The first half of the first decade of the 21st century is drawing to a close, ushering significant changes worldwide. Oil, a scarce commodity, became very expensive, witnessing a quantum jump in prices in 2005. High oil prices have directly impacted petrochemical feedstock and polymer prices. Higher prices of polymers have obviously hampered the growth and consumption of polymers to some extent. Due to rise in oil and feedstock prices there is a clear shift for new petrochemical capacities to the Middle Eastern countries, with access to abundant oil and feedstock.
Interestingly, a cautious reading delivered previously that doubling in crude oil prices since 2003 could undo global recovery has seen a turnaround, as reflected in IMF’s world growth forecast for 2006 at a robust 4.3% compared with a 3.9% average in the past decade.While no clear picture emerges for the global GDP growth in 2005, it is expected to be in the region of 3.5-4%. It would not be surprising that India will end up with 8% growth in GDP in 2005.
Know in detail the growth and consumption patterns in the various sectors of the plastics industry from addition in capacities of raw materials, additives, masterbatches to various segments of the plastics processing industry including flexible packaging, rigid packaging, pipes, injection moulding, rotational moulding, etc.
To know how the Indian economy as a whole, and the plastics industry in particular has performed in 2005, read
The New Years Message-2006

The plastemart.com team wishes you "A Very Happy New Year"