SABIC

Net earnings fall year-on-year in Q3 but outpace Q2 showing / Lower selling prices blame

SABIC

HDPE grade developed for large containers in healthcare applications

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend October 2012: Polyolefin prices slip as costs decline slightly / First signs of deterioration? / PVC stable / Styrenics somewhat firmer / Pressure on notations increases

SABIC

Saudi Kayan starts trial operations at Al Jubail LDPE line

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in September 2012: Cost momentum in first half drives polymers / Supply adequate despite production cuts / Slack ordering pressures the market / Price zenith evidently reached

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend 2012: Producers win more than their increased costs / Margins up, volumes down / Demand shows distinct signs of slowing down / Market is becoming tense

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in August 2012: Polyolefin producers regain margins as costs spiral / PVC and styrenics players restricted to passing on higher costs / Supply tight / Further price rises on the horizon

SABIC

Range of high clarity propylenes extended / Cost-effectiveness for converters

MEXICO

Automotive industry demand for engineering plastics expected to grow at nearly 10% per year / PC and PA lead the list

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

EVENTS

"GPPA International Annual Conference 2012" in Dubai / Focus on plastic pipes

GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL

14m t of new petrochemical capacity brought on stream in 2011 / Saudi Arabia leads the pack / Regional players are setting their sights to the east / Feedstock surplus will sweep global markets in near future

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend July 2012: Producers pass on only part of their cost reduction / Rising oil increases margin pressure / Some producers stop orders as inventories shrink / Prices likely to bottom out

POLYMER PRICES

Composites/GRP June 2012: Ortho resins in weak rollover / Feedstock costs down / Converters expect rebates in July / Glass fibre notations defy producers‘ attempts to push through increases

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in June 2012: Polyolefin prices follow petrochemicals down / Bleeding margins / PVC producers manage to pass on costs / Styrenics also down / Buyers' market / July will see clearance sales as prices bottom out

SAUDI KAYAN

Jacobs Engineering contracted for new UHMW-PE line in Al Jubail

SABIC

Blow moulding HDPE introduced for dairy market

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend June 2012: Polyolefin bubble bursts / Producers often have to concede more than the monomer decline / Market awash with special offers / Subdued ordering for all materials and grades

SABIC

Spain's Técnicas Reunidas awarded contract for new ABS line in Al Jubail / Completion in 2014

PEOPLE

Sabic appoints new country leader in Italy

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

SABIC

New bimodal HDPE grades meet increasing challenges of film production / Focus on carrier bags and heavy duty sacks

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend May 2012: Polyolefins fall on lower feedstocks / PVC stable / PS and EPS cost rises hard to recoup / Lengthening oversupply / Sinking crude notations could trigger more polymer price cuts

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in April 2012: Order slump shatters polyolefin producers' margin-improvement dreams / PS suppliers pass on cost relief / PVC and EPS make gains / Is a trend reversal on the horizon?

SABIC

Upgrading Geleen's cracker No. 4 / EUR 135m investment