With an annual growth rate of 6%, the European plastic distribution sector continues to grow about twice as fast as the plastics market as a whole, Applied Market Information (Bristol / UK; www.amiplastics.com) says in a new multi-client study that provides information on and ranks 200 distributors in 25 countries.

According to the study, European distributors sold more than 4m t of polymers in 2006, representing 13% of the total European plastics market volume of around 31m t, comprised mostly of polypropylene followed by polyamides. A further 9% is sold through traders and 7% through electronic exchanges. Direct sales from producers to converters still account for by far the largest share of European market sales. Altogether, distributors bought in plastics worth EUR 5.25 bn in 2006 and sold them on at EUR 5.9 bn, thus creating added value of around EUR 650m.