AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Focus remains on mass markets of Russia, China and India / CAFE standard will drive the switch to new materials in USA / Lightweight construction a key topic at IAA / Will global sales stagnate in 2012?

QINGHAI SALT LAKE

Another Chinese firm takes “Unipol“ licence / Coal-to-PP unit part of magnesium metals complex

CHINACOAL

Coal-based polyolefins projects gearing up / Two new PP lines will use Dow's “Unipol” process

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend September 2011: PE in a strong rollover / PVC struggles to stabilise / Trend to improved margins for PP, PS and EPS / Euro crisis raises production costs / Export window opens

DOW

Propylene glycol capacity increase at Stade plant / Raised output to go towards meeting global demand

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering thermoplastics in August 2011: ABS and PBT rise despite holiday lull / Monomer reduction prompts fall in PP compounds / Bottlenecks ease as demand declines / Automotive still lively / Risks of price increases remain

DOW CHEMICAL

Foam cell promoter introduced for display materials

POLYMER PRICES

Standard thermoplastics in August 2011: Worldwide turbulence gradually settles / Month ends with firm rollover for PE / Margin losses abound / Notations likely to firm again in September

DOW EUROPE

Polyethylene prices on the rise

SLOVNAFT

Dow's “Unipol” process selected for four new “Tatren” PP grades / More efficient processing and less material consumption

STYRON

Price increase for PC in September

VINYL ACETATE

EU imposes provisional anti-dumping duties on imports from the US

PEOPLE

Dow: Personnel reshuffle in new Performance Plastics division

BRASKEM

Profits boosted by higher resin prices in Q2 / Recovery in sales volumes limited by power disruptions

DOW

New polyolefin photovoltaic encapsulant film plants in Germany, Thailand / Capacity to be tripled

DOW

Capacity expansion for MBS-based additives in Grangemouth

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in July 2011: Prices stable at a high level / ABS, PC and PP respond to the lower cost basis / Supply adequate / Holiday period dampens demand / Stability likely

POLYMER PRICES

Standard thermoplastics in July 2011: All prices slip, but only LDPE, LLDPE and PP below the cost reduction / HDPE margins improve minimally / Restocking stimulates / August monomer rises trigger hike plans

PEOPLE

Joe Harlan new head of Dow's Performance Products and Performance Systems

DOW CHEMICAL

Record first half operating profit in 2011 / Significant sales and profit growth in plastics and performance products segments

DOW CHEMICAL

Polypropylene business sold to Brazil's Braskem for USD 340m / Focus on downstream solutions / Sale consolidates Braskem's PP leadership in North America

DOW / SAUDI ARAMCO

New 50:50 joint venture in Jubail Industrial City / USD 20m integrated chemical complex expected on stream in 2016

PEOPLE

Linpac packaging announces sales and marketing personnel changes

DOW / MITSUI

Biopolymers platform to be established in Brazil / “World's largest sugar cane-to-ethanol facility”

DOW EUROPE

Price hike for polyethylene