DOW

Performance Plastics still driving growth in Q2 2014 / Western Europe sees largest gain in sales / Projects on schedule for 2015 start-up

DOW POLYURETHANES

Flame retardant PIR foams for metal panel makers launched

ALBEMARLE

“GreenCrest” PolyFR flame retardant to be launched by 2015

DOW

Polyols price hike in EMEA

DOW

Construction on mega Texas cracker to start this month / Commissioning in 2017 / Plans for downstream facilities specified

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

Work on US Gulf Coast crackers and PE plants gears up / ChevronPhillips and ExxonMobil lead the way / Some 30% of expanded US commodity plastics output to be exported by 2020

MITSUBISHI RAYON / MITSUI

MoU for large-scale MMA joint venture in the US / Non-binding feedstock agreement with Dow

BASF

German chemical giant opposes prolonged use of HBCD flame retardants in EPS/XPS foams

TRINSEO / STYRON

Former Dow business finally goes public / Flotation expected to net USD 170-190m

DOW CHEMICAL

North America's shale gas advantage will not evaporate soon, Liveris says / European companies must import or quit markets / CEO defends his integrated production strategy

KOCH INDUSTRIES

Acquisition of PetroLogistics for USD 2.1 bn / World's largest PDH plant processes shale gas

PEOPLE

Willem Huisman becomes president of Dow Deutschland / Ralf Brinkmann now in charge of Dow Consumer Solutions

DOW

Follow-up: Texas polycarbonate line to be shuttered this year

STYRON

Texan PC line to be shuttered / Outcome of weak 2013 performance

BASF

Spanish XPS plant now switched to PolyFR flame retardant / All plants to be converted by year's end / ECHA opens consultation on petition for exceptions from the 2015 HBCD phase-out

INEOS / SOLVAY

EU greenlights PVC joint venture / Divestment plan accepted / World's third largest producer

DOW

Performance Plastics drives sales and earnings growth again in Q1 2014 / Margin expansion is “solid proof” of good portfolio management, CEO says / Investments and divestments on track

DOW

Pack Studios Shanghai innovation centre opens / New water-based adhesive for flexible film laminates in food packaging at "Chinaplas"

RUSSIA

Specialty chemicals market to grow by 5.6% to 2018 / Government targets reduction in imports to 12% / TechSci Research report

CHINA POLYETHYLENE MARKET

Current five-year plan sees new production plants brought on stream / Dependence on imports declines / International producers see sales fall short of expectations / Will the next PE flood come in before the shale gas volumes?

DOW

First XPS product with “PolyFR” technology made in Europe / Japan conversions complete with Europe and North America to follow

CHEVRON PHILLIPS

Groundbreaking ceremonies held for 1.5m t/y Cedar Bayou ethane cracker / Ethylene largely for domestic consumption / Two 500,000 t/y PE plants part of USGC project

DOW

Start-up of new chlor-alkali joint venture in Texas / Facility replaces older unit

SHALE GAS

Ukrainian crisis raises the temperature of energy discussion / Security of Europe's supply threatened? / Imports of LNG from the US a hot-button topic / Petrochemical chieftains weigh in

GREENPAK

Chinese barrier film producer predicts uptake in local demand / “Evolution” blown film line from Germany's Reifenhäuser