Belgian rubber and plastics manufacturers equivocal on 2013 prospects

ERJ staff report (BC)

Brussels – Federplast.be, the Belgian association of manufacturers of plastic and rubber products, has published a member survey to coincide with its general assembly.

Members report a 2.6 percent drop in production volume in 2012.

For 2013, 31percent of members’ CEOs expect a business growth, while 37percent foresee a further deterioration. Employment fell by 2.4 percent.

Federplast cites as a positive result that 80 percent of the plastics and rubber converting plants in Belgium see themselves as “innovative” – the second highest score in Europe after Germany.