Dow

Imminent commissioning of new large-scale global plants / Export-oriented production lines in Mexico and Saudi Arabia waiting in the wings / Uncertainty about Borouge / Iran makes a return / Europe as key export destination

Daniel Coombs new head of global Olefins and Polyolefins business

PlasticsEurope appoints Javier Constante and Daniele Ferrari as vice presidents

Dow/YPF joint venture will triple shale gas output in Argentina / “Extraordinary results” from drilling

Large Texas propylene line begins commercial operations / Propane dehydrogenation using shale gas as feedstock

Deal to combine with fellow consumer goods giant Jarden Corporation / Latest mammoth merge would create USD 16 bn mega-company / Completion expected in Q2 2016

Workforce cuts of 10% in USD 700m cost savings plan / Chattanooga plant in the US to close

Follow up: Companies confirm “merger of equals” / Mega fusion receives the unanimous support of each player's board / Plan to split into three separate units / Liveris oversees plastics activities

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