PLASTIC PRODUCTION GROWS 2.6% in the first half

Processed plastics industry grew 2.6% in the first half of this year, compared with the same period last year, according to data from the Brazilian Association of the plastics industry (ABIPLAST). The results were positively influenced by the heating of some sectors, such as automotive (18.3%) and electronics (18.2%), who made the apparent consumption of plastic material grow 3.7% compared to the cumulative 2017. For the year, ABIPLAST expects a growth of 2.5% in physical production, 2% of jobs and 4% on apparent consumption. In June, the physical production has reached 10.7% higher than may, when he had 8% drop due to the truckers ' strike. In comparison with the same month in 2017, the sector registered the positive result of 1%. Already with regard to the generation of jobs, despite the creation of 2700 new vacancies in the year, the segment had 8% drop compared to the same period of the previous year. Despite the positive numbers the plastic industry has not yet resumed growth, as well as other sectors of the economy. The uncertainty of the business environment – such as exchange rate volatility and 2018 elections – and the high cost of production harm the recovery of processed plastics industry. Only the raw materials registered an increase ranging between 10% to 20% depending on the type of resin.