FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tracy Cullen
(202) 974-5282

SPI RELEASES SECOND QUARTER PLASTICS MACHINERY SHIPMENT STATISTICS
Year-to-Date Blow Molding Shipments Up 20 Percent Compared to 2006; Forecast is for Gradual Uptrend in Equipment Spending for Remainder of 2007

WASHINGTON, DC (August 21, 2007) - U.S. manufacturers and importers of primary plastics machinery and equipment shipped $225 million worth of primary machinery (excluding components and auxiliary equipment) in the second quarter of 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 the 25 blow molding machinery units shipped in the second quarter of 2007 is eight more machines than were shipped in the second quarter of 2006, and two more than were shipped in the first quarter of 2007. For the year to date, the total number of blow molding units shipped is up 20 percent when compared with 2006.

“SPI’s 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 second quarter 2007 statistics indicate that U.S. manufacturers and importers of primary plastics machinery and equipment shipped $225 million worth of primary machinery (excluding components and auxiliary equipment). This is a nine percent decrease from the $247 million shipped in the second quarter of 2006, but is three percent higher than the $219 million shipped in the first quarter of 2007.

Economist Bill Wood, who provided the analysis for SPI’s report, forecasts improvement for the rest of the year. “Total U.S. investment in industrial equipment—the category that includes plastics machinery and equipment—registered a significant jump in the second quarter after three consecutive quarterly declines,” said Wood. “The slow uptrend in the overall equipment spending data will persist through the end of this year and into 2008. For 2007 as a whole, the forecast is for a two percent gain in total investment for new industrial equipment when compared with 2006.”

Other data included in the report:

• Extrusion machinery shipments in the second quarter of 2007 decreased six percent from the same quarter last year, and one less unit was shipped compared to the first quarter of 2007.

• Units of injection molding machinery shipped in the first quarter of 2007 decreased 12 percent when compared to the same quarter in 2006, but is up 8 percent from the number shipped in the first quarter of 2007.

• The plastics components sector saw a decrease of 15 percent when compared to the second quarter of 2006, but is up one percent from the first quarter of 2007.

• The end-market and machinery segments that enjoyed solid gains in the second quarter continued to be medical, aerospace, computers, and packaging.

• Capacity utilization rates for the plastics sector increased in the second quarter of 2007, and total output for plastics processors continued to expand.

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.

# # #

Founded in 1937, The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., is the trade association representing the third largest manufacturing industry 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 1.3 million workers and provides nearly $345 billion in annual shipments.

Back to Top

More About SPI:   Vision and Mission . Membership . Business Units . Regional Offices . News and Publications . Calendar of Events . Terms and Conditions of Use