The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) has released the Committee on Equipment Statistics’ (CES) report for the first quarter of 2025, authored by Chief Economist, Dr. Perc Pineda. Amid ongoing uncertainty in global trade policy, the report highlights a growing confidence among committee members in the strength of market conditions over the next 12 months.
Dr. Pineda writes, “Amid evolving tariff rates and rollout timelines, U.S. plastics equipment imports rose 6.2% in the first quarter to $939.4 million, up 5.5% from the same period last year. Exports fell by 1.1% from the prior quarter to $325.3 million, marking an 18.6% decline compared to the same period last year.”
“In the first-quarter survey of CES members, 62% of respondents expected market conditions to remain steady or improve over the next 12 months—down from 83% in the previous quarter. However, 42% reported an increase in quoting activity, up from 31% in the prior survey,” he continues.
Click here to read the report.
