The plastics sector in former Czechoslovakia changed beyond recognition since the “velvet revolution” of 1989. Most of the massive state-owned production facilities have been split into smaller entities and privatized. The majority were taken over by foreigners or local entrepreneurs. Today, the market research firm Applied Market Information (AMI, Bristol / UK; www.amiplastics.com) lists 607 plastics converters in its report “Plastics Processing in Czech and Slovak Republics”. 496 of these are in the Czech and 111 in the Slovak Republic.

In the Slovak Republic polymer consumption has grown at an impressive average rate of 9% a year since 2001, reaching 375,000 t in 2007. At around 7%, growth has been slightly lower in the Czech Republic, but total consumption roughly doubled since 2001, reaching 770,000 t in 2007. The main growth drivers in both countries have been multinational OEMs and their suppliers – predominantly in the automotive industry.

It is not just the major players that have benefited from these high growth rates. Many small and mid-sized converters have emerged, even though firms of this size were completely non-existent prior to 1989. Many of these are highly specialised – in terms of both the processing methods used and the market niches supplied. They are particularly prevalent in the Czech Republic.

Book service:
AMI´s "Plastics Processing in Czech & Slovak Republics 2009", 3rd edition, 2008, soft cover, 211 pages: EUR 230.00 + VAT, PIE-No: 47338, Gold-CD: EUR 390.00 EUR + VAT, PIE-No: 47341.