EMERALD KALAMA

Rotterdam “K-Flex” plasticiser line is inaugurated

DSM

Operating profit falls by 14% in Q2 2012 as polymer intermediates division sees 68% reduction in earnings / Company-wide profit improvement programme launched

LANXESS

Best-ever Q2 performance / Heitmann confirms management forecast for full-year 2012

POLYMER PRICES

Composites/GRP June 2012: Ortho resins in weak rollover / Feedstock costs down / Converters expect rebates in July / Glass fibre notations defy producers‘ attempts to push through increases

TEKNOR APEX

Scandinavia, Ireland distribution arrangements now include Sarlink TPVs / New representation in Italy

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in April 2012: PC, PA 6 and PBT hit by Q2 price hikes / POM and PMMA in rollover / PP compounds rise slightly / Business surprisingly slack / Surplus tendencies

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in March 2012: More grades succumb to upward price trend / Output remains tight / Demand starts to soften / April price hikes could fall short of producers' expectations

DSM / ROQUETTE

Reverdia bio-succinic acid joint venture approved by regulatory authorities / First large-scale plant

DSM

European unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins price increase

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in February 2012: Situation relatively calm / Long-term agreements ease pressure / ABS and PP compound prices on the rise / PA and PBT surging / Rate of price increases likely to quicken

POLYMER PRICES

North America January 2012: PE and PP hold firm / PVC sees a slight rise / PS follows costs upward / Engineering plastics still moving sideways / C3 cost explosion in February will propel notations upward

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in January 2012: Rollover predominates / Initial increases for ABS, PA 6 and PP / Restocking / Automotive and E&E sectors take off / Feedstocks rise by triple digits

EMERALD

Building new “K-Flex” non-phthalate plasticiser operation in Rotterdam / Multi-million dollar investment

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in December 2011: Picture dominated by moderate falls / Production cutbacks coincide with subdued end-of-year demand / Costs likely to rise in January / Benzene takes a great leap

DSM DYNEEMA

Swiss UHMW-PE tape production plant to close up shop

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in November 2011: Prices down but rate of decline slows / Only POM suffers triple-digit decrease / More moderate reductions for ABS, PC, PA and PMMA / PBT remains firm / Lacklustre demand / Stability likely at year-end

DSM

Plastics activities still on course for growth / Caprolactam business makes record profit

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in October 2011: Situation at last begins to ease / ABS, PC and PA take a dive as costs of benzene and butadiene plummet / Trend till year-end is "down, but under control"

DSM / SINOPEC

Chinese caprolactam joint venture to double output

LANXESS

EPDM production in Geleen to switch to more energy-efficient technology / Site to house global synthetic rubber headquarters

PEOPLE

Philip Eykerman named new executive VP Corporate Strategy & Acquisitions at DSM

BASF / PURAC

Negotiations to establish bio-based succinic acid joint venture / World-scale plant to start up by 2013 in Spain

DSM

Strategic partnership with Russia's KuibyshevAzot kicks off

ARKEMA

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

DSM

Cooperation with Elevance Renewable Sciences on bio-based high performance thermoplastics