2025 Plastics Industry Trends & Predictions
Rotational
Molding
Help or hinder: What rotational molding trends do you expect will help plastics manufacturers the most in 2025? Which trends might hinder them, and why?
Weakened demand, which we saw in 2024 followed by a brief uptick, is expected to continue into 2025. Certain markets, such as outdoor recreation, toys, RVs, marine and even agriculture, are softening. This trend of lower demand could help stabilize the market. With an oversupply of materials and products, rotational molders will have more flexibility to focus on equipment maintenance, experiment with new materials, improve best practices, and optimize their processes.
Labor shortages could accelerate the adoption of automation technologies. We’re already seeing automation advancements in secondary operations, such as filling systems and post-mold processes. Over time, we can expect further automation of primary molding operations and gradual implementation of AI-driven process optimization.
What are your tips for developing a sound resin purchasing strategy for rotational molding in 2025?
Rotational molders can take several steps to help material availability, including:
- Increase communication with your supplier. Regular market discussions with suppliers are crucial to help hedge pricing. Focus on building inventories for unplanned business and secure safety stock for forecasted volumes, rather than relying on spot purchases.
- Optimize your material mix. To compensate for weaker demand, move from off-grade materials to generics or branded prime materials. This will help improve product quality and consistency, lessen scrap rates and reduce the number of material grades in the warehouse.
- Choose your distribution partner carefully. Partnering with a reliable distributor can help you save on resin costs. Successful molders depend on long-term, stable supply relationships to forecast material needs. The right distribution partner will offer forecasting tools to help better manage inventory and capture market cost savings.
- Leverage railcar pricing. Distributors can help molders take advantage of railcar pricing and reduce storage costs by shipping truckloads as needed, freeing up space for new equipment and operational expansion.
Which services will be instrumental to the rotational molding market in 2025? What factors are influencing this demand?
New material technologies will continue to shape the market in 2025. Specifically, new grades for rotational molding are being developed that could streamline material inventories, improve performance and enhance process efficiencies. This could lead to significant product rationalization.
A technical audit can help you identify opportunities to integrate new materials or process improvements to drive innovation and operational gains in the year ahead.
What advice would you give rotational molders to drive success in 2025?
Rotational molders should focus on diversifying markets and applications and building operational excellence.
The COVID-19 pandemic showed us that businesses reliant on a single market can be vulnerable. With lower demand expected in 2025, now is a good time to enter new markets and increase your market share. Use this period to build long-term relationships, engage in deeper conversations with clients by asking about new applications or areas of focus and look for ways to improve production efficiency.
Molders who operate well-organized facilities with lean manufacturing practices, proper technical training and a strong labor pool will be best positioned for success. By maintaining control over key manufacturing processes — such as grinding, color blending, molding, secondary operations and quality control — you can minimize the impact of external variables on production. These factors are critical for staying competitive in a challenging market.
Visit our Rotational Molding market page for more information on M. Holland’s products and services.
