SOLVAY

Foreign exchange rates lift operating profit in Q1 / Speciality Polymers business records strong growth / Functional Polymers operating profit down

EUROPEAN POLYAMIDE MARKET

Polymer consumption reaches about 1m t/y / Automotive industry as main driver / Production capacities difficult to distinguish / Independent compounders make up one-third of the market / AWJ study

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

Ineos declares force majeure for PVC from Wilhelmshaven

HIGH-PERFORMANCE PLASTICS

Rising demand for polymeric materials with metal-like properties / Niche products make gains / Automotive, E&E, aviation and medical technology sectors as key drivers / Global capacities exceed 800,000 t/y

ARKEMA

Follow up: PEKK to fill niche demand for high-temperature polymers / Manufacturing thermoplastic composites for Boeing?

INEOS / SOLVAY

Last hurdle to Inovyn jv mounted / Remedy business to be divested to ICIG industrial holding

SOLVAY

Speciality foams partnership with 3A Composites / Targeting transportation applications

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

SOLVAY

Launching PEEK production in the US / Plant to start up in mid-2016

SOLVAY

Capacity expansion for high-performance red pigments

PLASTIC PIPE INDUSTRY

Sector characterised by consolidations in Europe / Germany remains largest producer / Top 10 companies account for 40% of output / Wavin is market leader / AMI reports

SOLVAY

Acquisition of CPChem's “Ryton” PPS business wrapped up

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

Europe struggles to remain competitive amid US shale gas onslaught / Industry organisations call on EU to help / Oxford study analyses chances and risks

SOLVAY SPECIALTY POLYMERS

High performance PCT introduced for LED television applications / Improved processability combined with heat and light stability and whiteness retention

SOLVAY

Earnings up 10% in Q3 / CEO upholds “high single-digit earnings forecast for full year / Brazilian competition authorities reject sale of Indupa to Braskem

ASSOCIATIONS

Solvay CEO Clamadieu elected president of Cefic

SOLVAY

Maintenance turnaround in Chalampé / Adipic acid production for polyamide chain to be off stream for six weeks

SOLVAY

CPChem's “Ryton” PPS business acquired for USD 220m / Deal includes Belgian production plant / Part of focus on more specialised solutions

VESTOLIT

SVC Global sells German PVC producer to Mexichem / Further changes in the European PVC market

WESTLAKE

Vinnolit acquisition wrapped up / “Major step” on US PVC producer's strategic path

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

PVC MARKET

European production landscape undergoing massive changes / Global capacity shifts drive consolidations / Overcapacities mean additional closures cannot be avoided / Who will be the next victim in this game of Russian roulette?

SOLVAY

Cable jacketing flame retardant delivers improved flexibility and flame resistance

VESTOLIT

PVC producer up for sale? / Consolidation in western Europe takes another big step forward

STYROLUTION

Ineos buys BASF's share in 50:50 styrenics joint venture for EUR 1.1 bn