For the Dutch chemical group DSM NV (HQ: PO Box 6510, NL-6401 JH Heerlen), plastics are becoming increasingly important. Two out of the company's three mainstays contain standard thermoplastics and high-grade materials such as engineering polymers, elastomers and resins. DSM's Board Chairman, Simon de Bree, described the company at an international press conference ahead of K '98 as "a top player in the growing plastics market". DSM was strengthening its position in the field of polymers etc. through capital expenditures to increase capacity for PE and PP in Gelsenkirchen. As a result, the company was moving into the top echelons of the European plastics industry. As far as engineering plastics were concerned, DSM was aiming for extremely rapid growth. In the year 2002 – which is also DSM's 100th anniversary – the company wanted to be among the leading polypropylene manufacturers in Europe. With polyethylene, this position had already been reached. Indeed, he said, the company was aiming for a world market share of 5% in the technical polymers segment by the year 2002.

DSM's Performance Polymers portfolio is made up of PP, automotive polymers (primarily based on propylene) as well as ABS and SMA (styrene maleic anhydride copolymer). With a PP capacity of 800,000 t/y (year-end 1998), DSM calculates that it has a market share in western Europe of 10%. Its PP business in 1997 was worth around NLG 1 bn.

With polyethylene, DSM reckons it has a EU market share of 11% and a total capacity (Geleen and Gelsenkirchen) of approximately 1.1m t/y. 1997 sales amounted to NLG 1.6 bn. The western European PE market was expected to grow by 2-3% annually until well into the next decade. By the year 2010, DSM is anticipating a growth in PE consumption of at least 4m t.

DSM Engineering Plastics posted sales in 1997 of NLG 875m. The product portfolio comprises PA 6, PA 66, PBT, PET, TPE-E, PA46, PC, PC/ABS and PC/PET blends. Said Business Group Director Jos Goessens: "Our growth has so far been twice as fast as that of the rest of the market, and we will this year reach the NLG 1 bn sales barrier. This proves that our strategy is successful."

READER SERVICE: Press conference speeches (English) with details on the three DSM plastics segments: Business Group Director Frans Noteborn, Polypropylene: PIE-No. 42879 – Business Group Director C.H. van Dalen, Polyethylene: PIE-No. 42880 – Goessens, Engineering Plastics: PIE-No. 42881.