PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

New massive propane dehydrogenation line in China / Country's propylene capacities set to triple until 2015

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

LyondellBasell to launch maintenance at larger Wesseling cracker

LYONDELLBASELL

Terminating production of several PP grades from Wesseling

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend August 2012: Market suddenly turns around / Polyolefins, PS and EPS rise significantly / PVC also up / Prolonged phase of price increases likely in store

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in July 2012: Trend turns around despite summer lull / Feedstock cost slide reversed / Polymer price reductions limited / August cost rise will meet slack demand head on

LYONDELLBASELL

EBITDA improves by 11% in first quarter of 2012 / Higher margins in European olefins business/ Ethylene production cost falls provide boost to North American PE earnings

SIBUR

Linde to build new C2 cracker in Tobolsk / ZapSibNeftekhim subsidiary will turn out 2m t/y of polymer once completed

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in May 2012: Slipping oil prices pull polymers down / Margin losses on a broad front / Inventories swell as converters cut orders to a minimum / Prices destined to fall again in June

LYONDELLBASELL

Third production unit at Wesseling could be restarted soon / Aftermath of January explosion

LYONDELLBASELL

EBITDA sinks 12% year-on-year in Q1 2012 / Improvement seen against final 2011 quarter

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend April 2012: Increases for polyolefins are limited to cost pass-through / PVC profits from start of building season / PS notations lose ground / Slack ordering sets the tone

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in March 2012: Significant margin improvement for PE and PVC in Q1 / Stable costs keep PS and EPS in check / Scant supply improvement / High prices dampen demand / Fresh hikes in store

LYONDELLBASELL

Renewed price increase for PE and PP sold in Europe

MOMENTIVE

Epoxy resin production in Wesseling to cease by October 2012

SHENHUA

Ineos license for PP plant in Yulin City / Methanol-to-olefins complex starts to take shape

ARKEMA

Highest-ever profit in 2011 attributed to restructuring / Vinyls divestment in mid-2012

LYONDELLBASELL

Source of Wesseling explosion determined / Line partially running again / Still unclear how long outage will last

FERRO SPAIN

Unasa appointed as masterbatch distributor in Iberia

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend March 2012: Polyolefin and PVC producers pursue margin improvement / Stable cost base for PS, EPS / Cracker outages tighten supply / Upward price pressure continues

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in February 2012: Polyolefins see triple-digit rises as margins improve / PVC producers also enjoy some margin relief / Styrenics reach limit / Olefin costs will rise again in March

LYONDELLBASELL

Renewed European PE and PP price hike / Cautions that some new orders could be declined

SHENHUA

New LDPE-EVA swing-line in Yulin / LyondellBasell provides the license

BASF

Earnings hit new record in 2011 / Plastics profits decline in weak Q4 / Feedstock rise hits margins

RUSSIA

Market for standard thermoplastics grapples with old and new challenges / WTO entry will force lower import tariffs that could further pressure local producers / Price developments similar to western Europe

LYONDELLBASELL

Improvement across the board in 2011 / Earnings pressure in Q4 / Refinery operations drive