Dow

Takeovers, mergers and consolidations: Changes in the plastics production, packaging and automotive industries / No going back to the way things were

First LLDPE line starts up / C8 grades manufactured using Dow's technology

US chemicals giant said to be in talks with DuPont over potential merge / Combination would create company worth USD 120 bn / Plans for three-way split of activities / Response to shareholder pressure?

Positive outlook for GCC chemicals / Saudi Arabia offers opportunities to downstream investors / New petrochemical projects temporarily halted / Exports to China continue to grow

LLDPE precision packaging resins introduced

Despite overcapacities, plans to lift output in Asia / Global consumption stands at 4m t/y / Decline in optical data storage devices pressures sector / Market unsettled by BPA controversy / Opportunities for lighting technology and automotive applications

High-pressure production: LDPE becoming increasingly tight in Europe / Global importance wanes / New plants mostly flexible and easily switched to EVA / Specifically targeted types more expensive

Stake in MEGlobal sold to Equate as Kuwaiti ventures restructured / MEG plant to be built on US Gulf Coast / Options under review for agrochemicals unit / Plastics leads gains in Q3 volumes but lower prices and foreign exchange hit sales

Leadership restructured / New roles for Fitterling and Ungerleider / Harlan adds Latin America to regional responsibilities

Efforts to reduce plastic waste in oceans should focus on five key nations / Improvements in China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand could cut global plastic waste leakage by 45% / Ocean Conservancy report

Dutch IBC specialist plans IPO in the US

Dow confirms that Tarragona cracker is offline / Repairs in progress

Changes in executive leadership and management / Martin Pugh named interim COO

Tarragona cracker may be down after propylene leak and flare-off

Low-pressure production: HDPE and LLDPE output linked / Number of global swing plants rising / European lines no longer competitive / Local converters increasingly dependent on imports / Exclusive PIE report

First Sub-Saharan Africa PU systems house starts in Durban / Sadara to supply raw materials

Half of rubber carve-out to be sold to Aramco / Joint Venture set to start in Q1 2016 / First back integration for German producer / Farther-reaching Middle East projects envisaged

Olin shareholders give green light for asset merger with Dow / New chlor-alkali leader

Plans to close German PVC production site in Schkopau / Failure to negotiate VCM supply contract

New production era for mass plastics begins / European refineries on the brink of extinction / Feedstock base lost / Global competition increasingly relegates Europe to second class / High time for discussions on how to react

Unipol license awarded to South Korea's Hyosung / New PP line set to start up in 2017

“PacXpert” technology licensed to Hunan China Sun Pharmaceutical Machinery

French distributor buys chemical trading business of Bulgaria's Chimsnab / Majority stake in US speciality chemicals distributor ChemSpec acquired / Part of strategic expansion plans

Argentine group plans to buy LyondellBasell's local PP plant / Shale activities down amid low oil price

Solid growth on a global basis / Worldwide capacities of 10m t/y / Asia dominates production and consumption / Restructuring in Europe makes an impact / Market players still face challenges