PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

PA 6.6 supply situation increasingly tight / BASF reports “limited availability” / Rhodia upholds FM

DOW

Styrenics business sold to Bain Capital affiliate for USD 1.6 bn / Long-term supply deal pads price

BASF

European prices for PVC modifiers to increase

BASF

Butanediol and butanediol derivative prices up

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

Shell declares force majeure for styrene from Moerdijk

BASF

Plastics profits rebound in 2009 / PU raw materials battered by low prices / Capacity cuts still needed

SOLVAY

Earnings on plastics down 72% in 2009 / Some progress in Q4 / “Fragile” recovery from crisis

RUSSIA

Improvement in polymers market expected in 2010 / Shrinking domestic demand in 2009 has players looking abroad / PVC producers bracing for higher costs / State support for new petrochemical projects

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

Ineos lifts FM for C2 and C3 from Cologne

BASF

Price increase for certain polyalcohols

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in January 2010: Upcurrent in Asia hits European markets / Production cutbacks clash with livelier demand / Feedstock costs drive polymers up

BASF

Price hike for ABS and PS

BASF

Smaller steam cracker in Ludwigshafen resumes operations

BASF

Price hike for polyurethanes in Europe

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

BASF polyamide FMs remain in place

BASF

Price increase for PA 6, PA 6.6 and ABS in North America

DOW

Sales of styrenics and PC to private equity said near / First round of bidding for spin-off

BASF

Price increase for “Styrolux” SB copolymer

POLYMERPRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in December 2009: Year ends on a stable footing / Quarterly contracts still preclude hikes / Supply limited by reduced production and decline in imports / Automotive continues to be lively / Rising costs drive demand

INEOS NOVA

Price increase for PS in Europe

BASF

Elastogran company name to be dropped

BASF

Price increase for ABS and PS

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in December 2009: Majority of polyolefins hold firm at November level / Occasional corrections / PVC remains weak / Cost increases factored into PS price / Rising notations likely in January

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

BASF restarts 1.08m t/y Antwerp cracker / Smaller German unit back up later this month / “No FM”

BASF

Price increase for butanediol and BDO derivatives