Bayer MaterialScience

Market's centre moves east as crisis recedes / China now largest consumer of polyamide with 30% of global output / More than 80% of ABS output in Asia / PCI “Yellowbook” and PIE Polyglobe paint the picture

Three new medical TPUs introduced

Two-year trial run of new chlorine plant powered by innovative Uhde-BMS technology begins / Process could save energy and cut carbon dioxide levels

Adjusted sales up 8% in Q2, but EBITDA flat / Forecast for full year is now more conservative

Successful test for gas phase phosgenation technology at Caojing TDI plant / 250,000 t/y facility to be commissioned successively this year

Objections to German TDI plans / “No worst-case scenario" / Unit will be completely contained

Senior management reshuffle at Bayer MaterialScience / Renewed focus on innovation and marketing

Groundbreaking on Shanghai polymer centre

North American PU systems distribution deal with Composites One

Polyurethane feedstocks in June 2011: Polyols hikes all go through / MDI rises more moderate / TDI continues sideways / Supply somewhat tight / Order volume good / Prices may not follow petchem drop

Bayer MaterialScience CEO Patrick Thomas becomes PlasticsEurope president

New fully integrated 300,000 t/y European TDI plant to start up in 2014 / Largest single-train unit

New rail freight line halves transport time from Chongqing to Antwerp / Safer and cheaper

The apple of the plastics world's eye? / Massive production and consumption levels / World's largest PP and engineering plastics producer / Rising interest in bioplastics / Chinaplas 2011 industry fair

Research partnership with Chinese auto maker

Bayer MaterialScience appoints Michael Koenig the new head of Polycarbonates

Investing USD 120m into Texas site / Money to go towards MDI debottlenecking and TDI upgrades

PC capacity expansion in Uerdingen / Output to go towards meeting rising global demand

Higher volumes help operating profits rise by 50% in Q1 2011 / Construction and automotive sectors see strongest sales growth / Full year sales and earnings forecast raised

Bayer lifts force majeure for polyols from Fos / Flexible foam grades still in short supply

Polyurethane feedstocks in April 2011: Low quarterly notations make a sudden leap / Rises hit TDI and polyols / Increasing demand from the building industry generates bottlenecks / Solid orders for long month of May / Calls for significant hikes

Prices of “Desmodur” polyisocyanates to rise

Price hike for polyurethane products

PU solutions for composites displayed at JEC show in Paris / Automotive applications in focus

Mito polimeri is new distributor in Italy