Member Control Panel

Business Conditions Survey

Business trends in the plastics industry have much wider implications beyond the confines of the sector. Plastics are used in an extraordinarily wide range of customer sectors: retail, building and infrastructure, automotive, electronic, aerospace and healthcare to name but a few. Hence trends in the plastics industry can be held to be representative of manufacturing as a whole if not UK business in general. Therefore the BPF Business Conditions Survey is an excellent barometer of conditions in the grass roots of the UK’s manufacturing economy.

The Federation carries out its Business Trend Survey every six months - previous surveys are available below.

	January 2012 Continuing Optimism in UK Plastics sector, says BPF Peter Davis Director-General of the BPF said “The Plastics Industry is optimistic about 2012, but confidence is a little reduced compared to previous surveys. Not surprising with the continuing Eurozone turmoil and poor consumer demand.” Press Release \| Download Survey

	July 2011 BPF Survey - Plastics Industry Expectations Improving but Profitability Muted The plastics industry continues on the road to recovery with 66% of firms predicting increase in turnover but high costs and raw material availability are still stifling the industry’s growth, according to the results of the British Plastics Federation’s (BPF) Business Conditions Survey June 2011 Press Release \| Download Survey

	January 2011 BPF Survey - Continuing Optimism in UK Plastics Industry British Plastics Federation (BPF) member firms signalled a buoyant start to the New Year in the Federation's latest Business Conditions Survey published on the 23 February 2011. The majority of the 80 respondents to the Survey were confident of a growth in UK sales turnover over 2011. Whilst this was a lower proportion forecasting an increase than in the June Survey, 64% as against 73%, the proportion signalling increases in turnover of over 11% increased from 20% to 27%. Press Release \| Download Survey

	June 2010 BPF Survey - BPF’s Business Conditions Survey signals industry confidence in recession recovery The results of the British Plastics Federation’s (BPF) Business Conditions Survey 2010 have signalled industry confidence in post recession recovery with 73% of all respondents forecasting an increase in UK Sales Turnover in the next twelve months. Press Release \| Download Survey

	January 2010 BPF Survey - UK Plastics Industry sees positive signs in 2010 The key findings of the BPF Business Conditions Survey are: • 70% of respondents are forecasting an increase in 2010 Sales Turnover. Most of them in the range +2-10%. However, respondents emphasized Sales Turnover in many sectors declined last year by 15-40%. • 44% expected Export Sales to increase in 2010. Most of them expect increases in the 5-20% range. The reasons given were: favourable exchange rate; some recovery in overseas markets and new business. • 59% of respondents expected their staffing levels to be unchanged in 2010. Last year many had reduced staff levels and introduced short time working. 31% of respondents planned to increase their staff, most of them by 2-15%. • Obtaining finance from Banks was not a problem for most but over a third complained of high charges. Obtaining trade credit insurance continues to be a problem for 56% of respondents. • On top company priorities for 2010 the highest were: finding new business; efficiency; preparing for the upturn and staff training Press Release \| Download Survey

	July 2009 BPF Survey - Trade Credit Insurance a Severe Problem for Plastics Industry Obtaining Credit Insurance has been highlighted as a serious problem for the plastics industry by the recent British Plastics Federation (BPF) Business Conditions Survey. Furthermore, the situation appears to be worsening with a staggering 79% of respondents experiencing problems obtaining such insurance compared to 48% in January. Press Release \| Download Survey

	January 2012 Continuing Optimism in UK Plastics sector, says BPF Peter Davis Director-General of the BPF said “The Plastics Industry is optimistic about 2012, but confidence is a little reduced compared to previous surveys. Not surprising with the continuing Eurozone turmoil and poor consumer demand.” Press Release \| Download Survey

	July 2011 BPF Survey - Plastics Industry Expectations Improving but Profitability Muted The plastics industry continues on the road to recovery with 66% of firms predicting increase in turnover but high costs and raw material availability are still stifling the industry’s growth, according to the results of the British Plastics Federation’s (BPF) Business Conditions Survey June 2011 Press Release \| Download Survey

	January 2011 BPF Survey - Continuing Optimism in UK Plastics Industry British Plastics Federation (BPF) member firms signalled a buoyant start to the New Year in the Federation's latest Business Conditions Survey published on the 23 February 2011. The majority of the 80 respondents to the Survey were confident of a growth in UK sales turnover over 2011. Whilst this was a lower proportion forecasting an increase than in the June Survey, 64% as against 73%, the proportion signalling increases in turnover of over 11% increased from 20% to 27%. Press Release \| Download Survey

	June 2010 BPF Survey - BPF’s Business Conditions Survey signals industry confidence in recession recovery The results of the British Plastics Federation’s (BPF) Business Conditions Survey 2010 have signalled industry confidence in post recession recovery with 73% of all respondents forecasting an increase in UK Sales Turnover in the next twelve months. Press Release \| Download Survey

	January 2010 BPF Survey - UK Plastics Industry sees positive signs in 2010 The key findings of the BPF Business Conditions Survey are: • 70% of respondents are forecasting an increase in 2010 Sales Turnover. Most of them in the range +2-10%. However, respondents emphasized Sales Turnover in many sectors declined last year by 15-40%. • 44% expected Export Sales to increase in 2010. Most of them expect increases in the 5-20% range. The reasons given were: favourable exchange rate; some recovery in overseas markets and new business. • 59% of respondents expected their staffing levels to be unchanged in 2010. Last year many had reduced staff levels and introduced short time working. 31% of respondents planned to increase their staff, most of them by 2-15%. • Obtaining finance from Banks was not a problem for most but over a third complained of high charges. Obtaining trade credit insurance continues to be a problem for 56% of respondents. • On top company priorities for 2010 the highest were: finding new business; efficiency; preparing for the upturn and staff training Press Release \| Download Survey

	July 2009 BPF Survey - Trade Credit Insurance a Severe Problem for Plastics Industry Obtaining Credit Insurance has been highlighted as a serious problem for the plastics industry by the recent British Plastics Federation (BPF) Business Conditions Survey. Furthermore, the situation appears to be worsening with a staggering 79% of respondents experiencing problems obtaining such insurance compared to 48% in January. Press Release \| Download Survey