Plastics sector rebounding in Canada
By PIC staff
General Exports mold mould Plastic resin ShippingBig increases for auto parts exports
OTTAWA—Canadian plastic companies are recuperating from 2009 lows, according to recent data from Statistics Canada.
Overall, the plastic products industry experienced a six per cent increase in shipments in 2010—the first year of growth since 2005.
Last year, imports and exports expanded by six per cent, StatsCan said, noting the small trade deficit that first reappeared in 2009 widened slightly.
The sector still faces challenges, such as weak demand in the US and a high Canadian dollar.
By the third quarter of 2010, the sector’s capacity utilization was 72 per cent, compared to the low of 63 per cent in the second quarter of 2009.
Within the sector, auto parts and plumbing fixtures saw increases above industry averages—32 per cent and 23 per cent respectively.
Only polystyrene products saw a decline in shipments, by 38 per cent.
Among closely related industries, resin shipments were flat while both imports and exports jumped.
Recent shipment data for the mould industry isn’t available, StatsCan said, but it noted that exports continued to decline in 2010, by three per cent.
PLASTIC PRODUCTS:
Plastic products – total
shipments: $16.8 billion (+6%)
exports: $6.7 billion (+6%)
imports: $7.6 billion (+6%)
Bags
shipments: $1.6 billion (+3%)
exports: $0.45 billion (+1%)
imports: $0.47 billion (+1%)
Film and sheet
shipments: $1.6 billion (+3%)
exports: $1.2 billion (no change)
imports: $1.3 billion (+5%)
Unsupported profile (excluding pipe)
shipments: $0.76 billion (+4%)
exports: $0.38 billion (+4%)
imports: $0.47 billion (+5%)
Pipe and fittings
shipments: $1.3 billion (+4%)
exports: $0.16 billion (-9%)
imports: $0.33 billion (+24%)
Laminated plate and sheet
shipments: $0.43 billion (+7%)
exports: $0.46 billion (+10%)
imports: $0.57 billion (+4%)
Polystyrene foam products
shipments: $0.37 billion (-39%)
exports: $0.15 billion (-6%)
imports: $0.11 billion (+41%)
Other foam products
shipments: $0.53 billion (+2%)
exports: $0.08 billion (+13%)
imports: $0.23 billion (+1%)
Bottles
shipments: $0.80 billion (+7%)
exports: $0.31 billion (-12%)
imports: $0.43 billion (+1%)
Plumbing fixtures
shipments: $0.53 billion (+23%)
exports: $0.06 billion (-10%)
imports: $0.08 billion (+8%)
Auto parts
shipments: $3.1 billion (+32%)
exports: $1.1 billion (+46%)
imports: $0.13 billion (+1%)
Windows and doors
shipments: $1.1 billion (+5%)
exports: n/a
imports: n/a
Other plastic products
shipments: $4.7 billion (+3%)
exports: $2.3 billion (+2%)
imports: $3.5 billion (+6%)
RELATED INDUSTRIES:
Synthetic resins and rubbers
shipments: $6.5 billion (+1%)
exports: $5.5 billion (+16%)
imports: $6.1 billion (+21%)
Plastics processing machinery
shipments: $0.97 billion (+4%)
exports: $0.81 billion (+12%)
imports: $0.39 billion (+9%)
Moulds
shipments: n/a
exports: $0.66 billion (-3%)
imports: $0.35 billion (+4%)
- Restaurant giant cutting back its packaging
- $3M for efficiency improvements at Ontario plastics plant
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