POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in March 2010: Further increases go through / Severe shortages of LDPE and PP / Unbalanced production / Imports scarce / Seasonal upturn begins / Price hikes will dominate the picture in April

LYONDELLBASELL

Thai jv completes PP expansion project / Output ramped up to 700,000 t/y / Packaging demand up

PLASTICS ECONOMY

Producers begin to emerge from recession / Capacity cutbacks help boost the bottom line / Asian rebound fuels hopes for worldwide recovery / Overextended players still dealing with crisis

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

LyondellBasell declares force majeure for PP from Carrington

LYONDELLBASELL

Reorganisation plan approved / Chapter 11 exit is foreseen for 30 April / Apollo will have majority

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend March 2010: Upward movement continues as Q1 ends / Size of hikes diminishes / Supplies show signs of tightening / Seasonal demand upswing thwarted by weather

LYONDELLBASELL

Latest Reliance offer rejected? / Polyolefins group sees sales crash, slight rise in operating profit in 2009

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in February 2010: Further massive increases for polyolefins / PVC producers pass on higher costs / PS margins improve / EPS stagnates / Supply tends tight / Upward price trend set to continue

LYONDELLBASELL

Closure of PP plant in Italy planned

LYONDELLBASELL

Reliance said to increase bid to USD 14.5 bn in cash and stock options / Analysts sceptical

LYONDELLBASELL

Payout increase in out-of-court settlement with unsecured creditors / Chapter 11 exit speeded?

POLYMIRAE

Launch of PP random copolymer for hot and cold water pipes

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in January 2010: Feedstock costs drive notations up significantly / Unusual circumstances / Converters in a bind / End markets put up resistance / Further rises likely in February

LYONDELLBASELL

High clarity copolymer introduced for cosmetics packaging

LYONDELLBASELL

Price increase for PP and PE in Europe

BRASKEM

Quattor acquisition completed / Largest commodity manufacturer in the Americas / In talks to acquire US operations

LYONDELLBASELL

Court grants three months to exclusively prepare reorganisation plan / Damper for Reliance bid?

LYONDELLBASELL

Reliance said to sweeten its offer / Court hearing on reorganisation plan set for early February

LATIN AMERICA

Polyolefins projects planned across the region / Crisis causes widespread delays / Braskem as driving force behind many projects

LYONDELLBASELL

Price increase for PE and PP in Europe

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in August 2009: Feedstock costs drive notations up / Some polyolefins tight / PVC producers pass higher chlorine costs through the chain / SM increases are factored into styrenics / Mixed outlook

NIZHNEKAMSKNEFTEKHIM

Start-up of PE production / Total polymer capacity now 600,000 t/y / Industrial park

ALBIS PLASTIC

Masterbatch distribution pact with Ampacet / Three European regions / One source for plastics and colours