SHELL

Sale of chemicals business in Europe and US confirmed / CEO Sawan considers “selective closures”

POLYMER PRICES

Polyurethane feedstocks March: Processors successfully fend off demands for price hikes / Availability high, demand low / Harsh tone criticised

POLYMER PRICES

North America February: Unrest on US polymer market due to Trump's threat of import tariffs / Prices vary but predominantly stable

SHELL

Energy giant may quit chemicals in US and Europe / Asset sales planned?

BP

Back to petroleum / CEO says renewables don't pay / Activist shareholder holds sway

INEOS

New oil and gas investment in the US / Fossil resurgence under new Trump term?

CHEMICAL INDUSTRY

Research predicts feedstock of the future / Recycling to become main carbon source for plastics – nova-Institute report

POLYMER PRICES

North America November: Rollovers, reductions on weak market fundamentals / Weakness set to continue into new year / Trump's customs duties big unknown factor

CHEMICAL RECYCLING

Zero Waste Europe calls for virgin production cap over chemical reclaim / Industry sees benefit for mixed plastics waste

UN PLASTICS TREATY

No consensus after Busan talks / Petchem industry accused of ‘unsupportive' behaviour / Rising endorsement of production caps / Further session planned

EUROPEAN POLITICS

EU commissioner candidates confirmed / Climate discussion front and centre / Von der Leyen plans to ‘engage' with Trump

EMS

Product range expanded to include polyketone Grinyl K / Compounding of Hyosung base polymer

BUTADIENE

NEW at PIE: Spot and contract price reports for the precursor / Supply situation in Europe remains tight; prices likely to remain high / Numerous expansions planned in Asia

SHELL

GreenDot supplies pyrolysis oil for processing in the Netherlands

STYRENE

Spot market calmer after news of restart in Netherlands / Prices remain high / Increase for polymers

SHELL

Energy giant drops chemical recycling plans / Target of 1 mn t/y by 2025 “unfeasible”

CHEMICAL RECYCLING

Pyrolysis oil as potential alternative to naphtha in crackers / Numerous plants ready to get started / Possible approach above all for Europe, Asia / Change could further impair cost base

POLYMER PRICES

Styrenics July 2024: Prices drop significantly amid weak demand, decent supply / Plant outages strong price drivers in August / Polymer demand continues to decline

POLYMER PRICES

Styrene August 2024: Outages lead to strong price rise

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

Olefins, aromatics: Outage of Shell cracker at Moerdijk reported

INEOS STYROLUTION

Styrene production at Canadian unit faces closure / Complaints about damage to health

BRASKEM

Adnoc cancels negotiations for majority takeover / Brazilian polyolefin group remains in the red

SHELL

Petchem group sells Singapore operations to Indonesia's Chandra Asri, Glencore

BASF

World's first electric cracker demo plant inaugurated / Joint project with Sabic, Linde aims for more sustainability

NATURAL GAS

Qatar plans expansion despite pricing woes / Europe may need LNG for 50 more years / US pause in export terminal approvals challenged