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

VERSALIS

New office in Shanghai / Licensing and business partnerships in Asia / Joint venture agreement with Petronas

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

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

BIOPLASTICS

Renewable route to butadiene / Versalis, Novamont and Genomatica cooperate

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

ASSOCIATIONS

Italian and Thai bioplastics associations sign MoU for knowledge sharing, joint research and development

ITALY

One of the weakest links in the European industrial chain / Plastics machinery performs below average / Polymer production shrinking / Company formerly known as Polimeri to move more into specialities

ITALY

Visitor numbers at leading plastics fair “Plast” down slightly / Share of Turkish, eastern European attendees grows / Excellent fair structure / Italy's plastics machinery sector under pressure

POLIMERI EUROPA

Eni subsidiary changes name to Versalis / Part of strategic realignment