FRANCE

Petrochemical output increasingly threatened by strike / Most refineries affected / Many FM declarations / Minister says the country has been taken hostage

INEOS

Agreement to sell EPS activities to Poland's Synthos / Proposed deal would create Europe's largest EPS producer

BOREALIS

Naming ceremony for massive ethane carrier / US shipments to Stenungsund expected to commence in Q4

INEOS

Liquid gas purchase deal with Rex Energy / US shale-derived ethane, propane and butane

INOVYN

Joint venture partners Ineos and Solvay sign binding agreement for latter's early exit

UK RECYCLING

Government agrees to lower plastics packaging recovery and reuse targets / Industry's fears heard / Polymer price plunge may also endanger compliance with Circular Economy targets

INEOS

Preparations for switch to gas feedstock at Grangemouth almost complete / Mothballed cracker starts up again

POLYTALK

Two-day high-level conference on “Zero Plastics Waste to the Oceans” draws industry, government and private sector together / Need for collaborative efforts across the chain / Design for end of life / Calls for system change

BRASKEM

Investing in Bahia cracker to enable shale gas input / 10-year offtake agreement with Enterprise Products Partners

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Tom Crotty, group director at Ineos: UK test drills could begin this year / Despite low oil price, fracking still economically viable / Mulling new cracker in Norway / Offshore North Sea assets: Ineos enters the oil business

INOVYN

Solvay to exit vinyls jv early / Ineos to take full control / Ratcliffe “comfortable” with deal

UK SHALE GAS

First transatlantic ethane shipments underway / Leaked UK government paper fans flames of opposition to shale / Scottish First Minister under fire over unclear stance on moratorium

SOLVAY

Jorge Oliveira takes over responsibility for group operations in Spain and Portugal

AXIALL / WESTLAKE

PVC group plans to divest all downstream units / Write-offs almost reach USD 1 bn / Poker game over takeover continues

ITALY

Plastics industry in strong recovery mode in 2015 / Thermoplastics consumption rises by 3% to 5.5m t / Strong acceleration in Q4 / Demand from automotive segment particularly high / Biotechnology continues to play an important role

INEOS

2015 EBITDA comes in at a record EUR 2.2 bn

BASF

Falling oil hits earnings in 2015 / Lower costs passed on / Plastics hold up well / Outlook for 2016 rather shaky / TDI plant at Schwarzheide to stay on stream a few more months

SHALE GAS

Ineos still bullish on shale despite falling prices / Plans to begin test drills this year / UK may override local planning authorities / Cuadrilla appeal to be heard in March

AXIALL

Board summarily rejects latest Westlake takeover proposal / Shareholders addressed in open letter

INEOS STYROLUTION

Company is renamed to reflect new ownership structure / Triple Shift strategy to be continued

EPS INSULATION

Fierce competition and high volatility drive consolidation in Germany / French state fund for renovations / New UK market leader is born / Cladding segment increasingly trends towards grey EPS / Prolonged use of HBCD has no notable market relevance

SHALE GAS

Fracking yes, but get it right, UK task force says / Incentives can sweeten the pill for communities

STYROLUTION

First qualitative report on sustainability highlights styrenics' characteristics / Lifecycle approach and optimised use of resources

INEOS

21 new shale gas licenses acquired in the UK / Now country's “leading shale gas company”

ANNUAL REVIEW 2015

Eye on the world: A journey from Brazil to China, from Russia to Italy / Challenges experienced by most countries