DOWAKSA

50% stake in Germany's c-m-p acquired / Prepreg production now part of portfolio / Plans for new facility in Turkey

DOW

Leygapack to market “PacXpert” technology across France, UK, Ireland and Belgium / Innovation award at “Emballage” fair

DOW

Deborah Borg appointed president of Dow USA

YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

Part 4 – Regulations: Regulatory moves keep the industry on its toes again in 2014 / Restrictions on plastic bags dominate the discussion / BPA and phthalates still a topic / Flame retardant issues still smoulder / Recycling guidelines make headway

PACKAGING RECYCLING

UK project launched to improve recyclability of flexible packaging / Collaborators include Dow Chemical, Nestlé and Unilever

BAYER MATERIALSCIENCE

New TDI line in Dormagen now officially on stream / Position as global market leader reinforced

DOW

Follow-up: Chemicals giant reaches agreement with Third Point investor / Four independent directors to join management board

DOW

Third Point hedge fund launches renewed attack on management / Expanding PE capacities in Argentina / Shares in Kuwaiti joint ventures to be divested

TEIJIN

Large Singaporean PC plant to close up shop in late 2015 / Exiting DMT production

DSM

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

DOW

Performance Plastics continues to boost growth in Q3 / Sales gains led by the Americas

BUTADIENE MARKET

Global volumes to rise by 4.4% per year to 2020 / Strong automotive demand for butadiene rubber and ABS / Asian players dominating / Grand View Research report

NORDMANN, RASSMANN

Distributing Dow's new “Paraloid EXL-2690” MBS impact resistance modifier for PC and PC blends

DOW

Agreement for full ownership in Univation Technologies processing technology joint venture with ExxonMobil / Business to be integrated into Performance Plastics division

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

PEOPLE

Dow announces executive leadership reshuffle / Fitterling to oversee Business Operations / Ungerleider named new CFO / Harlan appointed chief commercial officer

ALBEMARLE / ISRAEL CHEMICALS

Agreement on PolyFR joint venture / HBCD-free flame retardants for the European market

MUCELL EXTRUSION

Annual sales break through the USD 100m barrier / Packaging leads growth

DOW

First Latin American “PacXpert” license awarded to Colombia's Darplas

THERMOPLASTIC POLYOLEFINS

Global market to grow by 6.4% to USD 3.4 bn by 2020 / Grand View Research study

SHALE GAS

US fracking activities gather speed / Excessive ethane earmarked for export / Argentina said to possess large reserves / Poland to begin commercial production in 2016 / Environmental impact contested

BIOPLASTICS

Soaring US demand and agricultural developments in China boost global demand / PE one of fastest growing segments / BCC Research report

NPE

Several raw material suppliers book space for "Customer Service Centres" in Orlando / Fair at 94% of total capacity

PVC MARKET

European production landscape undergoing massive changes / Global capacity shifts drive consolidations / Overcapacities mean additional closures cannot be avoided / Who will be the next victim in this game of Russian roulette?