FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tracy Cullen
(202) 974-5282
Email: tcullen@socplas.org

SPI RELEASES SECOND QUARTER PLASTICS MACHINERY SHIPMENT STATISTICS

Extrusion, Auxiliary & Components Shipments Spiked, Primary Machinery Shipments Expected to Increase by Year End

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 8, 2006) – U.S. manufacturers and importers of primary plastics machinery and equipment shipped $241 million worth of primary machinery (excluding components and auxiliary equipment) in the second quarter 2006, according to the latest equipment statistics released today by the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) Committee on Equipment Statistics. Specifically, SPI reports that extrusion machinery unit shipments spiked 31 percent while the plastics components sector shipments rose six percent.

"The quarterly machinery shipment statistics report serves as an important tool for examining and understanding the U.S. plastics machinery and equipment industry, as well as the economic trends that impact it," said Gary Schiffres, executive director of SPI's Machinery and Moldmakers Divisions.

Specifically, the second quarter 2006 statistics indicate that U.S. manufacturers and importers of primary plastics machinery and equipment shipped $241 million worth of primary machinery (excluding components and auxiliary equipment). This is a 6 percent decrease from the $257 million shipped in the second quarter of 2005. However, economist Bill Wood, who provided the analysis for SPI's report, points out that the triennial NPE 2006 trade exposition was held this year, which affects the market activity leading up to and during the NPE show.

"In a large percentage of past NPE years the primary machinery shipment totals have been lower than would otherwise be expected in the first half of the year," Wood states in SPI's report, "and they are higher than usual in the quarters immediately following an NPE."

Based on historic trends, Wood is forecasting an overall gain of approximately 6 percent for shipments of plastics machinery by the close of 2006.

Other data included in the report:

• Extrusion machinery units shipped in the second quarter of 2006 increased 31% from the amount shipped during the same quarter last year, while new auxiliary equipment bookings rose four percent during the same timeframe.
• Units of injection molding machinery shipped in the second quarter of 2006 decreased 10% when compared to the same quarter in 2005.
• The plastics components sector saw an increase of six percent when compared to the first quarter this year. (It is not possible to compare this figure to data from the previous year because the number of reporting companies changed from 2005 to 2006.
• Shipments of blow molding equipment in the second quarter of 2006 declined seven units from the number that shipped in the second quarter of 2005.

Using monthly data supplied by CES participating companies, the report was compiled by VERIS Consulting, LLC. The analysis of the aggregate data was completed by Mountaintop Economics & Research, Inc., a supplier of market analyses and forecasts for decision makers in the plastics industry.

SPI's CES is the only provider of timely and reliable plastics equipment statistics in the country. The report can be found online at SPI's Plastics Industry Store. For a one-year subscription, which includes the Committee on Equipment Statistics' Annual Report plus the quarterly reports (Reference No. AB-152), the cost is free for members and $1,180 for non-members.

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Founded in 1937, The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., is the trade association representing one of the largest manufacturing industries in the United States. SPI's members represent the entire plastics industry supply chain, including processors, machinery and equipment manufacturers and raw materials suppliers. The U.S. plastics industry employs 1.3 million workers and provides nearly $345 billion in annual shipments.

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