The British Plastics Federation (BPF) published its January Business Conditions' Survey on 28 January, and at its Council Meeting shared views on business trends with the UK Bank of England and Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

The key findings of the survey are:

• 70% of respondents forecast an increase in 2010 sales turnover.
• 44% expected export sales to increase this year 2010. 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.
• Obtaining finance from banks was not a problem for most but over a third complained of high charges
• Priorities for 2010 were finding new business, efficiency, preparing for the upturn and staff training.

Paul Jukes, President of the BPF said, the meeting 'was an important opportunity for the BPF to tell the Bank and BIS officials the experiences of the plastic industry businesses, who are key suppliers into all sectors of the economy. We are by no means out of the recession. It will be a slow and arduous climb to recovery'.

Further information

British Plastics Federation