Plastic prices might finally begin a downward slide..

News around the recent  Interpack exhibition in Dusseldorf  seemed to indicate a further 15% expected rise in  the cost of Polyamide (nylon) granulate but it seems other plastic prices may have levelled out.

Story is that the Chinese have been a huge consumer – paying over the odds and leaving the West with supply/demand issues - but that they have been building local production capacity.  As this comes on stream (we have no timetable) prices are expected to head South giving us all a welcome reduction in cost base, we hope.

The basic cause of unwelcome price fluctuations – more properly described as unjustified upward movements – is and has been the lack of competition between the producers of plastic granulate.

A situation food packaging and food production businesses have never experienced, we think!