PLASTICS MARKETS EUROPE
European Compounders and Masterbatchers Association questions legality of recent FMs / Latest group to express worry about current situation
Joining the chorus of European plastics associations that have expressed concern about the recent spate of force majeure announcements (Plasteurope.com has reported extensively), the European Compounders and Masterbatchers Association (EuMBC, Brussels / Belgium; www.compounders.eu) has said the 11 cases of FM announced in Europe since the start of the year have resulted in low product availability, shortages and also significant price increases.
Echoing the sentiment expressed by the German industry association Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen (IK, Bad Homburg; www.kunststoffverpackungen.de) – which recently questioned the validity of these FMs (see Plasteurope.com of 10.04.2015) – EuMBC says it has “not seen convincing evidence justifying these recent declarations of force majeure”, adding that only technical reasons have been cited by producers. For this reason, EuMBC said it is “further investigating the matter in order to respond appropriately” to what it called a “critical situation.”
The association also warned that the current situation will affect the entire plastics chain, down to consumers, adding that it will subsequently “endanger employment in Europe.”
Echoing the sentiment expressed by the German industry association Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen (IK, Bad Homburg; www.kunststoffverpackungen.de) – which recently questioned the validity of these FMs (see Plasteurope.com of 10.04.2015) – EuMBC says it has “not seen convincing evidence justifying these recent declarations of force majeure”, adding that only technical reasons have been cited by producers. For this reason, EuMBC said it is “further investigating the matter in order to respond appropriately” to what it called a “critical situation.”
The association also warned that the current situation will affect the entire plastics chain, down to consumers, adding that it will subsequently “endanger employment in Europe.”
22.04.2015 Plasteurope.com [231014-0]
Published on 22.04.2015