POLYMER PRICES

Russia May 2015: LDPE makes a retreat / Feedstock rises continue to push PS up / Little changes for HDPE, PP and PET / Imported PVC sees strongest gains / Aside from PS, PVC and PET, notations could roll over in June

SIBUR

Film range extended with introduction of six grades

SIBUR

Foreign currency effects hit 2014 net earnings but boost gains in operating profit and sales / Increase in polymer production following capacity ramp-up at Tobolsk

SIBUR

Partnering with Norway's Norner to develop new polyolefin grades / Focus on high value-added products

SOLVAY

Double-digit earnings growth for Q4 and FY 2014 / Strong performance for specialty polymers led by electronics and automotive sectors / Functional polymers sales down but profits up on optimisation measures

SIBUR

Foundation stone for ZapSibNeftekhim cracker and downstream units / Project costs and start-up could change amid ongoing economic volatility

GUEST COMMENT

Sergey Komyshan, Head of Sibur's Basic Polymers Division: The rouble depreciation – Long-term polymer price contracts offer shelter

POLYMER PRICES

Russia January 2015: Slow month sees slight rises in most polymer notations / Many plants idled during national holidays / Currency exchange rate continues to wreak havoc / February likely to see further increases

SIBUR

Tobolsk Polymer subsidiary starts up propylene plant / UOP technology / Backward integration

POLYMER PRICES

Russia November 2014: Currency effect drives euro notations down / Rouble prices a mixed bag / HDPE injection moulding grades tight and expensive / PP and PET firmer / PVC flagging

BIAXPLEN

New metallised BOPP film allows extended printing period

POLYMER PRICES

Russia October 2014: Rouble continues to decline / Maintenance cycle mostly over / LDPE now pointing down / Volatile exchange rate could see rises for PS and PET / Other polymers likely to decline in November

BIAXPLEN

Russian BOPP producer starts exporting to Spain and Bosnia-Herzegovina / EU exports now account for 17% of total sales

SONGWON

Long-term agreement with distributor UTS to supply Sibur with additives

FRUPACK-PLASTIC

Distributing KPIC's UHMW-PE and HMW-PE in Europe

POLYMER PRICES

Russia September 2014: LDPE and HDPE tight and expensive / Euro notations feel currency effect as rouble continues to lose in value / PP and PVC pointing down / PS and PET roll over / Little change expected in October

FRUPACK-PLASTIC

Distributing Sibur's PP and PE in select western European countries

RUSVINYL

Russian PVC plant officially inaugurated / Output to substitute imports

POLYMER PRICES

Russia August 2014: Maintenance cycles drive up PE, PP and PVC notations / PS and PET mostly quiet / PP availability could improve in late September / PVC tightness expected to last into November

RUSSIA

Packaging market worth USD 15 bn / Local plastic packaging plants operate at reduced rates / Food packaging drives demand / Domestic BOPP output to be exported from 2016 onwards / gtai report

RUSVINYL

First PVC test batch produced / Facility in start-up mode / Output to go towards domestic market

POLYMER PRICES

Russia July 2014: Aside from PET, all notations rise in rouble-terms / Russian currency posts gains against the euro / Most grades expected to see rises in August

SOLVAY

Earnings rise in Q2 2014 on strong volumes and restructuring / Functional Polymers sales impacted by weak pricing / Softness in non-consolidated vinyls assets to go to Inovyn

POLYMER PRICES

Russia June 2014: Situation generally stable / HDPE continues to rise / PP likely to see increases this month

BIAXPLEN

EUR 40m BOPP line starts up in Russian Samara region / Output to be sold to European markets as well