romania reported a rise in sales and profits in 2025. The company, which


many products including pipes and profiles, saw a 21% rise in sales for the year, exceeding RON1 billion (US$220 million). At the same time,


profitability (EBITDA) rose by 75% to nearly RON87m (US$18m). The company said this reflected higher domes- tic and export sales, and higher production volumes. Turnover in the pipes business (called ‘installa- tions’) grew 22% to RON784m (US$178m), driven by a national invest- ment programme. However, market conditions deterio- rated in the final quarter. At the same time, EBITDA rose 34% to RON 69m (US$16m). This is the bulk of TeraPlast’s business, accounting for


Crăciunaș: “Return to profitability reflects financial discipline and good cost structure management”


72% of sales. Its windows business, which accounts for 5% of sales, grew 6% to RON55m (US$12m), with a huge rise in profitability. “Our return to profitabil- ity and the significant growth in EBITDA reflect both financial discipline and good cost structure man- agement,” said Bogdan Crăciunaș, chief financial


officer of TeraPlast. “The expansion of our geograph- ical footprint, driven by our factories outside Romania, is becoming increasingly visible in our performance.” The company also


increased sales volume by 12% – with nearly 123,000 tonnes. This was mainly driven by growth in the Installations and Packaging divisions. This reflects the impact of increased busi- ness at its factories in Hungary and Moldova, and the contribution of Optiplast in Croatia – which was consolidated into TeraPlast’s results from December 2024.


In 2026, it expects to


grow volumes by a further 18%, sales by 16% and profits by 18% – reaching a turnover of RON1.26 billion (US$280m). � www.teraplast.ro


UN database aims for clarity in plastics trade


UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has launched an expanded database that it said brings a new level of transparency to global plastics trade. “By showing how plastics and substitute materials move through trade, these databases help govern- ments align trade policies with environ- mental action for people and planet,” said Chantal Line Carpentier, head of the Trade, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Branch at UNCTAD. Designed for policy makers, recy-


clers, brand owners, and investors, the platform aggregates customs records into harmonised indicators covering


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polymer types, primary forms, semi- finished goods, and selected products, providing comprehensive data on global trade flows. The database tracks imports and


exports by economy and partner, enabling users to map supply chains, quantify virgin resin price cycles, and assess the effectiveness of waste trade controls. UNCTAD said that by disaggregat- ing HS codes into plastic-specific categories, it clarifies trends that were previously obscured within broader groupings allowing analysts to com- pare time series, calculate unit values, and identify trade corridors.


PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION | Spring 2026 Until recently, trade data played only a


small role in environmental debates, limiting policymakers’ ability to effectively respond to issues, but the widespread adoption of the database promises to overhaul the system and provide a consistent, reliable source of data. UNCTAD has paired the data with


interactive dashboards and open downloads. It said that by standardis- ing how plastics are counted in trade statistics, the database helps turn customs declarations into strategic assets for faster market assessments and clearer risk signals. Updates are scheduled annually. � https://unctad.org


www.pipeandprofile.com


IMAGE: TERAPLAST


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