YEAR IN REVIEW

Life is a roller coaster ride, the European plastics industry finds again in 2012 / Forces majeures and consolidation / North-South profitability gap grows as the shadow of Middle East and China shrinks

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in November 2012: Autumn mist softens notations / Producers see fresh margin losses / Supply stabilises / December could see an unusual stabilisation

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend November 2012: Polyolefins continue to crumble / PVC, PS and EPS producers try to resist declines / Costs down slightly / Bonus-linked orders start to flow in / Few bargains

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in October 2012: Slack demand pressures polyolefins / Cost pressure eases / Only PS makes slight gain / More price concessions likely in expected slow November trading

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

TOTAL

EPS bead insulation to be introduced in 2013

EVENTS

“IdentiPlast 2012” held in Warsaw in November / Focus on zero plastics to landfill

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

TOTAL

HDPE resin specified for ISBM bottle range from Incoplas

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

UPDATE - PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

US hurricane season kicks off / “Isaac” threatens plants across Louisiana in particular / Numerous oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico have been evacuated / Reminiscent of “Katrina” and “Rita”

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

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

ADVANCED

Agreement to source propylene from Aramco-Total joint venture in Al Jubail

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

CCP COMPOSITES

Total composites subsidiary sells US distributor

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?

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend April 2012: Increases for polyolefins are limited to cost pass-through / PVC profits from start of building season / PS notations lose ground / Slack ordering sets the tone

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in March 2012: Significant margin improvement for PE and PVC in Q1 / Stable costs keep PS and EPS in check / Scant supply improvement / High prices dampen demand / Fresh hikes in store

STYRON

Proposal for timing change in European polystyrene contract pricing

ARKEMA

Highest-ever profit in 2011 attributed to restructuring / Vinyls divestment in mid-2012

POLYMER PRICES

Standard recyclate March 2012: Primary market surge pulls secondary notations up / Double-digit rises for rPP and rPS / Slighter gains for rPE / Virgin polymer tight and expensive / Substantial hikes planned

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend March 2012: Polyolefin and PVC producers pursue margin improvement / Stable cost base for PS, EPS / Cracker outages tighten supply / Upward price pressure continues

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in February 2012: Polyolefins see triple-digit rises as margins improve / PVC producers also enjoy some margin relief / Styrenics reach limit / Olefin costs will rise again in March