China to record largest growth in plastics processing machinery

5 January 2006

Global demand for plastics processing machinery is forecast to expand 3.5% per year to $18.8 billion in 2009, according to a new study by US market research firm The Freedonia Group, Inc. China will record the largest gains of any national market through 2009, when the nation will account for one-fifth of total world demand. Sales conditions are also expected to be strong in India and Russia, as well as in lower-volume markets such as Turkey, the Czech Republic and Iran. Demand in these and other developing countries will be stimulated by healthy economic growth, on-going industrialization efforts and rising personal incomes.

The company adds that in the US and Japan, plastics processing equipment markets will show renewed strength following a period of decline, and West European market growth will accelerate through 2009. Gains will be fuelled by generally favourable economic conditions and higher income levels, leading to a rise in plastics product consumption and manufacturing output, and bolstering related machinery sales as fixed investment activity increases.

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