Polystyrene market stagnated in Q1, although producers are still expecting growth this year

However, local producers estimate that the market will rebound this year, and expect 10 percent market growth by the end of 2009, due to renovation work and the national building insulation program.

“I believe the market will thaw; orders are beginning to increase, and we estimate that, in the worst case scenario, the volume will be maintained at the 2008 level or even increase to some 10 percent,” the Chief Commercial Officer of Austrotherm Romania producer, Serghei Negulescu, told Business Standard.

The President of the Amvic group, Marin Crutescu, also foresees a 10 percent increase of the market. In Q1, “sales remained idle year-on-year, but orders have been increasing since the beginning of April, so I am optimistic regarding 10 percent market growth,” he said.

However, such an increase in sales, which would lead the market over the €100 million threshold, is a best-case scenario, according to the General Manager of Swisspor Romania producer, Marian Serban.