Extrusion International 6-2023-USA

32 Extrusion International 6/2023 32 INDUSTRY NEWS PRINTEX ® kappa 10 Launched Orion announced the launch of PRINTEX ® kappa 10 – a high-quality conductive additive that will supply surg- ing demand from producers of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, energy storage systems and consumer applications. The new product, produced with furnace technol- ogy in Europe and eventually in Asia, marks a crucial expansion of Orion’s portfolio of conductive additives. The company also makes other kappa grades with the acetylene process. PRINTEX ® kappa 10 facilitates a more efficient trans - fer of electrical energy within lithium-ion batteries. It forms a percolating network that enables the electrons to flow. This enhances the performance and power re - sponse during both charging and discharging. The conductive additive works for both anode and cathode. It is also compatible with lithium-ferrous-phos- phate (LFP) batteries, nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) and other batteries. "At Orion, we're focused on products enabling more efficient and powerful lithium-ion batteries that help to decarbonize mobility. PRINTEX ® kappa 10 is a key part of our strategy for expanding our business for such con- ductive additives,” Orion CEO Corning Painter said. “Our strength lies in our dedication to innovation and deliv- ering sustainable solutions for our customers," Painter added. “As the world increasingly turns toward electric mobility, the demand for high-quality conductive addi- tives like PRINTEX ® kappa 10 will grow.” Orion S.A. orioncarbons.com Global Trends Report Released The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) released its annual Glob- al Trends report during a press brief- ing and keynote address at PLASTI- MAGEN ® MÉXICO. “According to the World Trade Organization (WTO), global trade volume expanded by 2.7% in 2022. The remarkable 9.7% growth in the U.S. plastics industry's trade volume for 2022, surpassing global merchandise trade, underscores the strong global demand for plastics,” said Dr. Perc Pineda, PhD, PLASTICS’ Chief Economist. “As we look ahead to 2023, the WTO anticipates a 0.8% increase in world merchandise trade volume. Data from the first half of this year indicates a decline in plastics trade volume compared to the same period last year. How- ever, during this time, the U.S. trade balance shifted from a deficit (-$5.2 billion) to a surplus ($1.0 billion). It would not be surprising to see the U.S. plastics industry's trade volume in 2023 once again outpacing the growth in total global merchandise volume,” Pineda added. “The decelerating economic growth in China may pose a chal- lenge for the U.S. plastics industry, given that China ranks as the third- largest export market for U.S. plas- tics. Although the U.S. maintains an overall trade deficit with China in the plastics sector, it's worth not- ing that the U.S. enjoys a $3.1 bil - lion trade surplus in resin, making it the second-largest country in terms of resin trade surplus, trailing only Mexico,” said Pineda. “The U.S. plastics industry re- maining a key player in the global plastics trade shows the impor- tance of our industry and the es- sential nature of plastics,” said PLASTICS President and CEO, Matt Seaholm. “Our members continue to innovate and invest in new ways to make products even better and more sustainable, while continuing to provide essential materials that improve lives across the globe.” Among the highlights found in the Global Trends report: • U.S. plastics industry exports rose 11.8% and imports rose 7.2%. The overall plastics trade deficit fell to $7.4 billion in 2022 from $10.0 bil - lion in 2021 as the global economy continued to recover from the pan- demic in 2020. • According to the Global Trends, the apparent consumption of plas- tics industry goods in the U.S., an in- dicator of demand, increased 13.7% to $393.3 billion, up from $345.9 bil - lion in 2021, which underscores the benefits that plastics and plastics products on the economy. • Global plastics trade volume is estimated to have reached $1.7 tril - lion with China, the United States, and Germany ranked the top three players in the global plastics trade, based on PLASTICS’ annual Global Plastics Ranking ® . • The U.S. plastics industry had its largest trade surplus with Mexico of $11.0 billion, followed by Belgium ($2.9 billion), Brazil ($2.4 billion), the Netherlands ($881 million), and Sin - gapore ($854 million). "The trade connections among the U.S., Mexico, and Canada are robust and deeply embedded, largely ow- ing to the United States-Mexico-Can- ada Free Trade Agreement. These three nations stand out as key trade partners across the entire spectrum of the plastics industry, evident from the substantial $258.8 billion trade volume in resin and plastics products in 2022," concluded Pineda. Interested parties worldwide will find the Global Trends report and its accompanying dataset provide a comprehensive account of U.S. plas- tics exports and imports worldwide in each of the four categories of the plastics industry – resin, products, machinery and molds. The report is also the only plastics trade report that includes trade analysis outlining the movement of resins and plastics that are embedded in goods that the U.S. both exports and imports. An executive summary and the full PLASTICS’ Global Trends report is available to Plastics Industry Asso- ciation members online at: https://www.plasticsindustry.org/ data-report/global-trends-2023/