NEWS


News sponsored by


Italian


machinery sales down


Sales of plastics machinery from Italy fell by around 5% in 2025. Amaplast, which


represents manufacturers, says sales fell to €4.4 billion. This was largely due to a corresponding 5% reduction in exports, which fell to €3.4 bn. Italy’s ‘top 10’ export


markets remained the same, but while sales to the US, China and Spain rose those to Germany, France and Mexico fell. Overall, sales of extruders fell 13% to €350 million. At the same time,


imports of technology rose by nearly 24%, confirming “robust domestic demand”, said the association. As a result, the trade balance fell from a record €2.65bn in 2024 to €2.24bn. � www.amaplast.org


UN database seeks clarity in plastic trade


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


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


disaggregating HS codes into plastic-specific catego- ries, it clarifies trends that were previously obscured


within broader groupings allowing analysts to com- pare time series, calculate unit values, and identify trade corridors. Until recently, trade data played only a small role in environmental debates, limiting policymakers’ ability to effectively respond to issues, but adoption of the database promises to overhaul the system. � https://unctad.org


North American machinery sales rose in Q4 2025


Sales of plastics machinery in North America rose slightly in the fourth quarter of last year – the third consecu- tive quarterly increase. Estimates for the quarter indicate


sales of US$327 million – up nearly 8% on the previous quarter and 7% higher year-on-year, says the Plastics Industry Association’s Committee on Equip- ment Statistics (CES).


In primary plastics machinery, single-screw extruders saw a rise of 16% compared to the previous quarter – and 15% compared to Q4 2024. Twin- screw extruder sales fell 8% compared to Q3 – and flat year-on-year. For comparison, injection moulding sales rose nearly 9% on the previous


6 INJECTION WORLD | May/June 2026


quarter, and by 7% over the full year. Sales of primary plastics machinery


rose in step with the US macroecono- my, which grew in 2025 “despite tariff headwinds for many equipment suppliers”. “Market adjustments across the plastics industry supply chain in response to higher tariffs appear to have helped deter further deterioration during what has been a soft plastics manufacturing year,” said Perc Pineda, chief economist at the association. The value of imports rose nearly 2% US$3.5 billion, while exports fell nearly 11% to US$1 billion – pushing the trade deficit in plastics machinery up nearly 8%.


In the latest CES quarterly survey, members were less pessimistic about market conditions. Those anticipating deterioration in the next quarter dropped from 48% to 13%; those expecting conditions to remain steady or improve over the next 12 months rose from 58% to 83%. “The moderate economic growth outlook for 2026 remains unchanged,” said Pineda. “What may have improved is the prospect that sectors that lagged in previous years, such as construction, could outperform as borrowing costs decline – generating increased demand for plastics and, by extension, plastics equipment.” � www.plasticsindustry.org


www.injectionworld.com


IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36