LYONDELLBASELL

After strong H1, polyolefins group sees “positive” outlook for 2011 / Quarter to quarter improvement

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend June 2011: Notations slide on monomer decline / PVC with slight gains / Tendency toward surplus / Volume pressure propels special offers / Some prices could go lower

LYONDELLBASELL

Plans to sell Berre refinery in France announced / LDPE and PP production will be continued

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in April 2011: Upswing slows down slightly / PBT, POM and PMMA climb by nearly EUR 100/t / Q2 agreements tighten lower price levels / Price hikes likely again in May

LYONDELLBASELL

Surge of 119% in Q1 EBITDA / Margins improve despite feedstock gains / US cracker expansion?

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in April 2011: Polyolefin producers almost cover costs / HDPE, PVC with stronger rises / PS follows SM down / EPS improves / Chronic bottlenecks / Feedstocks up again / Fresh hikes

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Recyclate April 2011: Producers initially reluctant to pass on higher costs / Corrections only at the upper end of the scale / Shortage of plastic scrap / Supply of recyclate inadequate / Price increases planned after Easter

KAZAKHSTAN

Plans for new 500,000 t/y PP complex / Lummus supplies licence and engineering work

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering Thermoplastics in March 2011: Considerable increases at the end of Q1 / Only POM remains stable / Feedstock costs drop down a notch / Supply tight / Significant rises expected for quarterly agreements

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in March 2011: Higher costs mostly factored in / Minimal margin gain with HDPE and PVC / PS softer / Seasonal business boosts EPS / Sales decline / Fresh price hikes for PVC and polyolefins

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

Bayer MaterialScience declares force majeure for polyols from Fos

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend March 2011: Hikes for polyolefins above rise in monomer costs / PVC sees no margin gains / PS shaky / Seasonal demand will help EPS / Extremely high prices dampen demand

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in February 2011: Prices rise again significantly / Polyolefins gain up to EUR 50/t / Styrenics see triple-digit hike / Supply tighter / Demand robust / Political unrest triggers oil surge

LYONDELLBASELL

Strong earnings rebound after Chapter 11 exit / Feedstocks impact European performance

BRASKEM

LyondellBasell technology selected for Mexico LDPE plant

POLYMER PRICES

Engineering recyclate January 2011: Momentum from primary market drives range upward / rABS and rPOM tight / Fresh FM limits rPA / Pipeline refilling and price surge for virgin polymer fuel demand

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend January 2011: Notations leap ahead by triple-digit margin / Monomer increases push PVC, too / Output bottlenecks keep supply just balanced / Good economy boosts order volume / Upward momentum continues

YEAR IN REVIEW

Plastics economy bounces back from crisis in 2010 / Truly remarkable year sees demand, prices, industry sentiment improve / Structural changes are emerging / Dawn of Asian century near?

PEOPLE

Patel succeeds De Vries at LyondellBasell

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend November 2010: French strikes push prices up again / Half the cost rise factored into polyolefins / PS recoups SM hike in full / PVC in strong rollover / Limited output slows momentum

TO OUR READERS

K 2010 is a resounding success / Move to a new hall was a good one for PIE and KI / Much interest in the new production capacity data base / Winner of the iPad drawing is an Austrian packaging executive

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in October 2010: French strikes halt slide in notations / LDPE firm / PP down / PVC rolls over / PS moves up / Supply tight / Cost rise brings storm clouds

LYONDELLBASELL

Operating profits and sales increase in Q3 2010 / Auto industry recovery boosts PP compounding

BASF

Styrenics division to be carved out as Styrolution / No news of a possible buyer / Copolymers included

RELIANCE

Previously shelved plans for Jamnagar cracker revived / Indian group has great ambitions for polyolefins