Saudi resin maker Sabic (Riyadh; www.sabic.com) has warned of demand problems in the global market in the first part of next year.

The company expects “a very challenging beginning of next year, said Sami Al-Osaimi, acting VP of petrochemicals at the Saudi producer in response to Plasteurope.com at the K 2022 Show in Düsseldorf, Germany.

He said the company expects improvements in the situation by mid-year. “I’m really optimistic,” he noted, adding that he expects that the market will “balance itself”.

Al-Osaimi touted the producer’s work on recycled materials and pointed to a recent cooperation with US candymaker Mars Wrigley (Hackettstown, New Jersey; www.mars.com) and German waste specialist Landbell (Mainz; www.landbell-group.com). Sabic said biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film based on its circular Trucircle PP from feedstock recycling of post-consumer plastics will be used to wrap the American company’s Kind brand snack bar.

The mono-material packaging solution continues the partners’ efforts to support a circular economy, Sabic said.