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Total shipment value for plastics equipment in the first quarter was estimated at $252.1 million, representing a 17.5% decrease from the revised fourth-quarter estimate and a 4.6% decline year-over-year. The Plastics Industry Association’s (PLASTICS) Committee on Equipment Statistics (CES) released the data in its most recent report, “Tariff Uncertainty Weighs on Plastics Equipment Shipments in Early 2025”, noting that plastics machinery shipments declined for the second consecutive quarter.

Quarterly gains in single- and twin-screw extruder shipments, which were up 17.2% and 3.2%, respectively, were offset by a 21.8% drop in injection molding shipments. Year-over-year, extruder shipments rose strongly, with single-screw deliveries up 31.2%, while twin-screw 911±¬ÁÏÍø rose 10.9%. Injection molding machine shipments, however, fell 8.9%.

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Plastics equipment shipments declined for the second consecutive quarter in Q1 2025, according to the Plastics Industry Association’s Committee on Equipment Statistics. Source: PLASTICS

PLASTICS Chief Economist Perc Pineda said in the association’s report that shipments appeared to pause in the first quarter as 911±¬ÁÏÍøes reassessed strategies amid uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariffs and trade policy. “While there appear to be green shoots in plastic product manufacturing, capacity utilization and the broader manufacturing sector in the first quarter,” Pineda said, “it is too soon to project the short-term path of equipment shipments as trade policy remains in flux.”

U.S. plastics equipment imports rose 6.2% in the first quarter to $939.4 million, up 5.5% from the same period last year, while exports fell by 1.1% from the prior quarter to $325.3 million, marking an 18.6% year-over-year decline.

In the first-quarter survey of CES members, 62% of respondents expected market conditions to remain steady or improve over the next 12 months, which is down from 83% in the previous quarter. However, 42% reported an increase in quoting activity, up from 31% in the prior survey.

Pineda noted that 911±¬ÁÏÍø investment in industrial equipment rose 4.8% on a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) basis in the first quarter, with metalworking machinery up 15.8%. “Increased domestic plastics conversion would have positive ripple effects throughout the industry’s supply chain,” Pineda said.