Pan-European polymer distributors sector growing

According to research recently published by AMI Consulting, polymer distribution accounted for 11% of polymer sales in 2011 – equivalent to approximately 3Mt of resin and representing sales of more than €6bn. Despite the impact of the Eurozone crisis and volatile pricing and supplies, the sector has continued to grow and increase in importance within the polymer industry supply chain with sales through distribution channels growing ahead of the overall demand for polymer.

However, AMI reports that the sales growth is expected to be markedly slower for 2012 with distribution volumes increasing at half the rate compared with the previous two years. Furthermore, the distribution industry still has some way to go to recover the volumes lost during the 2008-2009 recession with 2011 sales more than 500,000t lower than in 2007.