POLYMER PRICES

Standard thermoplastics in November 2011: Producers pass on most cost reductions / PE film margins squeezed further / Supply and demand balanced / December could be calmer

CORRECTION - ARKEMA

Quitting all PVC activities / Swiss Klesch group acquires entire vinyls production chain

ARKEMA

Acquisition of Chinese specialty polyamide manufacturer HiPro from Rhodia / Deal also comprises feedstock producer Casda Biomaterials

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend October 2011: Polyolefins remain flat despite hike plans / PVC struggles to a rollover / Modest rebates for PS and EPS / PVC, PS long / Small risk of an increase this month

LYONDELLBASELL

Berre refinery to be restarted / No end yet to force majeure / Arkema's PVC production also affected

POLYMER PRICES

Standard thermoplastics in September 2011: Prices soften on a broad front / Polyolefins tend downwards / PVC in weak rollover / PS and EPS producers pass on feedstock relief / Output cuts to avoid surpluses

ARKEMA

Price hike for “Kynar” fluoropolymer products

LYONDELLBASELL

Berre refinery to be closed / Olefins and polyolefins unaffected / Workers in two-day strike

INDUSTRIE GENERALI

Vinyls Italia plant in Ravenna acquired / PVC production to resume in mid-October

PEOPLE

Arkema announces personnel changes in Fluorochemicals, PMMA and Functional Additives business units

SOLVAY

New plant for fluoropolymers planned in China / Automotive market drives increase in demand

ASSOCIATIONS

Daniele Ferrari appointed new president of PlasticsEurope Italia

ALPHACAN

Expanding profile extrusion capacity in Gaillac / France

FLUOROPOLYMERS

Tight, expensive feedstock alarms converters / Calls for mine reactivation / Arkema seals deal

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend June 2011: Notations slide on monomer decline / PVC with slight gains / Tendency toward surplus / Volume pressure propels special offers / Some prices could go lower

ARKEMA

Sale of PEKK medical business to venture capital founders / Focus on industrial applications

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in May 2011: Oil price slide reveals market limits / Polyolefin margins crumble / Producers left sitting on costs / Converters' resistance shifts the balance / Price pressure remains

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

Arkema restarts Lavera VCM line / FM will be lifted next week

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend May 2011: Prices near market limit / Producers unable to pass on costs in full / Oil price dip pressures polymers / PVC and EPS somewhat better / Buyers stage boycott

ARKEMA

Higher prices for polyamides

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in April 2011: Polyolefin producers almost cover costs / HDPE, PVC with stronger rises / PS follows SM down / EPS improves / Chronic bottlenecks / Feedstocks up again / Fresh hikes

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

Arkema declares force majeure for PVC / Customers on allocation

ARKEMA

Chinese PVDF plant successfully commissioned

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend April 2011: Low-density PE down slightly / Margin improvement with HDPE, PVC and EPS / Costs factored in with PP / PS notations slide / Strong euro dampens upward price momentum

ALPHACAN

Last remaining French pipe plant sold to Pipelife / Desperate focus on window profiles