BRASKEM

Strong domestic sales help boost 2013 profit by 22% / Tax incentives and weakened currency add to gains / Further expansion projects / Shale gas opportunities analysed

SOLVAY

Bid submitted to take over struggling Plextronics

SOLVAY

Buy-in of Canadian composites manufacturer Aonix complete

BIESTERFELD

Distribution agreement for Solvay's polysulfones in Scandinavia

BRASKEM / SOLVAY

Follow-up: Transfer of majority shares in Solvay Indupa moving as scheduled / Brazilians seeking clarification for rejection of proposal to purchase public shares

BRASKEM

A "no go" from Argentine stock exchange regulators on Solvay Indupa public share purchase

KEM ONE

Race for Kem One apparently decided / OpenGate and Alain Krassny pool bids

BRASKEM

Purchase of Solvay's Latin American PVC business / Business valued at USD 290m

BENVIC

OpenGate buys Solvay's PVC compounding business / Integration with Kem One and Tessenderlo's Profialis?

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

Total: Striking employees at French refineries / Unions exert pressure for better wages / Three crackers potentially offline

KEM ONE

OpenGate leading in the stretch / Unions present project "Phoenix" / Further potential delays to final decision

YEAR IN REVIEW 2013

Part 1 – General overview: US shale gas boom has European plastics players worried / Commodity sectors dogged by overcapacity, insolvencies / Italy goes all out for biopolymers / Mixed picture for European converters

SOLVAY SPECIALTY POLYMERS

UHMW grade added to “KetaSpire” PEEK range

SOLVAY

Creation of PTFE joint venture in China with SH3F / New plant to start up in Q1 2014 / Feedstocks secured for nearby fluoropolymers project

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend November 2013: PE and PP producers pass on lower costs / Signs point to stabilisation / PVC stands its ground / Styrenics fall in line with monomer

SOLVAY / INEOS

EU to probe PVC joint venture plans in depth

SOLVAY

Cellulose acetate bio-plastic offers engineering alternatives

SOLVAY

Purchase of a stake in Canadian composites specialist Aonix / Collaborating on thermoplastic composites

SOLVAY

Adjusted earnings fall 13% / Vinyls as assets for sale / PA turnaround expected

SOLVAY

Plan to launch PA compounding line in Russia / Medium-term goal to open new plant in Southeast Asia / Introducing temperature-resistant "Technyl One" polyamide

INEOS / SOLVAY

EU has reservations concerning JV deal / Ineos puts forward divestment of two German plants

SOLVAY SPECIALTY POLYMERS

Partnering with Agiplast on recycled PVDF resins / Introducing “Fluorloop” grade sourced from production scrap

POLAND

Plastic processing: Production value continues to climb despite 2012 volume drop / Blustery economic headwinds picking up / Construction sector in a hole following completion of large projects / New impetus for growth starting 2014

SOLVAY / INEOS

Awaiting clearance from European Commission for PVC JV

SOLVAY SPECIALTY POLYMERS

New medical concepts use PPSU instead of metal / Material gives cost and performance benefits