Business Conditions Survey

• A good outlook for turnover. Expectations of increased turnover are the strongest for two years.
• A mixed picture for profit. As many firms think profit margins will increase as think they will decrease, but the trend is for profit margins being under pressure since the pandemic.
• Concerning investment results. Intentions for significant investment have reduced, and the proportion of firms not expecting to invest at all is at historically high levels.
• Export sales are expected to be steady. With a low proportion of firms expecting decrease in sales overseas.
• Workforce pressures are easing. Recruitment difficulties are not as high as they were, and a low proportion of firms are expecting to increasing staffing levels.
• Spare capacity in the industry.  The results for capacity utilisation are at historically low levels
• Problems sourcing polymer have eased. Reported difficulties in sourcing polymer are the lowest since data began to be collected in April 2021.

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July 2023

• There is an increase in the number of companies predicting a decrease in sales turnover (the last time such a trend was seen was in the 2008/2009 recession)
• Overall companies are reporting sales down 4.6% compared to this time last year. 
• Increasing numbers of member firms are stating they don't export - from 22% in January 2017 to 31% in July 2023
• Overall capacity down to 70.6% (compared to 78% average since January 2014). 
• 30% of companies are looking to increase headcount, down from 63% in January 2022.  60% of companies are having difficulty recruiting (mainly engineers and shop floor workers)
• There is no serious decline shown in investment intentions for plant and equipment
• 42% of companies have used the new "Capital allowances: full expensing" scheme to buy (or help to sell) machinery
• Only 10% of companies are experiencing problems sourcing polymer - compared to 97% in April 2021
• 53% of firms a currently calculating their carbon footprint (with the majority using either a tool developed in-house or an external consultant)

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January 2023

• Overall (across all membership groups) in terms sales vs budget for 2022 the industry was +3.1% better than budgeted.  
  • The strongest reported numbers were from equipment suppliers (+5.1% against budget) and the lowest were recyclers (-8.2% against budget)
• The numbers of companies who said export sales would increase in the next 12 months were at historic lows with ‘Brexit’ being the reason given by many.  
  • The number of companies who said they ‘do not export’ is at an all-time high
• Rising energy costs continue to be the main concern from the vast majority of companies
  • Two thirds of companies predicting a decrease in sales and profitability said increased energy costs were one of the reasons
  • Views of the new ‘Energy Bills Discount Scheme’ are largely negative with only 1% of firms stating the scheme is of ‘significant assistance’
• In terms of predicted capacity over the next 12 months whilst the overall average across all Groups is down, it is up for a number of groups including moulders, packaging and rotational moulding
• There is a steep decline in the number of companies looking to recruit compared to this time last year (63% of firms in January 2022 were looking to recruit compared to 35% in January 2023)
• There is a significant decline in the numbers of companies having difficulty sourcing polymer (34% in Jan ‘22 vs 18% in Jan ’23)

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July 2022

• Overall predictions for sales turnover have decreased from the high numbers previously seen during the Covid recovery, however most companies still expect to hit the budgets they set themselves at the start of the year
• Many companies that are predicting increased sale turnover state that this is due to increased costs rather than increased sales volume 
• Companies are predicting their profit margins are going to be hit hard in the coming 12 months with the most pessimistic predictions seen in the last 10 years of the survey.  Energy price rises were given as the main reason for this - followed by raw material, labour and transportation costs
• Capacity utilisation remains high across the board with the equipment group, recycling group and raw materials groups being amongst the highest
• 37% of companies stated they have staff members absent through Covid - this is less than half what was reported when we last asked in January 2022
• 34% of companies reported having problems sourcing polymer – down from 97% in April 2021
• 32% of companies reported were experiencing problems trading with Northern Ireland – down from 47% a year ago
• Record numbers of companies (84%) stated they were having difficulty recruiting staff - shop floor workers and engineers were reported as the hardest to recruit
• Despite rising costs and predictions of economic uncertainty planned investment in plant and equipment stayed at levels seen in recent years with some companies stating they were investing to combat increasing costs - specifically energy efficient machines to combat energy price rises 

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January 2022

• 78% of firms are reporting staff absences as a result of COVID-19 with the average absentee level at 8%
• A quarter of all firms are reporting a minimum of 10% of staff off 
• 32% of firms are on reduced production as a direct result of COVID-19 
• 60% of firms are experiencing problems sourcing polymer (down from 97% in April 2021)
• Profit margins are continuing to be squeezed with raw material increases and higher labour and energy costs being the main reasons given
• A third of firms do not believe they will be able to pass on increased costs associated with energy prices to their customers (and many who do believe they will only be able to pass some of the costs on)
• Record numbers of firms are having difficulty recruiting with shop floor workers proving to be the most difficult challenge

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August 202154% of member firms are now supplying into the healhcare market (up from an average 34% pre pandemic)

• 70% of companies (up from 50% a year ago) predicting an increase in sales turnover
• Low percentage of companies ever predicting an increase in export sales (with various Brexit related reasons cited)
• Record number of companies (39%) predicting a decrease in profit margins over the coming 12 months (with increased raw material, labour, logistic and energy prices blamed)
• Capacity levels at near record highs (82.5%) with the majority of BPF member groups reporting capacity at or above pre-pandemic levels
• A record 57% of firms looking to recruit staff and a corresponding record 76% of firms having difficulty recruiting
• 79% of firms are having difficulty recruiting shop floor staff - far higher than ever seen in this survey
• 33% of firms having difficulty doing business with Norther Ireland
• 88% of firms experiencing problems sourcing drivers and 80% are having difficulty sourcing polymer (down from 97% when we asked members in April 2021)

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January 2021

The first Business Conditions Survey carried out following the UK’s exit from the EU and the second since the start of the global pandemic showed

• Predictions on Investment in Plant and Equipment and Export sales were at a record low
• Brexit was blamed for the low predictions on export sales, largely due to increased cost and bureaucracy
• All groups were showing significantly improved capacities compared to mid-year, mostly inline with or better than pre-pandemic predictions
• 70% of firms had stockpiled ahead of leaving the EU and 47% had so far had used Rules of Origin (RoO) to successfully avoid tariffs on UK-EU trade
• 83% of companies were reporting an increase in transport costs and 80% that they were having issues with congestion at ports which was leading to delays

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July - August 2020

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January - February 2020

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June - July 2019

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January - February 2019

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June - July 2018

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Jan - March 2018

BPF Survey shows industry is positive, with 75% of firms predicting an increase in sales turnover

Predictions on profitability are up from the previous survey and there are positive signs that the industry is planning to invest in plant and equipment with the highest number of companies stating they 'plan to invest significantly' since 2014.

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June & July 2017

BPF Survey shows a record 80% of companies expecting turnover to increase

80% of respondents predicting an increase in sales turnover over the next 12 months. Only 5% predicted a decrease. 

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January & February 2017

BPF Survey Shows Plastics Industry Optimistic for 2017 

A record number of respondents (78%) were predicting an increase in sales turnover over the next 12 months, with only 7% predicting a decrease.

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June & July 2016

BPF Post Referendum Survey Shows Industry is Cautious in the Face of Uncertain Business Conditions 

The BPF’s latest Business Conditions Survey – which was circulated immediately following the result of the EU referendum vote – gives an insight into how the industry predicts the result of the recent referendum will affect the plastics industry.

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January & February 2016

BPF Business Conditions Survey and Results of Member Attitudes Towards 'Brexit'

The BPF’s latest Business Conditions Survey, which was carried out in January and February 2016 reflects growing concerns about the performance of the global economy, the evolution of political issues and currency volatility.

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June 2015

BPF Survey Signals Further Business Improvements

The latest British Plastics Federation's Business Conditions Survey conducted in June, and which attracted 101 member responses, has revealed further progress for the industry,

January 2015

Continued Flattening of Confidence for Plastics Firms

The latest Business Conditions Survey was conducted in January/February 2015  and attracted responses from 93 firms. Two thirds of the firms surveyed were predicting an increase in UK sales turnover only 37% predicted an increase in profitability which is significantly down from 46% only one year ago and is the lowest we have seen in over two years.

June 2014

BPF Survey Highlights Optimistic Outlook for UK Plastics Industry

The latest Business Conditions Survey was conducted in June 2014 and  attracted responses from 89 firms. Some 72% of respondents forecasted an increase in UK sales turnover compared with 73% in the January Survey.  Similarly, 46% of respondents expected their profitability to increase in the next 12 months, down slightly from 49% in the previous survey.

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January 2014

Rising Confidence in UK Plastics Industry, says BPF

A record 108 BPF Member companies responded to the latest 'British Plastics Federation Business Conditions Survey' conducted in January. Peter Davis, Director-General of the BPF commented, “the Survey clearly shows rising confidence particularly for 2014 UK sales turnover with 73% of respondants predicting an increase and 49% expecting profitability to increase.  40% are planning to increase staff."

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June 2013

Plastics Industry Increasingly Optimistic

Respondents to the latest half yearly Business Conditions Survey carried out by the British Plastics Federation are signalling an increase in business confidence in the plastics sector. Some two-thirds of companies are expecting sales turnover to increase in the next twelve months, up from 55% in January with exports expected to stabilise, and 41% are anticipating increased profitability, up from 36%.

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January 2013

BPF Business Conditions Survey Presented at Federation's 80th Anniversary Media Briefing 

With over 100 responses, the results of the latest BPF's Business Trends Survey were revealed at the Federation's 80th Anniversary Media briefing on February 20th. 55% of respondents are forecasting an increase in UK sales turnover and 32% an increase in Export Sales in 2013.

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July 2012

Improving but Profitability and Optimism

71% of the respondents of the survey forecast an increase in UK sales turnover over the next 12 months, a considerable increase on the 54% reported in the January survey.

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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.”

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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

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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%.

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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.

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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

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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.

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