BASF

Focus on petrochemical strengths boosts earnings power / CEO Kurt Bock says Europe should embrace shale gas / “Happy shareholder” in styrenics jv Styrolution

Strong finish to 2013, despite stiff headwinds / All segments aside from Performance Products improve EBIT before special items

US agricultural giant ADM invests USD 25m in biotech company / Processes for renewable-based PA

European PA 6 base polymer and intermediates price increase

Liquid masterbatch business to be sold to Audia International / Not a strategic focus

Engineering thermoplastics consumption recovers slightly in 2013 / Gains driven by ABS and PMMA / Import volumes of PC, PA and SAN down / Asian producers increasingly step into the fold / Low local capacity utilisation rates / Plastinfo report

Commencing commercialisation of crosslinkable PA 6.6 compound developed with Sweden's Nexam Chemical / Automotive and E&E applications

Sustainability as key theme at this year's plastics mega-event in Shanghai / Organisers expect almost 3,000 exhibitors / “Green Forum” co-organised by PIE / Last call for registrations for exclusive readers' trip to China

Immediate price hike for polyetheramines sold across Europe

“Ultrason” high-performance thermoplastics plant starts up in Korea

Evonik added to list of investors in US start-up of flame retardants

Expansion of TDI capacity in Shanghai

Spanish succinic acid plant production underway / Commercial volumes expected in Q1

2.7m t of engineering thermoplastics consumed in 2012 / National strategy to raise domestic output / Self-sufficiency does not preclude imports

Testing of bio-based BDO yields strong results / Preparation for commercial production next step

European market shifts / Switch from HBCD to other flame retardants / Slashing white EPS capacities / Output of grey material on the rise

Collaboration with Renmatix on industrial sugar from biomass / US firm patented technology

European Commission opens proceedings against German price relief for energy-intensive companies / Support for renewables also eyed critically

Construction of new engineering plastics compounding plant in South Korea / Start-up expected in 2015

Part 2 – US shale gas advantage a game changer for European plastics industry / Players seek to level the playing field but authorities slow to react

Part 1 – General overview: US shale gas boom has European plastics players worried / Commodity sectors dogged by overcapacity, insolvencies / Italy goes all out for biopolymers / Mixed picture for European converters

Plastics to the fore in medical innovation / Broad range of skills on display / Cross-discipline cooperation in complex projects

Price hike for polyalcohols in Europe

PVC Modifiers Business to go to Kaneka

Price increase for butanediol