POLYMER PRICES

North America July/August 2013: PE and PVC in deep summer lull / PP shifts sideways after rally / PS dips in July / Well-supplied market pressures engineering grades

POLYMER PRICES

North America June 2013: Polyolefins point slightly upward / PC and PS weak but stable / Engineering thermoplastics still sluggish / Little momentum in the market

WILLIAMS

Explosion at US Geismar cracker / Two fatalities and several injuries / Force majeure likely / Downstream reporting little impact

POLYMER PRICES

North America May 2013: PE market caught in a rollover / Rate of decline for PP and PVC slows / PS bounces back / Engineering thermoplastics still weak

POLYMER PRICES

North America April 2013: PE sideways after March rise / PP follows steep monomer dive / PVC sideways / PS crumbles on slight pressure / Engineering still subdued

POLYMER PRICES

North America March 2013: Producers manage to hike PE notations / January price escapade cripples PE sales as notations continue to fall / PVC drive starts to slow / PS still stable / Engineering thermoplastics continue to tread water

POLYMER PRICES

North America February 2013: PE moving sideways / PP contracts continue to rise despite spot market turnaround / PVC pointing upwards / PS receding again / Engineering thermoplastics mostly subdued despite cost pressure

POLYMER PRICES

North America January 2013: Polyethylene prices rise considerably / Polypropylene notations explode / Benzene drives styrenics higher / PVC firm / Polycarbonate prices start to wobble / All quiet on the polyamide front

POLYMER PRICES

North America: Propylene contract notations rising rapidly / PP spot prices follow the upward trend

POLYMER PRICES

North America December 2012: Polyethylene still stable / PP tends upward / PVC and PS take a breather / January cost hikes drive producers‘ calls / Engineering thermoplastics‘ demand still poor

POLYMER PRICES

North America November 2012: Polyethylene prices tending down / PP on the rise / PVC drive comes to a halt / Benzene pushes polystyrene up / Engineering thermoplastics stagnant despite high costs

POLYMER PRICES

North America October 2012: Polyethylene prices float sideways / PP and PVC continue to climb / PS makes another u-turn towards higher spheres / Subdued engineering thermoplastics market

POLYMER PRICES

North America September 2012: Polyethylene prices stagnate amid weak market / Producers raise PP prices slightly / PVC also rising / PS notations topple / Engineering thermoplastics still under pressure

PEOPLE

RTi Europe appoints Stefan Schweitzer as new business director

POLYMER PRICES

North America August 2012: Costs continue to drive polyethylene up / Polypropylene drops amid continued stock clearance sales / PVC bobs along / PS prices race higher / Few impulses for engineering thermoplastics

UPDATE - PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

US hurricane season kicks off / “Isaac” threatens plants across Louisiana in particular / Numerous oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico have been evacuated / Reminiscent of “Katrina” and “Rita”

POLYMER PRICES

North America July 2012: Feedstock turnaround puts an end to the downward spiral of standard thermoplastics / PE and PS notations tending upwards in August / PP and PVC still stagnant / Engineering plastics remain weak

POLYMER PRICES

North America June 2012: Polyethylene notations continue to slide / PP in free fall / PVC flagging / Styrenics point down despite stable costs / Engineering thermoplastics headed for summer lull

POLYMER PRICES

North America May 2012: Polyolefins on a downhill ride / PVC weaker / PS rumbles but holds steady / Engineering plastics also under pressure / ABS in a downswing / PC and PA will deteriorate in Q3

POLYMER PRICES

North America April 2012: Standard thermoplastics notations stagnate / Subdued demand / Market could shift in buyers' favour / Engineering thermoplastics remain firm

NPE

Excellent mood at largest US plastics fair / Move from Chicago to Florida receives positive feedback / Many Central and Latin American visitors / PIE makes a successful debut

POLYMER PRICES

North America March 2012: Renewed gains for polyethylene despite weak markets / Restraint for PP sees spot markets thrive / PVC continues to climb / PS cost drive slows / Engineering thermoplastics rising

FAIRS

NPE 2012 finds more resonance than 2009 show / Polymer producers in greater numbers

POLYMER PRICES

North America February 2012: Rising standard thermoplastics notations / Controversy over PE price hikes amid decreasing costs / C3 and PP take off / Costs drive PS, PVC and engineering thermoplastics

POLYMER PRICES

North America January 2012: PE and PP hold firm / PVC sees a slight rise / PS follows costs upward / Engineering plastics still moving sideways / C3 cost explosion in February will propel notations upward