Stats-Can releases third-quarter plastic industry results

Ottawa-based Statistics Canada has released third-quarter data for the Canadian plastics industry. According to the data, the Canadian plastics industry fared rather well, despite significant economic challenges from the rising Canadian dollar, volatile resin prices and foreign competition. Shipments were up in all three sub-sectors of the industry, compared to the same third-quarter period in 2004. The sub-sectors were synthetic resins, plastic products and machinery. Shipments of synthetic resins were valued at $6.43 billion in the third-quarter of 2005, up 10.3 per cent from 2004; plastic product shipments were $16.94 billion, up three per cent; and machinery shipments were $968 million, up 9.7 per cent from the same third-quarter in 2004.
Statistics Canada also reported two-way trade also expanded in all areas, except for a decline in the imports of molds.