PLASTICS MARKETS EUROPE

Consumption grows 1% in 2013 / Polyolefins, PU and PET see gains / PVC and PS demand continues to fall / Producers under rising pressure / USA as most important trade partner

SKC / MITSUI

Agreement for PU feedstock joint venture / Merger could extend lifeline to facilities previously earmarked for closure

YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

Part 2 – Plastics Production: Shale gas revolution drives Europe into a corner / Ailing facilities are consolidated / Massive changes in PVC market / Shale oil reserves change the balance once again

ASSOCIATIONS

World Plastics Council elects Sabic's Mosaed Al Ohali as chairman / Lays out focus on marine debris, post-consumer solutions

EXXONMOBIL

Neil Chapman likely to fill the shoes of outgoing president Stephen Pryor

POLYTALK

PlasticsEurope conference highlights petchems producers' negative outlook for future of European manufacturing / Producers call for more support from Brussels / Authorities highlight benefits of circular economy

SABIC / SHELL

Expansion plans for Saudi Arabia-based Sadaf joint venture scrapped / Feasibility studies “not encouraging”

VERSALIS

Dunkirk cracker to be converted to ethane feedstock / Imports of US shale gas

BORMIOLI ROCCO

New medical packaging uses Sabic's "Ultra-Clear" PP

POLYURETHANES

Middle East drives production growth in EMEA / Region consumed 5.8m t last year / Steady gains / Flexible foam most dominant end application / Latest IAL Consultants report

THERMOPLASTIC POLYOLEFINS

Global market to grow by 6.4% to USD 3.4 bn by 2020 / Grand View Research study

SHALE GAS

India's Reliance and China's CNOOC announce plans for gas imports from the US / Feedstock to be used for domestic crackers

SABIC

Wilton cracker to be upgraded to enable the processing of ethane / Latest player to respond to US shale gas boom

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

Sabic declares force majeure for LDPE from Wilton

MITSUBISHI / SABIC

Plans for Saudi MMA and PMMA complex finalised / Start-up targeted for mid-2017

POLYMER PRICES

Standard-Thermoplastics Trend June 2014: Polyolefins notching up / Most producers net more than the cost rise / PVC gaining ground / Monomer decline not fully factored in to PS / All signs point toward further rises

POLYMER PRICES

China Engineering Thermoplastics April/May 2014: Feedstock notations tending soft / Engineering thermoplastics prices largely unchanged / Business volume expected to remain stable until the end of Q2

SABIC / SK GLOBAL CHEMICAL

Agreement for “Nexlene” high-performance PE joint venture / Plan to set up network of global facilities

POLYMER PRICES

China Standard Thermoplastics April/May 2014: Ethylene and propylene import prices rebound while styrene recedes / Polymer import quotes firm / Domestic prices see active dynamics / Labour Day holiday period dampens total uptake

SABIC

Introducing renewable polyolefins portfolio based on waste fats and oils

SABIC

HDPE and PP resins added to caps and closures range

SABIC IP

Third "Stamax" resin facility to be located in China / Shanghai facility to better serve growing regional automotive markets

QC POLYMERS

New circular polymer venture / Brainchild of Dutch entrepreneurs / Construction of recycling plant at chemical park in Geleen

POLYMER PRICES

China Engineering Thermoplastics March/April 2014: Benzene firm, styrene rising and butadiene soft / Domestic feedstock notations firm but trending up / Most polymers roll over / ABS surges / Demand for PA 6.6 “made in China” rising

POLYMER PRICES

China Standard Thermoplastics March/April 2014: Ethylene and propylene import prices fall while styrene firms / Polymer import quotes soft / Domestic prices rising / Demand largely normal