Western Europe now accounts for just one-sixth of world consumption of ABS

Western Europe now accounts for just one-sixth of world consumption of ABS

European ABS producers are determined to recover lost market share and claw back eroding margins this year. Western Europe now accounts for just one-sixth of world consumption of ABS, due to the growth of domestic appliance and office equipment manufacturing in Asia.

At the same time, a growing volume of cheap Asian ABS imports has been flowing into western Europe. Industry sources estimate Asian imports accounted for between 25% and 30% of European ABS consumption in 2003.

European consumption has remained flat during the last 12 months and is still below the level of three years ago. However, industry sources indicate volumes recovered slightly last autumn. Most major players announced price increase of E100/tonne from 1 April.

BASF director of marketing for styrenic polymers in Europe, Jaroslaw Michniuk said: “We are optimistic that prices will be raised during the coming months. The main problem has been the substantial rise in raw material costs, especially styrene.”