Executive Summary and Conclusions

3 Globalisation means that the plastics industry s major customers, such as the automotive and packaging sectors, want the same plastics formulations to be available, with the same uniform quality, whether in Asia, Europe or North America. Customers want additive suppliers to offer similar standards of technical service in all continents. 

5 Almost all the large additive suppliers have business interests extending well beyond plastics. Some of the largest players, the petrochemical companies, are re-evaluating their priorities and in some cases organising their additive and speciality chemicals units into new divisions, a few of which are being spun off 

7 Western suppliers are keen to share in China s growth, whether through the formation of JVs or directly. The potential of India, which had until recently been thought a much poorer prospect for growth, has only been widely appreciated over the past two years. 

9 Customers continue to want easier incorporation of additives through multiadditive packages and convenient, hygienic physical formats (more multipacks, pellets and liquids, and fewer dusty powders). This is a well-established trend, and not novel. 

10 Additive suppliers see their role as more than just the provision of chemicals they effectively offer consultancy, practical solutions, technical support and general commercial expertise, extending beyond additive technology. 

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