Saudi Arabia is one of the largest markets for the packaging industry in the Middle Eastern region. The country has a huge consumer base and wide range of industrial activities (apart from the oil and gas sector), adding to the rapid growth in the demand for plastic packaging from the country, every year. The low crude oil price situation in the global market realized the need for a stronger non-oil sector. To strengthen the country’s non-oil sector, Saudi Arabia has been implementing several initiatives and regulatory reforms, such as National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP), Vision 2030, etc., that may increase the industrial production in the region. This is creating considerable demand for packaging products from the region’s non-oil sector. According to the recent data from the Saudi Industrial Fund (SIDF), a significant shift in the development of the industrial sector is indicated by the massive change in the country’s sectoral composition. The SDIF suggests that share of manufacturing industries (other than oil refining) in the manufacturing GDP increased from 32% in 1974 (at constant prices), to 70% at the end of 2018.

Automotive lightweight materials have been witnessing robust growth during the past couple of years, due to the increasing demand for luxurious, low-on-emission, safe, and high-performance vehicles. As a result, suppliers and manufacturers have introduced various solutions that not only help OEMs meet continually tightening regulations, but also satisfy the widening range of consumer personal taste. TPVs have superior strength, high-temperature mechanical properties, hot oil and solvent resistance, and better compression set than partially-cured material. These materials are blends of elastomers, typically rubbers, including EPDM, EPR, SBS, polybutadiene (BR), or butyl rubber (IIR), dispersed in a relatively small amount of thermoplastic matrix, typically polyethylene or polypropylene. Thermoplastic vulcanizates contain 60-70% EPDM and 30-40% impact polypropylene. Typical TPV applications in the automotive industry include hose coverings, gaskets, seals, convoluted boots, vibration dampeners, air inlet duct covers, bushings, strut covers, ignition components, and window seals. Cost is the biggest advantage, with TPVs being 10-30% lower than EPDM, coupled with lower weight, improved design flexibility, and recyclability. Furthermore, the light weight of TPV enables more fuel-efficient vehicles. Every 10% reduction in vehicle weight is estimated to result in a 5-7% reduction in fuel usage.

综述了国内外乙丙橡胶的生产及市场情况，对市场发展趋势进行了分析及预测，并对国内乙丙橡胶行业发展提出了几点建议。

North America has witnessed a surge in the demand for large round balers in recent years with the United States majorly contributing to the demand, followed by Canada. According to Survey conducted by K-State Research and Extension (Research division of Kansas State University), 72% of the farmers in southern Kansas region use large round balers as their primary hay baler. The large rectangular or square balers retain moisture for longer period, which is a disadvantage for producing quality hay through heating and degradation. In contrast, the technological developments in round balers, such as solid plastic bale wrappers, which wraps the baleage in plastic for ready storage. Self-propelled baler prototypes have been attracting a host of farmers, across the region.

Plastic production is growing at a rapid pace worldwide as its application areas are increasing in number. The inherent advantages of plastic such as lightweight nature, ease of availability, and flexibility in its shape have made plastic the most sought-after material in a wide range of applications. The packaging industry has one of the largest application areas for synthetic plastics, with demand ranging over 45% in 2018. With a production volume of over 370 million tonnes in 2018, the usage and adoption of plastic are penetrating all major  industries in one form or the other. China is the largest producer of plastics, followed by Europe, and is expected to retain its dominant positions during the forecast period.

Australia is one of the fastest growing packaging markets in the Asia-Pacific region. Presence of large packaging companies such as Amcor, drive investments for innovation and research and development activities in the country. Major trends in Australia for plastic packaging on consumption end incline toward the demographics and demand for convenience packaging. The country witnessed a surge in population, representing millennials than baby boomers as per Australian Bureau Statistics. This is expected to drive the demand for more consumables like beverages, packaged and ready meals, packaged drinking water, convenience packages like microwave and oven safe, among others, which prefer plastic packaging medium over other alternatives owing high portability enabled by light weight of the plastics.

Latin America injection molding machines market (henceforth, referred to as the market studied) is expected to reach a value of USD 968.02 million in 2019 and USD 1,181.33 million in 2024, at an estimated CAGR of 4.06% during 2019-2024 (henceforth, referred to as the forecast period). Major factors driving the market studied are – increasing demand in the automotive industry in Brazil and high demand from the packaging industry. High initial cost and economic crisis in Latin America are expected to majorly hinder the growth of the market studied. Technological advancement in the injection molding machine is expected to offer various opportunities for the growth of the Latin America injection molding machine market during the forecast period.