BASF

Price increases for PS and ABS

PEOPLE

Borealis appoints new presidents for Moulding and Film & Fibre business divisions

CEREPLAST

Multi-million dollar contract to supply Italian masterbatch manufacturer with bio resins

JACKON

Licence from BASF to produce and distribute “Lowla” EPS grades

POLYMER PRICES

Polyurethane feedstocks in August 2010: Summer lull has a stabilising effect / Some MDI and polyol grades up slightly / TDI still moving sideways / Supply gradually improves / Renewed price increases for MDI and TDI

SOUTH AFRICA

Automotive plastics market expected to reach USD 208m in 2016 / International players drive development / Local industry highly dependent on imports / Latest Frost & Sullivan study

BASF

North American PU systems price increase

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

BASF lifts force majeure for plasticiers from Ludwigshafen

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend August 2010: Polyolefin prices crumble / Falling feedstock costs pressure producers / PVC up slightly / PS mostly stable / Supply normalising / Demand strong despite holidays

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

BASF: Mandatory maintenance turnaround at Antwerp

BORSODCHEM

China's Wanhua plans complete takeover

BASF

Light stabiliser extends life of agricultural film / Ability to withstand high chemical concentrations

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in July 2010: Long-term negotiations drive notations up / Only ABS and PP compounds stable / Shortages further prolong delivery times / Risk of increases despite holiday season

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in July 2010: Most notations under pressure / Polyolefins give a little ground / PVC firmer / Falling costs drag styrenics down / Supplies lengthen / Downward trend likely to continue

PEOPLE

Larry Berkowski named new head of BASF Corporation's Engineering Plastics division

BASF

Price hike for polystyrene / ABS rolls over

BASF

Orange pigment developed for engineering plastics / Versatile additive will be demonstrated at “K2010”

BASF

Solution to laser welding of PBT / High transparency achieved by limiting spherulite size to laser wavelength

BASF

Plastics major factor in H1 2010 performance rebound / PA tightness boosts plastics earnings

POLYMER PRICES

Polyurethane feedstocks in July 2010: Building boom fuels MDI and polyols again / TDI moves sideways at high level / Allocation still the rule / Heated demand / Upswing likely to continue despite summer holidays

BASF

Online software tool helps assess sustainability / Ecological footprints of bioplastics calculated / Demonstration at “K 2010”

CONDUCTIVE POLYMERS

Global plastic electronic market to reach USD 310 bn in 2030 / Huge opportunities in flexible solar cells and electronic packaging

BASF

Refinements applied to three styrene copolymer ranges / Attention to surface finish and durability

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

BASF: Force majeure for certain plasticisers from Ludwigshafen

BASF

Additive system optimises rotational sintering process / Energy savings and improved quality