The French plastics industry ranks second in Europe after Germany and fourth in the world after the United States, Japan and Germany.
With 3,750 companies and a workforce of approximately 151,808, the French plastics industry generated a turnover of USD 37,250 million in 2006. Turnover in plastics processing increased by almost 3% in 2006, sustained by the market for tubes, pipes and profiles, by packaging and by the construction industry. Since 2002, the turnover of the industry continuously increased and an increase of 3% per year is estimated for 2007 and 2008.
At the end of the first half of 2007, preliminary estimates for plastic products production indicate a rise of 2.5% in value compared to the first half of 2006. As with its European counterparts, France’s industrial plastics processing companies faced rising costs, especially for raw materials.
Production of technical parts decreased mainly due to the weakness of the automotive market, whereas plastic products for the building and construction as well as for the packaging markets increased by approximately 7% in 2006. This tendency is expected to continue in the next few years.
In 2006, sales of processed plastics products was broken down as follows: technical parts accounting for 36%, packaging for 24%, building products for 18% and semi-finished products for 16%.
The European Union (mainly Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium and Italy) is the main trading partner of France with 75% of exports and 80% of imports.
Outside of Europe, the main non-EU suppliers of plastics products to France are China, the U.S. and Switzerland. In 2006, the U.S. sold USD 359 million in plastic products to France, (+ 7% compared with 2005), mostly technical parts worth USD 168 million, semi-finished products for USD 135 million, packaging USD 50 million and building products USD 6 million. U.S. imports have been fairly stable for the last couple of years and should continue to increase at the same level over the short to mid term.
Best Products/Services
In the context of the current currency situation, the strength of the euro gives a competitive advantage to U.S. companies and offers niche-market opportunities to American equipment, machinery and technology. U.S. imports mainly concerned technical parts and semi-finished products. Demand is strong for plates, sheets, tubes and profiles as well as products for the packaging, building and construction markets.
Opportunities
Europlast is the major French exhibition for the plastics industry. It takes place in Paris every 3 years. It presents a good opportunity for U.S. companies to study the potential of the French market, to access European competition and to find French partners.
Resources
French Plastic Industry Association – Fédération de la Plasturgie
Website: http://www.laplasturgie.fr
Embassy U.S. Commercial Service Trade Specialist: Stephanie.Pencole@mail.doc.gov
Phone: (+33-1) 43 12 71 38
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