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Middle East Conflict
Latest news and market reports on the impact on the plastics industry.
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In the Spotlight
PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS
MOL extends force majeure in Hungary to all grades of PE and PP
— By PIE staff — The explosion at one of MOL’s two crackers in Tiszaújváros, Hungary, is having wider repercussions. The force majeure, which the company had initially declared at the end of May only for high-density polyethylene, has now been extended to all polymers produced at the site. The second,... (16:46)
POLYPROPYLENE
Indonesia plans to impose anti-dumping duties on PP homopolymers from Asia and Middle East / More imports to Europe possible
— By PIE staff — The Indonesian Anti-Dumping Committee has proposed to the government in Jakarta protective duties of between 5.5% and 36.6% on imports of polypropylene homopolymers. The countries affected are China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia.... (06:00)
DOW CHEMICAL
Chemicals giant begins cutting 4,500 jobs globally / In Netherlands alone, 605 employees to be made redundant
— By PIE staff — In the final month of CEO Jim Fitterling’s tenure, chemical giant Dow Chemical is beginning to implement its cost-cutting programme, dubbed Transform to Outperform. The company recently announced that in the Netherlands more than 600 jobs are to be cut at its three sites in Terneuzen,... (06:00)
PLASTICS RECYCLING GERMANY
How can a functioning recyclate market be established? / Wuppertal Institute study analyses current situation, outlines ways forward / “Plastics as a service”
— By PIE staff — Building a functioning market for plastics recyclates requires more than individual measures like higher recovery rates or new technologies – an overarching strategy for industrial and economic policy that is coordinated over the long term is crucial. This is the conclusion reached by the... (08.06.2026)
EU-US TRADE
Deal under pressure as new US tariffs cast doubt on ratification / Brussels had been set to approve deal on 16 June
— By Dede Williams — The EU-US trade deal now faces new uncertainty after the Donald Trump administration launched a separate tariff initiative that could affect the EU and other trading partners. The move has raised questions over whether the planned ratification in Brussels will go ahead as expected. EU... (08.06.2026)
AROMATIC COPOLYESTERS
EU Commission opens anti-dumping probe into Chinese imports
— By PIE staff — The European Commission has launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of aromatic copolyesters from China following a complaint by BASF. The probe covers imports during 2025. Products covered by Combined Nomenclature code 3907 99 80 include primarily polybutylene adipate... (05.06.2026)
Middle East Conflict
Polyglobe
The Iran war and its consequences for the plastics industry

Tensions in the Middle East have reached a new peak: following the recent attacks by Israel and the US on Iran, the geopolitical situation continues to escalate. Energy prices, raw material availability and logistics flows are sensitive to the escalation in this key region.

PIE – Plastics Information Europe analyses the scenarios that are now conceivable and how they could affect energy and raw material markets, supply chains and competitive structures in Europe.
To the topic page...
Latest News
PLASTIC PACKAGING
PPWR: EU Commission withdraws reservations over German implementation act
 		06:00
CONSTRUCTION GERMANY
Mixed sentiment / Construction, plastics-related sectors hope for improvement in second half of year / Residential construction remains cause for concern
 		06:00
UK CONSTRUCTION
Rising inflation, poor demand hit construction activity again / Middle East crisis drives up fuel costs
 		06:00
POLYMER PRICES
China standard thermoplastics May: Most prices trend lower on weak demand / Further decreases expected in June / Market returns to pricing based on fundamentals
 		08.06.2026
LANXESS
Q1 earnings, sales drop due to currency swings, lower volumes / Positive momentum since March due to Middle East conflict / 2026 forecast maintained at EUR 450-550 mn
 		08.06.2026
PLASTICS RECYCLING GERMANY
Share of recyclate up slightly, production and processing in decline in 2024 / Industry association publishes Circular Economy for Plastics country report
 		08.06.2026
PACKAGING WASTE LEGISLATION
Trade organisations and businesses urge 'timely implementation' of PPWR / Investor confidence at risk if regulation is delayed
 		08.06.2026
WASTE LEGISLATION GERMANY
Single-use plastics fund falls well short of forecasts / Act sees only a fraction of expected registrations
 		05.06.2026
RÖCHLING
Further decline in turnover / Only European market growing / Forecast for 2026 at previous year's level
 		05.06.2026
More...
Price Reports and Announcements
POLYMER PRICES
China standard thermoplastics May: Most prices trend lower on weak demand / Further decreases expected in June / Market returns to pricing based on fundamentals
 		08.06.2026
POLYMER PRICES
Paraxylene May: Surprising rise in price
 		03.06.2026
POLYMER PRICES
Engineering thermoplastics May: Prices move in different directions / Calls for significant increases plus weak demand mostly limit price rises / Further slowdown expected in June
 		03.06.2026
POLYMER PRICES
Composites/GRP May: No end to upward trend for resins in sight / Low-priced imports keep some glass fibre prices unchanged / No stimuli from application markets
 		03.06.2026
TRINSEO
Another price increase for polystyrene
 		03.06.2026
KURARAY
Elastomers set to become significantly more expensive
 		02.06.2026
CORRECTION - POLYMER PRICES
Polypropylene May: Uneven prices / Reinforced compounds significantly more expensive / Sluggish demand suggests normalisation in June
 		02.06.2026
POLYMER PRICES
Polyethylene May: Agreements go in different directions / Mostly rollovers due to weaker demand / Prices in June expected to fall / Market trends to a surplus
 		02.06.2026
POLYMER PRICES
Styrenics May: Prices trend further upwards / Demand ebbs noticeably after panic buying / At most minor price changes in June
 		02.06.2026
POLYMER PRICES
Feedstocks May/June
 		02.06.2026
More Price Reports...
More Announcements...
Readers' Choice
MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT
CEE plastics industry feels sting of Hormuz blockade / Region highly dependent on imports / Major converters halt purchases, sacrifice production capacity / Recyclers see temporary benefits
 		28.05.2026
LOGISTICS
Free passage as a utopian ideal? / Hormuz tolls put global shipping – and maritime law – under pressure
 		29.05.2026
LOGISTICS
Even with war in Iran and Strait of Hormuz blockade, container shipping is more punctual than ever
 		05.06.2026
EUROPEAN ECONOMY
War spurs price surges / Eurozone inflation highest since 2023 / Is it stockpiling or 'hoarding'?
 		03.06.2026
MOL
Follow-up: Tiszaújváros cracker to remain offline for several months
 		01.06.2026
EUROPEAN CAR INDUSTRY
Sales improve again / UK booms / Hybrids dominate
 		28.05.2026
ARTIFICIAL TURF RECYCLING
European Commission accuses synthetic turf companies of cartel activity in recycling market
 		29.05.2026
MITSUBISHI
Spin-off of petchem activities moves forward / New structure to focus on end-use markets
 		02.06.2026
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Date of print: 09/06/2026
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