MANALI PETROCHEMICALS

Indian group announces polyols capacity expansion / Proprietary technical process

BAYER MATERIALSCIENCE

Name change to Covestro from 1 September / “Colorful identity and positive vision”

BAYER MATERIALSCIENCE

Steffan Huber appointed president of Bayer MaterialScience's Greater China region

BAYER

Good start to 2015 buoyed by lower euro / BMS lifts EBITDA by nearly 16% / Dekkers says polymers sub-group will earn full cost of capital this year / Flotation still on track

POLYURETHANES

India imposes tariffs on polyols imports / Duties affect deliveries from Europe, Singapore and Australia

DSM

Polymer Intermediates and Composite Resins businesses spun off as NewCo / Global investor CVC holds majority stake / Caprolactam supply ensured for 15 years / Focus on Performance Chemicals

INTERNATIONAL PLASTICS INDUSTRY

Most producers see sales and earnings improvement in 2014 / Cautious optimism for 2015 / Falling raw materials prices and strengthening demand provide impetus / Currency shift will boost European companies

BAYER

New group performance records last year / MaterialScience battered by market turbulence in Q4 / Plans for a carve-out on track for mid-2016 but Dekkers does not exclude outright sale

WANHUA

World's largest MDI producer commissions new line in Yantai / Smaller old facility shuttered

DSM

Dutch chemical group may spin off or sell plastics business / Acrylonitrile and caprolactam in view

LANXESS

Around 1,000 jobs to be shed in corporate realignment up to 2016 / Cuts mostly in rubber / PA and PBT unaffected / Zachert says losses likely in Q4

BAYER

CEO lifts overall forecast for 2014 / BMS sales rise on volume gains but EBITDA margin recedes

BAYER MATERIALSCIENCE

Private equity investors said to be considering takeover bids / Holding as yet focused on IPO

COMMENT

BMS bits soon sailing under different flags?

POLYURETHANES

Middle East drives production growth in EMEA / Region consumed 5.8m t last year / Steady gains / Flexible foam most dominant end application / Latest IAL Consultants report

UPDATE - BAYER

Supervisory board unanimously approves flotation of Bayer MaterialScience division / IPO by 2016 at the latest / Focus on HealthCare and CropScience

INEOS

LDPE plant in Cologne switched off following incident involving excess pressure / German site to undergo inspection

BAYER

Full-year earnings guidance for 2014 upheld / Moderate earnings rise expected / “Significantly higher” volume sales seen at MaterialScience in Q2

ALBIS

Austrian affiliate Gangus renamed Albis Plastic Vertriebsgesellschaft

HEXPOL

Elasto builds new TPE production line in Sweden / Stellana restarts “Vulkollan” wheels line after fire

CYTEC

Collaboration with Dralon to develop industrial grade carbon fibre production / Growing demand from automotive sector

EVONIK

PA 12 capacity at Marl expanded / Strategic holding for standalone businesses

PEOPLE

Dekkers extends Bayer contract only until 2016

BAYER MATERIALSCIENCE

New distribution partnerships with Albis and Plastotecnica / Expansion into North Africa

PEOPLE

In Memoriam: Dieter Freitag, Bayer MaterialScience