YEAR IN REVIEW

Life is a roller coaster ride, the European plastics industry finds again in 2012 / Forces majeures and consolidation / North-South profitability gap grows as the shadow of Middle East and China shrinks

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend December 2012: Notations tend unusually firm / Occasional increases for PE / Only building applications weaker / Fear of triple-digit rises in January

BOREALIS

Profits and sales increase in Q3 2012 / Higher prices boost polyolefins result / Borouge 3 expansion on track

DEXPLASTOMERS

Borealis will also acquire Exxon's stake in jv

BOREALIS

Transparent PP grade developed for frozen food applications / Higher flow and improved stiffness

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend November 2012: Polyolefins continue to crumble / PVC, PS and EPS producers try to resist declines / Costs down slightly / Bonus-linked orders start to flow in / Few bargains

DSM

Stake in DEXPlastomers jv to go to Borealis / Production of C8 plastomers and LLDPE

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend October 2012: Polyolefin prices slip as costs decline slightly / First signs of deterioration? / PVC stable / Styrenics somewhat firmer / Pressure on notations increases

BOREALIS

Extending distribution agreement with Nexeo / “Bormed” products now sold across North America as well

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in September 2012: Cost momentum in first half drives polymers / Supply adequate despite production cuts / Slack ordering pressures the market / Price zenith evidently reached

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

Borealis' LDPE line in Stenungsund back on stream / FM on cracker products lifted

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

South German ethylene pipeline in trial / All disputes settled / 240,000 t/y of C2 in first phase

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend 2012: Producers win more than their increased costs / Margins up, volumes down / Demand shows distinct signs of slowing down / Market is becoming tense

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in August 2012: Polyolefin producers regain margins as costs spiral / PVC and styrenics players restricted to passing on higher costs / Supply tight / Further price rises on the horizon

BOREALIS

“BorECO” PP pipe grade specified for Czech sewerage network upgrade

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

Borealis declares FM for cracker products from Stenungsund / Reduced LDPE and HDPE output

BOREALIS

Weak market hits second quarter 2012 profits in European polyolefins business / Borouge joint venture performs well

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend August 2012: Market suddenly turns around / Polyolefins, PS and EPS rise significantly / PVC also up / Prolonged phase of price increases likely in store

BOREALIS

New Bormod PP grade for industrial pails

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in July 2012: Trend turns around despite summer lull / Feedstock cost slide reversed / Polymer price reductions limited / August cost rise will meet slack demand head on

GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL

14m t of new petrochemical capacity brought on stream in 2011 / Saudi Arabia leads the pack / Regional players are setting their sights to the east / Feedstock surplus will sweep global markets in near future

PEOPLE

Alfred Stern joins Borealis Executive Board

BOREALIS

PP grade developed for lightweight bumper applications for Renault

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in May 2012: Slipping oil prices pull polymers down / Margin losses on a broad front / Inventories swell as converters cut orders to a minimum / Prices destined to fall again in June

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in April 2012: Order slump shatters polyolefin producers' margin-improvement dreams / PS suppliers pass on cost relief / PVC and EPS make gains / Is a trend reversal on the horizon?