Arkema

French PVDF capacity to rise by 50% by 2012

Price hike for acrylic sheet

Changshu PVDF plant to start up as planned / Capacity to rise by 50% by mid-2012

Price hike for “Orevac” polyolefins

R&D for PEKK stepped up / EUR 2.5 bn project with EU backing / French pilot plant planned

Revenues expected to reach EUR 7.5 bn with inclusion of composites and bioplastics / Total's coating business acquired

Standard Thermoplastics in November 2010: Notations firmer in aftermath of French strikes / Cost hikes largely factored in / PVC and EPS markets still sluggish / Weakening euro fuels upward momentum

Arkema lifts force majeure for PVC

Threefold production increase at Changshu site

PlasticsEurope forms engineering plastics promotion group / Focal point for discussion

Standard Thermoplastics in October 2010: French strikes halt slide in notations / LDPE firm / PP down / PVC rolls over / PS moves up / Supply tight / Cost rise brings storm clouds

Industrie Generali and Swiss fund bid for parts of Vinyls Italia / Speculation on feedstock units

Price hike for “Kynar” fluoropolymers

Standard Thermoplastics Trend October 2010: Polyolefins largely stable / PVC remains in low gear / PS margins continue to improve / EPS down / Close watch on impact of French strikes

Electroactive polymers developer acquired / Wide range of future applications anticipated

Standard Thermoplastics in September 2010: Polyolefins bend under pressure / PVC makes little progress / PS margins improve / EPS demand sluggish / Supply improves while demand slackens / Price pressure continues

Prices of “Altuglas” PMMA resins to rise

Arkema declares force majeure for PVC from France

Second biomedical polymer plant to be built in US / Joint development of lactides with Arkema

Prices of acrylic sheets and block range to increase

Standard Thermoplastics in August 2010: Polyolefins continue to crumble / PVC and PS rise slightly / Slight surplus pressures EPS / Supply more stable / Imports normalise / Lively despite summer holidays

Standard Thermoplastics Trend August 2010: Polyolefin prices crumble / Falling feedstock costs pressure producers / PVC up slightly / PS mostly stable / Supply normalising / Demand strong despite holidays

Record sales, earnings in Q2 / Earnings forecast revised upward / Vinyls break even after loss

Standard Thermoplastics in July 2010: Most notations under pressure / Polyolefins give a little ground / PVC firmer / Falling costs drag styrenics down / Supplies lengthen / Downward trend likely to continue

Standard Thermoplastics Trend July 2010: Polyolefin notations run in place / PVC upswing loses some of its momentum / SM collapses / All styrenics in steady downtrend / Supply mostly limited / Order volume stable / Market may be turning around