Healthcare Expenditure Rise | M - polyethylene terephthalate injection molding

The low-density polyethylene (LDPE) market also witnessed substantial activity. LDPE exports to Egypt reached their peak in November 2023. Additionally, LDPE outflows to Tunisia in December marked the second-highest volume in a year. The fourth quarter of 2023 saw continuous growth in LDPE exports to Tunisia, culminating in a noteworthy development where LDPE shipments from the United States to Egypt took place in December for the first time since August of the same year.

Piper Plastics (Chandler, AZ) reports that it has developed a proprietary high-pressure molding technology that yields near-net-shape polymers up to 2 inches thick without porosity, voids or sinks.

The upheaval caused by the conflict in the Red Sea has disrupted polyethylene shipments from the Middle East. In response to this disruption, US exporters have seized the opportunity to capitalize on the altered market dynamics, enabling them to gain a more significant market share.

In the span of four months since the initiation of the conflict between Israel and Palestine in the Red Sea and Suez Canal region, a discernible shift has occurred in the supply dynamics of polyethylene (PE). European, Turkish, and North African buyers have reportedly shown an increasing preference for American PE. US traders and distributors are noting a surge in consumer demand originating from across the Atlantic Ocean in the early months of 2024. Export data sourced from the US International Trade Commission reveals a notable uptick in shipments of polyethylene to various North African countries since the conclusion of the fourth quarter of 2023. The upheaval caused by the conflict in the Red Sea has disrupted polyethylene shipments from the Middle East. In response to this disruption, US exporters have seized the opportunity to capitalize on the altered market dynamics, enabling them to gain a more significant market share. This trend is anticipated to persist amid the ongoing conflict, creating a scenario where the availability of US exports is expected to decline in the short term. Consequently, European buyers express concerns about the security of their supply chains, a sentiment likely to persist until the culmination of the first half of 2024. Sources in the industry point out that prices in the United States are particularly competitive within the region, especially for linear grades of low-density polyethylene and injection molded high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Noteworthy statistics indicate that monthly HDPE export volumes reached their highest point in 2023 for countries such as Nigeria, Algeria, and Poland in December. Tunisia, during the same month, experienced the second-highest HDPE export volumes in a year. Furthermore, Egypt received HDPE cargoes from the United States in December, marking the first occurrence since April. The low-density polyethylene (LDPE) market also witnessed substantial activity. LDPE exports to Egypt reached their peak in November 2023. Additionally, LDPE outflows to Tunisia in December marked the second-highest volume in a year. The fourth quarter of 2023 saw continuous growth in LDPE exports to Tunisia, culminating in a noteworthy development where LDPE shipments from the United States to Egypt took place in December for the first time since August of the same year. Polyethylene imports from the United States to Europe experienced a substantial uptick in the fourth quarter of 2023, registering an increase of approximately 24% when compared to the corresponding period in 2022. As 2023 drew to a close, the estimated consumption of polyethylene, excluding exports to Belarus and Kazakhstan, amounted to 3,109.15 thousand tons. This figure represents a substantial growth of 25% compared to the same period in the preceding year. Notably, there was an increase in supplies of both high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) from Russian producers.

This trend is anticipated to persist amid the ongoing conflict, creating a scenario where the availability of US exports is expected to decline in the short term. Consequently, European buyers express concerns about the security of their supply chains, a sentiment likely to persist until the culmination of the first half of 2024.

The process is suitable for large parts and weights up to 6 pounds per blank, with large and varying wall thicknesses and complex geometries. “Near-net shape is effective for parts that cannot be produced using standard injection molding because the cross sectional area is too thick,” said Wilkinson. “This new technology has opened up exciting opportunities in the semiconductor, oil and gas, medical equipment and aerospace markets.”

In the span of four months since the initiation of the conflict between Israel and Palestine in the Red Sea and Suez Canal region, a discernible shift has occurred in the supply dynamics of polyethylene (PE). European, Turkish, and North African buyers have reportedly shown an increasing preference for American PE. US traders and distributors are noting a surge in consumer demand originating from across the Atlantic Ocean in the early months of 2024. Export data sourced from the US International Trade Commission reveals a notable uptick in shipments of polyethylene to various North African countries since the conclusion of the fourth quarter of 2023.

Polyethylene imports from the United States to Europe experienced a substantial uptick in the fourth quarter of 2023, registering an increase of approximately 24% when compared to the corresponding period in 2022. As 2023 drew to a close, the estimated consumption of polyethylene, excluding exports to Belarus and Kazakhstan, amounted to 3,109.15 thousand tons. This figure represents a substantial growth of 25% compared to the same period in the preceding year. Notably, there was an increase in supplies of both high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) from Russian producers.

A major reason for developing the new technology was to save costs when machining finished parts from expensive, high-performance materials such as PEEK, PAI or TPI, said the company. “The molds are inexpensive, since we are only molding a near-net shape that will be machined after molding,” said Bruce White, Vice President, Piper Plastics. “Because it’s close to the final part, a near-net shape requires less machining. Less machining means less waste, which is an important consideration for green and sustainable programs.”

The technology also allows Piper to offer small batch runs for mating the right polymer or blend for an application. “Distributors typically only carry about 50 types of engineering plastics, but with this technology we can mold custom blanks from more than 3,000 polymers and compounds, or develop a compound specifically for an application,” said White.

A subsidiary of Quadrant Engineering Plastic Products, Piper Plastics supplies high-performance polymer materials and precision machined plastic components and assemblies to a range of industries.

The process, which utilizes molding equipment designed and developed by Piper Plastics, allows the company to mold filled or unfilled high-performance thermoplastics with isotropic mechanical properties. “This capability is especially beneficial for large CNC machined parts that were historically limited to extruded or compression molded stock shapes,” explained Dave Wilkinson, Materials Engineering Manager, in a prepared statement. “In comparison to extrusion and compression molding, this new process yields parts that have higher strength—typically 15 to 20% stronger than extruded shapes and 50% stronger than compression molded shapes—with more consistent mechanical properties.”

Sources in the industry point out that prices in the United States are particularly competitive within the region, especially for linear grades of low-density polyethylene and injection molded high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Noteworthy statistics indicate that monthly HDPE export volumes reached their highest point in 2023 for countries such as Nigeria, Algeria, and Poland in December. Tunisia, during the same month, experienced the second-highest HDPE export volumes in a year. Furthermore, Egypt received HDPE cargoes from the United States in December, marking the first occurrence since April.

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Market Analysis: Plant Capacity, Production, Process, Technology, Operating Efficiency, Demand & Supply, End-Use, Grade, Foreign Trade, Sales Channel, Regional Demand, Company Share, Manufacturing Process, 2015-2035