EPS INSULATION

Consortium lobbying for extended use of HBCD flame retardant largely disbanded / Availability of REACH-compliant alternatives said to be good enough to allow regular supply

BEWI STYROCHEM

EPS producer consolidates central European sales activities in Finland / German office to close

BASF

German chemical giant opposes prolonged use of HBCD flame retardants in EPS/XPS foams

BASF

Spanish XPS plant now switched to PolyFR flame retardant / All plants to be converted by year's end / ECHA opens consultation on petition for exceptions from the 2015 HBCD phase-out

EPS INSULATION

Syndicate plans to lobby EU to prolong use of HBCD as flame retardant / Decision expected by year's end / Ban already enforced in Switzerland / German association members plan to follow in mid-2014

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 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 January 2012: Complete change of direction / Producers succeed only in factoring in extra costs / Supply generally balanced / Possibility of improved margins before end of month

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 in November 2011: Producers pass on most cost reductions / PE film margins squeezed further / Supply and demand balanced / December could be calmer

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend November 2011: PE, PP and PS prices fall in line with the cost reductions / PVC still stable / EPS wins small margin improvement / Flood of special offers coincides with revival in demand

STYROCHEM

Biodegradable EPS is launched

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend March 2011: Hikes for polyolefins above rise in monomer costs / PVC sees no margin gains / PS shaky / Seasonal demand will help EPS / Extremely high prices dampen demand

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics in February 2011: Prices rise again significantly / Polyolefins gain up to EUR 50/t / Styrenics see triple-digit hike / Supply tighter / Demand robust / Political unrest triggers oil surge

POLYMER PRICES

Standard Thermoplastics Trend February 2011: Polyolefin margins improve / PVC producers likely to win at least cost rise / Higher benzene drives PS and EPS again / Limited supply lifts notations further