POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend April 2012: Increases for polyolefins are limited to cost pass-through / PVC profits from start of building season / PS notations lose ground / Slack ordering sets the tone

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in March 2012: Significant margin improvement for PE and PVC in Q1 / Stable costs keep PS and EPS in check / Scant supply improvement / High prices dampen demand / Fresh hikes in store

ARKEMA

New foam masterbatch for PVDF resins / Fine-tuning of foaming levels in continuous extrusion processes

ARKEMA

Price hike for polymerisation initiators

TORAY

Carbon fibre output to increase by 6,000 t/y globally / EUR 400m investment / Expansion to ensure supply across all sectors

ARKEMA

Highest-ever profit in 2011 attributed to restructuring / Vinyls divestment in mid-2012

ARKEMA

PVC production in southern France resumes / Force majeure still in place

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend March 2012: Polyolefin and PVC producers pursue margin improvement / Stable cost base for PS, EPS / Cracker outages tighten supply / Upward price pressure continues

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in February 2012: Polyolefins see triple-digit rises as margins improve / PVC producers also enjoy some margin relief / Styrenics reach limit / Olefin costs will rise again in March

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

SolVin slow to restart VCM/PVC production / FM at Arkema remains in place

ARKEMA

Raising PVDF output in France / Unions call for spontaneous strike in face of restructuring plans / Proposed capacity expansion shelved for now

ALPHACAN OMNIPLAST

Plastic pipe producer adjusts prices / Blames rising costs

ARKEMA

Ultra-flexible PPA-based resin launched / Extension of Rilsan HT range

ARKEMA

Higher prices for functional polyolefins sold in Europe

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend February 2012: Producers improve margins / Only styrenics players fail to cover their costs / Icy conditions hamper production / Upward price trend likely to continue up to Easter

ARKEMA

Follow-up: VCM and PVC production in southern France at complete standstill

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

Cold temperatures lead Arkema to declare FM for VCM and PVC from southern France

ARKEMA

Follow-up: Acquisition of HiPro Polymers and Casda Biomaterials wrapped up

ARKEMA

Higher prices for “Garbeflex” plasticisers

ARKEMA

Functional polyolefins range restructured / Production of certain “Evatane” and “Lotryl” copolymers to discontinue

SOFICAR

Japanese partner takes full control of European carbon fibre jv / Arkema exits / Strategic base

ARKEMA

Price hike for “Evatane” EVA resins

ARKEMA

Price hike for “Garbeflex” DOP plasticiser

YEAR IN REVIEW

Plastics industry braces for fresh surprises and more business as usual in 2012 / Price volatility and economic uncertainty / For some segments 2011 beats expectations / Fracking and plastic bag ban are key issues

EVONIK

Capacity addition of 25,000 t/y for PA 12 in Germany and Asia / “Sole integrated producer”