A. SCHULMAN

Launch of piano black scratch-resistant copolyester

TRONOX

Jeffry Quinn named president and CEO

EASTMAN

Expansion of PETG plant in Malaysia / Capacity increase of 20%

EASTMAN

Full year 2016 earnings edge up on cost cutting moves / Sales fall on weaker selling prices and lower raw material costs / Fibres business continues to be challenged

PLASTICISERS

Eastman and Emerald Kalama announce price increases

A. SCHULMAN

Launch of copolyester line based on Eastman's “Tritan” / Low-emission POM compounds for automotive interiors

SOLVAY

Purchase of Eastman's stake in Primester joint venture completed

EASTMAN

Stake in Primester acetate flake joint venture to be sold to Solvay / Supply agreement sealed

MEDICAL PLASTICS MARKET

Demand for polymeric applications increasing steeply throughout the world / German medical devices providers report record sales / Russian market caves in / Significant potential in ASEAN region

PLASTICS AND HEALTH

Tests indicate BPS no less harmful than BPA / Latest studies say both are endocrine disruptors / Disputed claim said to show that all plastics are capable of leaching

ALBIS PLASTIC

Planning “significant investments” in UK subsidiary / Albis (UK) celebrates 50th anniversary

INDORAMA

Cepsa exits PET as Indorama takes Spanish business / Thai group gains vertical integration

EVENTS

“Second North America PET Resin Trade, Recycling & Packaging” conference takes place in Napa Valley in November

SAFIC-ALCAN

French distributor buys chemical trading business of Bulgaria's Chimsnab / Majority stake in US speciality chemicals distributor ChemSpec acquired / Part of strategic expansion plans

NPE

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

KRAHN CHEMIE

Acquisition of Italian speciality chemicals distributor Pietro Carini / “Solid base for further growth”

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

INDORAMA

Thai giant to mothball UK plant for up to two years / Overcapacities bite worldwide

EASTMAN

September price increase for non-phthalate plasticiser

RECYCLING

PVC industry group joins Swedish project to boost recycling in healthcare

NOVOMER

First run of PPC polyols from waste CO2 completed / Production costs expected to be lower than petrochemical products

EASTMAN

Raising plasticiser prices in the Americas

PERSTORP

Italian distribution deal with Reschem Italia for smaller-scale customers

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

EASTMAN

Copolyester for rigid medical packaging launched in Europe