PLASTICISERS

US imposes punitive tariffs on DOTP plasticisers from South Korea

SOUTH KOREA

Petrochemicals and plastics: Following earlier rise, former tiger state increasingly under pressure / Expansions in China limit sales outlets / Government-initiated restructuring / Quality over volume / Feedstock partnerships with foreign players

POLAND

Plastics industry continues on the road to growth / Processing segment gains 3% / Local polymer supply still inadequate / Lack of investment / Strong customer industries / Uncertain political landscape

LG CHEM

Cracker capacity upgrade to focus on “lucrative items” / PS plants to produce ABS

LG CHEM

Construction of electric vehicle battery plant in Poland / Production to begin in 2018

GUZMAN

Marketing Sabic's polyolefin elastomers in Europe

TCR PLASTICS

Dutch distributor acquires competitor Brasplast Europe / Part of long-term expansion strategy

POLYMER PRICES

China Engineering Thermoplastics March 2016: Tight supply and strong demand drive up feedstock costs / ABS and PC rising, while other grades remain firm / Demand quite strong / Prospects for April range from stability to slight increases

POLYMER PRICES

China Standard Thermoplastics March 2016: Peak of maintenance cycle pushes feedstock costs higher / Polymer prices rise significantly / Strong demand / Inventory levels mostly normal, with some materials trending short / Further uptrend in April

CHINA

Government publishes report on Tianjin blasts / Numerous chemical firms ordered to relocate / Move of ABS and PVC producer Tianjin Dagu already said to be underway

RESINEX

Further engineering plastics from LG Chem added to the portfolio

POLYMA

Distributing LG Chem's polyamides in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

POLYMER PRICES

China Standard Thermoplastics August 2015: Feedstock prices at new annual low / Polymers down across the board / Consumption slows / Tianjin disaster has limited immediate impact on petrochemical logistics

SOUTH KOREA

Petrochemical industry sets new records in Q2 / High margins drive earnings / Competitive pressure nevertheless likely to rise again soon

POLYMER PRICES

China Engineering Thermoplastics April/May 2014: Feedstock notations tending soft / Engineering thermoplastics prices largely unchanged / Business volume expected to remain stable until the end of Q2

POLYMER PRICES

China Engineering Thermoplastics March/April 2014: Benzene firm, styrene rising and butadiene soft / Domestic feedstock notations firm but trending up / Most polymers roll over / ABS surges / Demand for PA 6.6 “made in China” rising

INDIA

Newest anti-dumping duties on PVC imports revealed / Korea exempted, Chinese producers face stiff penalties

POLYMER PRICES

China Engineering Thermoplastics February/March 2014: Feedstock prices decline / Some grades firming / Factories gradually resume normal production after Chinese New Year holiday

POLYMER PRICES

China Engineering Thermoplastics January/February 2014: Feedstock and polymer prices soft or falling / Factories shuttered for holiday break / Slow start to the lunar new year / Consumption levels will continue to rise

RUSSIA

Engineering thermoplastics consumption recovers slightly in 2013 / Gains driven by ABS and PMMA / Import volumes of PC, PA and SAN down / Asian producers increasingly step into the fold / Low local capacity utilisation rates / Plastinfo report

CHINAPLAS 2014

Sustainability as key theme at this year's plastics mega-event in Shanghai / Organisers expect almost 3,000 exhibitors / “Green Forum” co-organised by PIE / Last call for registrations for exclusive readers' trip to China

POLYMER PRICES

China Engineering Thermoplastics November/December 2013: Feedstock prices a mixed bag / Resins stable to soft / Processors cautious about inventory levels / Production in full swing ahead of lunar new year

VERSALIS

Partnership with LG Chem for mLLDPE

LG CHEM

South Korean polycarbonate now available in Europe

RUSSIA

Engineering thermoplastics market contracts slightly in 2012 / Imports from Europe and Asia on the rise / Russian production still too low / Western European quality often not matched / Plastinfo report