POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in February 2013: Most notations show little change / PE largely rolls over / PP and PVC up slightly / PS and EPS slightly softer / Demand slack / Upturn likely in March

DOW

USD 400m fine for TDI and MDI price fixing / Last act in long running cartel case

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend February 2013: Buyers turn a deaf ear on hike plans / Stable costs dampen momentum / Demand still slack / First upstream cost rises appear / Price spiral could turn upward

UPDATE - PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

LyondellBasell declares force majeure for PP from Tarragona / Unable to obtain necessary propylene feedstock

LYONDELLBASELL

Record operating profit of USD 5.86 bn in 2012 / Olefins and polyolefins businesses in North America “set the pace” / Lower volumes and margins hit Europe, Asia and international segment / Strong 2013 anticipated by CEO

STANDARD THERMOPLASTICS

Global capacities exceed 252m t/y / PET output spearheads expansions in 2012 / More than half of global output found in Asia / China will continue to extend its lead in the coming years / Sabic still slightly ahead of Sinopec

RELIANCE

LyondellBasell's “Lupotech T” technology selected for Jamnagar LDPE/EVA plant

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

PETRONAS

LyondellBasell technology for two new PP lines in Pengerang

SASOL

South African group plans new mega-cracker in the US / Attracted to shale gas light feed

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

Imminent consolidation of European HDPE production / Rising global competition

SHENHUA

LyondellBasell license for new LDPE/EVA swing plant in Xinjiang

AZOTY TARNOW

Polish chemical group could be merged with ZAP in Azoty Holding / Eyeing new EUR 1.5 bn Baltic Sea petchems complex with Lotos

ALBIS

Strategic portfolio expansion in Turkey / Distribution portfolio now comprises Bayer MaterialScience and Styrolution plastics materials

LYONDELLBASELL

LDPE plant at Wesseling to restart in mid-2013

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend November 2012: Polyolefins continue to crumble / PVC, PS and EPS producers try to resist declines / Costs down slightly / Bonus-linked orders start to flow in / Few bargains

EVENTS

“Seventh Pagev Turkish Plastics Industry Congress” ahead of “Plast Eurasia 2012” in Istanbul

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in October 2012: Slack demand pressures polyolefins / Cost pressure eases / Only PS makes slight gain / More price concessions likely in expected slow November trading

LYONDELLBASELL

Operating profit falls by 13% in Q3 2012 to USD 1.56 bn / Gains in Americas Olefins and Polyolefins help staunch fall in EBITDA / European O&P business records loss

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend October 2012: Polyolefin prices slip as costs decline slightly / First signs of deterioration? / PVC stable / Styrenics somewhat firmer / Pressure on notations increases

LYONDELLBASELL

Fifth generation Ziegler-Natta PP catalysts added to “Avant” range

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend 2012: Producers win more than their increased costs / Margins up, volumes down / Demand shows distinct signs of slowing down / Market is becoming tense

LYONDELLBASELL

Majority owner Apollo in 17.5m share offering / Access declines to participate / S&P 500 listing

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

Fire at Lavera HDPE line leads Ineos to declare force majeure / News follows on heels of Total and LyondellBasell FMs for high-density PE

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in August 2012: Polyolefin producers regain margins as costs spiral / PVC and styrenics players restricted to passing on higher costs / Supply tight / Further price rises on the horizon