Germany’s waste plastic market remained on a downward trajectory in September. All grades became cheaper, sometimes markedly so. The dramatic plunge in demand at some converters and recyclers in the wake of the recession, weaker private consumption and the lack of clarity about energy prices is having an even greater impact.
One longstanding market player provided an extremely dramatic description of the situation for recycled standard polymers in just a few words: price cuts for regranulate, converters not accepting any more material, over 50 per cent of orders cancelled, short-time working, buyers filing for insolvency and significant price cuts for input material. In his opinion, the German government must take swift action on energy costs. Otherwise, soon Germany wouldn’t have a plastic recycling industry left anymore....
