UK now accounts for 55% of PE bags and sacks imported to the EU from Asia

UK now accounts for 55% of PE bags and sacks imported to the EU from Asia

UK imports of polyethylene bags and sacks from Asia soared by 36,000 last year and now account for almost 250,000 tonnes, according to Pifa’s latest annual report.

The UK took the biggest share of the additional 58,969 tonnes imported into the EU and now makes up nearly 55% of the European import total. Germany, the next highest importer, took only 68,329 tonnes, with the Netherlands in third place at 29,269 tonnes. However, Spain showed the highest increase in 2003 with an 80% rise, albeit to just 9,045 tonnes.

The figures show the UK imported more than 80,000 tonnes of PE bags and sacks from Malaysia and China in 2003 with Thailand supplying a further 52,000 tonnes.