SHINTECH

Plans for second ethane cracker in US / Backward integration for PVC sought

PVC MARKET

EU starts anti-dumping investigation for imports from US and Egypt

POLYMER PRICES

North America February 2023: Feedstocks drive prices up for polypropylene and polystyrene / PVC rises due to exports / Tendency for surplus in all segments / March expected to be weak

OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM

US PVC subsidiary OxyVinyls plans conversion, expansion / Over EUR 1 bn investment in Texas

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

Vestolit lifts force majeure for PVC deliveries from Marl / Fire at Formosa Plastics in Texas

PLASTICS AND ENVIRONMENT

Global alliance of 29 companies aims to help manage plastics waste / Commitments totalling over USD 1 bn

PVC

Shift in international trade flows / US producers push towards Europe / Trade war causes collapse of US deliveries to Turkey / European market desirable due to high-price structure

MEXICHEM

Damaged VCM plant in Coatzacoalcos will not be rebuilt / Electrolysis remains in operation

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

USA: Hurricane "Harvey" approaches south coast of Texas / Facilities shut down or on alert

WESTLAKE

USD 3.8 bn is the magic number / Latest takeover bid accepted by Axiall / Combined company will become North America's second-largest PVC producer

HANWHA CHEMICAL

South Korean chemical producer reportedly looking into building an ethylene plant in the US / Jumping the shale gas bandwagon

SASOL

South African group plans new mega-cracker in the US / Attracted to shale gas light feed

MEXICHEM

Plans for shale gas cracker joint venture with Occidental / Backward integration

US PLASTICS MARKET

Significant amounts of PVC, PE and PET capacity to discontinue / Petrochemicals output up 5% in 2010