MEXICHEM

Agreement to acquire US pipe producer Dura-Line / Growing international footprint

VESTOLIT

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

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?

VESTOLIT

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

VESTOLIT

Price hike for PVC

ASSOCIATIONS

European PVC trade organisation has new head

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend March 2013: Falling costs upstream dash producers' hopes of triple-digit hikes / Polyolefins rise less than costs / Higher input prices added to PVC, PS and EPS / Supply in line with demand

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend February 2013: Buyers turn a deaf ear on hike plans / Stable costs dampen momentum / Demand still slack / First upstream cost rises appear / Price spiral could turn upward

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in January 2013: Price hikes come to a halt in mid-month / Producers still net reasonable margin gains / Slow start to demand / February likely similar

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend January 2013: Slight margin improvement for polyolefin producers / No sharp order rise at month's begin / PVC and EPS still weak / PS moving in tandem with costs

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in December 2012: PE slide halted / PP follows monomer downward / PS producers recoup cost rises / PVC and EPS prices softer / Polyolefin producers will seek triple-digit hikes in January

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend December 2012: Notations tend unusually firm / Occasional increases for PE / Only building applications weaker / Fear of triple-digit rises in January

POLYMER PRICES

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

ASSOCIATIONS

Andreas Amling elected chairman of Euro Chlor

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in July 2012: Trend turns around despite summer lull / Feedstock cost slide reversed / Polymer price reductions limited / August cost rise will meet slack demand head on

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

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in June 2012: Polyolefin prices follow petrochemicals down / Bleeding margins / PVC producers manage to pass on costs / Styrenics also down / Buyers' market / July will see clearance sales as prices bottom out

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

VESTOLIT

European PVC prices to rise

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in December 2011: Notations still tending soft / No more bargains for polyolefin buyers / Supply nearly balanced again / Demand robust / Rising costs to drive January notations

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend December 2011: Weak rollover for most products / HDPE very firm / Producers clear inventories / Bonus targets and end markets stimulate demand / Quiet end to the year

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend July 2011: Producers largely pass on cost reduction / Margin improvement proves elusive / Converters are still holding back / Abundance of special offers

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in May 2011: Oil price slide reveals market limits / Polyolefin margins crumble / Producers left sitting on costs / Converters' resistance shifts the balance / Price pressure remains

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

Vestolit lifts PVC, VCM force majeure

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend May 2011: Prices near market limit / Producers unable to pass on costs in full / Oil price dip pressures polymers / PVC and EPS somewhat better / Buyers stage boycott