GLOBAL ECONOMY

US Supreme Court strikes down Trump tariffs / Next steps unclear / Business groups warns of more uncertainty

POLYMER PRICES

Polyurethane feedstocks February: Downward trend for TDI remains intact / Rollover predominates otherwise / Little restocking at start of year / End of Chinese export subsidies could cause disruption for polyols

AOC

Resin producer plans price hikes for EMEA region

HUNTSMAN

Polyurethanes division under pressure in Europe / CEO sees structural problems, need for consolidation

CELANESE

Compounder expects turnaround from mid-year after difficult 2025 / Future of in-house polymer production unclear

PLASTICS PROCESSING GERMANY

‘Something is clearly going very wrong in Germany' – GKV president / Industry turnover, processing volume to fall by 2% in 2025

EUROPEAN INDUSTRY SUMMIT

European chemical industry on the edge / Business fleeing the continent / Supply-chain disruptions threaten domino effect – Central European perspective

CPH

PVC blister business under margin pressure despite higher volumes / Cautiously positive outlook for 2026

EVENTS

AI Circular Economy Conference 2026 to take place in Germany

PLASTIC PACKAGING

Germany's federal cabinet approves PPWR Implementation Act / Recycling rate for plastic packaging rises to 75% / Criticism from industry bodies: ‘the political brakes are on'

PLASTIC FANTASTIC

A hole-in-one in design

PLASTICS AND ENVIRONMENT

Trump rescinds EPA's 2009 Endangerment Finding / End to greenhouse regulation in US / Effect on manufacturing unclear

LOGISTICS

Hapag-Lloyd acquires Israeli competitor / Maersk expands terminal in Bremerhaven, Germany

TOTALENERGIES

Petrochemicals perform well in 2025 / Gradual phase-out in Europe conceivable nevertheless / ‘Naphtha has a competitive disadvantage that cannot be offset'

RECYCLING FINLAND

Chemical recycling plant nears completion / Country still well short of 50% packaging reclaim target / Mechanical recovery momentum fades

PLASTICS RESEARCH

‘Experiencing, absorbing, discussing, internalising, and transferring knowledge – that is the core of the colloquium' / PIE interviews institute director Christian Hopmann on the 33rd anniversary of IKV colloquium

ZEUS PACKAGING

Irish group acquires Spanish competitor Koex Packaging Solutions

PLASTICS INDUSTRY UK

Latest BPF members' survey paints mixed picture / Sentiment improving, but finding skilled staff still a problem / Recycling facing ‘critical challenges'

EXXONMOBIL

Petchem giant cleared to pursue defamation case against California over plastics recycling

CONSUMER GOODS / E&E

Against innovation theft: Negative Plagiarius prize awarded / Plastic products also affected