西班牙塑料行业组织警告：欧洲塑料产业竞争力正快速流失

Core Viewpoint - The Spanish plastic industry organization EsPlasticos warns that the plastic value chain in Spain and Europe is rapidly losing competitiveness due to multiple factors [1] Group 1: Market Share and Revenue Decline - The EU's share of global plastic raw material production has decreased from 22% in 2006 to 12% in 2024, while Asia's share has increased to 57.2% [1] - Revenue from the European plastic value chain is projected to decline by 13% from €457 billion in 2022 to €389 billion in 2024 [1] Group 2: Recycling Challenges - The European recycling sector faces intensified challenges due to competition from low-priced imports, an inadequate traceability system, and high energy costs, leading to increased closures of recycling plants and stagnation in investments [1] - The recycling trade deficit has expanded from €5 billion in 2018 to €7 billion in 2022, increasing reliance on imports and suppressing domestic demand for recycled materials [1] Group 3: Regulatory Impact - Spain has implemented a special tax on non-reusable plastic packaging starting in 2023, which has raised operational and compliance costs for companies [1] - The industry criticizes this tax for failing to effectively promote recycling, putting local production at a disadvantage compared to imported products with unverified recycled content [1] Group 4: Recommendations - EsPlasticos calls for the EU to adopt coordinated market response measures, suggesting tax exemptions for packaging with at least 30% recycled plastic content and enhanced traceability regulations for recycled materials in imported products [1]