April 3, 2026 10:41

Massimo Centonze (pictured), president of Unionplast, the association representing Italian plastics converters, has voiced concern over the sudden escalation in the prices of plastics and other raw materials used by converters, with increases that in some cases have pushed prices to more than double their levels at the beginning of the year.

“We are no longer in a phase of volatility, but in a situation of growing criticality for the supply chain,” says Centonze. “If the current dynamics continue, the risk is a reduction in production capacity, with possible impacts on several industrial sectors.”

In addition to rising prices, Italian plastics companies are also facing limited material availability which, Unionplast says, is rapidly developing into a shortage situation, with a tangible risk of supply disruptions and resulting knock-on effects across the entire supply chain.

The trade association says companies are therefore having to cope with a situation of extreme operational and financial difficulty, marked by the inability to plan production even in the very short term, the sharp and sudden erosion of industrial margins, and the growing risk of plant shutdowns due to a lack of raw material.

“For many companies, especially small and medium-sized businesses, this is a condition without recent precedent, one that puts production continuity at risk within a matter of weeks,” Centonze says.

Unionplast says action is needed on three fronts: continuous monitoring of price trends and market dynamics; extraordinary measures to support corporate liquidity; and steps to ensure continuity of supply.

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