Matt Seaholm, President and CEO of PLASTICS, has been appointed to the Board of Advisers of the Council of Manufacturing Associations, convened by the National Association of Manufacturers.
The appointment reinforces the plastics industry’s role in shaping pro-growth manufacturing policy and strengthening collaboration across more than 200 manufacturing associations.
What’s happening: PLASTICS has released its 2026 State Anticipated Issues Reports, available exclusively to members.
Why it matters: State-level legislative and regulatory decisions will shape policy outcomes nationwide in 2026. These reports help you stay ahead of emerging trends and prepare your organization for what’s coming.
What you’ll get:
Key legislative and regulatory priorities by region
Insight into expected state policy activity
Practical context to support planning and advocacy
In 2025, the U.S. plastics industry continued to navigate pronounced cyclical volatility shaped by shifts in production, shipments, employment, trade, and pricing, all against the backdrop of higher tariffs.
As part of this ongoing series, Inside PLASTICS is featuring charts from Perc Pineda, PhD, Chief Economist, highlighting the key economic forces defining the industry one theme at a time.
📊 This Week’s Focus: Trade and Pricing Dynamics
Molds for Plastics Trade U.S. mold export values edged higher in 2025, even as export volumes declined sharply. The increase in export value largely reflected higher prices driven by rising material and input costs, rather than stronger foreign demand, underscoring the impact of tariffs and cost pressures on trade flows.
Producer Prices in Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing Plastics material and resin prices peaked early in 2025 before gradually declining as supply and demand rebalanced. Elevated inventories and lower energy prices contributed to easing price pressures, even as higher reciprocal tariffs on imports did not result in broad based increases in domestic resin prices.
Why it matters: Together, trade and pricing trends highlight how tariffs and cost dynamics reshaped market behavior in 2025, with higher prices masking weaker volumes and ample supply limiting inflationary pressure.
Join peers and industry leaders at FlexForum 2026 to explore what’s next in flexible plastics packaging and how to stay competitive.
Why it matters: Converters, processors, suppliers, and innovators come together to explore the technologies, market shifts, and business pressures shaping polyethylene films and flexible packaging.
What you’ll get:
• Insights on emerging technologies and market trends • Practical strategies to stay competitive • Connections across the full packaging value chain
Who should attend:
Film producers, converters, materials suppliers, sustainability leaders, and professionals working in flexible packaging.
Headquartered in Shandong, China, ZhongyunTech is a global leader in the engineering and manufacturing of corrugated plastic pipe extrusion lines. Founded in 1963, the company has evolved from a plastics
processing research institute into a world‑class machinery manufacturer, delivering high‑precision, high‑efficiency equipment trusted across more than 40 countries.
Today, ZhongyunTech remains dedicated to helping customers reduce production costs, enhance competitiveness, and achieve long‑term operational excellence through advanced engineering, lifetime service, and a culture of craftsmanship. Its mission and performance continue to shape the international corrugated pipe industry and set benchmarks for quality and innovation worldwide.
Headquartered in New Delhi, India, Acme Drinktec Solutions is a leading manufacturer of single‑stage ISBM molds for containers made from PET, PP, PC, TRITAN, PETG, and more. Complete with dedicated CAD,
assembly, inspection, and testing capabilities, the company delivers custom, high‑precision tooling that accelerates time‑to‑market and elevates quality. As an associate of Acme Die Systems, Acme Drinktec blends decades of PET‑mold expertise with rigorous engineering and quality systems to serve brands across beverages, personal care, pharmaceuticals, household products, and other segments in India and abroad.
📅 Plastic Sustainability Executive Forum | February 10–11, 2026 | Washington, DC| Winter Forum: Scaling Advanced Recycling through Policy. To request your invitation to attend, click here.
🗓️ NPE2027 Space Selection & Planning Event | March 2–6, 2026 |Orlando, FL | NPE2027 exhibitors will convene to select exhibit booth space, plan for exhibit success, and explore opportunities to maximize the NPE2027
🔬 ANTEC® 2026 | March 9–12 | Pittsburgh, PA |Join leaders in plastics technology, polymer research, and advanced processing to address real-world industry challenges. Register today.PLASTICS members save $200 on registration—use discount code ANTEC26-PLASTICS.
🏛️ PLASTICS Spring Meeting and Industry Fly-In | April 13–15, 2026 |Washington, DC | Join us for the annual PLASTICS Spring Meeting and Industry Fly-In. We'll come together to share our policy and advocacy initiatives while bringing the industry to Capitol Hill, to personally advocate on behalf of your company. Learn more.To register, click here.
⛳ FlexForum | May 4–6, 2026 |Fort Myers, FL | FlexForum is the event for anyone in the flexible film and packaging space. Covering business trends, regulatory issues, and more with the incredible networking opportunities, FlexForum is a can't miss in 2026! Learn more. To register, click here.
