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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tracy Cullen
(202) 974-5282
Email: tcullen@plasticsindustry.org

SPI RELEASES FIRST QUARTER PLASTICS MACHINERY SHIPMENT STATISTICS

Extrusion Machinery Shipments Spike 46 Percent Higher Than Same Quarter Last Year; New Machinery Spending Expected to Gain Momentum in Second Half of 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 20, 2007)—U.S. manufacturers and importers of primary plastics machinery and equipment shipped $219 million worth of primary machinery (excluding components and auxiliary equipment) in the first quarter 2007, according to the latest equipment statistics released today by the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) Committee on Equipment Statistics (CES). Specifically, SPI reports that extrusion machinery unit shipments increased 46 percent when compared to the same quarter a year ago and 6 percent higher than the fourth quarter of 2006.

"The quarterly machinery shipment statistics report serves as an important tool for examining and understanding the U.S. plastics machinery and equipment industry, as well as the economic trends that impact it," said Walt Bishop, vice president of SPI's Equipment Council and executive director of the trade association's machinery division.

The first quarter 2007 statistics indicate that U.S. manufacturers and importers of primary plastics machinery and equipment shipped $219 million worth of primary machinery (excluding components and auxiliary equipment). This is an 11 percent decrease from the $245 million shipped in the first quarter of 2006. However, economist Bill Wood, who provided the analysis for SPI's report, forecasts a small improvement for the second quarter and the rest of the year. "The main reasons for the decline include the high price of resins and energy; the ongoing struggles of the Detroit-based auto makers and the continued decline in residential construction and real estate activity," said Wood. "However, spending for new machinery should begin to pick up gradually in the second half of this year. For 2007 as a whole, the forecast is for no change in total investment for new industrial equipment when compared with 2006."

Other data included in the report:

  • Extrusion machinery units shipped in the first quarter of 2007 increased 46 percent from the amount shipped during the same quarter last year, and 6 percent from the number of units shipped in the fourth quarter of 2006.
  • The 23 new blow molding machinery units shipped in the fist quarter of 2007 is identical to the number of units that shipped in the first quarter of last year. The shipments dollar value of $15 million in the first quarter of 2007 is 50 percent higher than the first quarter of last year.
  • Units of injection molding machinery shipped in the first quarter of 2007 decreased 21 percent when compared to the same quarter in 2006.
  • The plastics components sector saw a decrease of 11 percent when compared to the first quarter of 2006 and a 4 percent decline from the fourth quarter of 2006.
  • The end-market and machinery segments that enjoyed solid gains in the first quarter included medical, aerospace, computers, and packaging.
  • Capacity utilization rates stayed at a high level, and total output for plastics processors continued to expand during the first quarter of 2007.

Using monthly data supplied by CES participating companies, the report was compiled by VERIS Consulting, LLC. The analysis of the aggregate data was completed by Mountaintop Economics & Research, Inc., a supplier of market analyses and forecasts for decision makers in the plastics industry.

SPI's CES is the only provider of timely and reliable plastics equipment statistics in the country. The reports can be found online at SPI's at SPI's Plastics Industry Store. The cost is free for members. Nonmembers can purchase the reports at a cost of $580 for the Annual Report (includes the fourth quarter report) or $250 for an individual quarterly report.

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Founded in 1937, The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., is the trade association representing one of the largest manufacturing industries in the United States. SPI's members represent the entire plastics industry supply chain, including processors, machinery and equipment manufacturers and raw materials suppliers. The U.S. plastics industry employs 1.1 million workers and provides nearly $341 billion in annual shipments.


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