ExxonMobil

Standard Thermoplastics in August 2012: Polyolefin producers regain margins as costs spiral / PVC and styrenics players restricted to passing on higher costs / Supply tight / Further price rises on the horizon

Follow-up: Isaac downgraded to tropical storm / US government declares some part of Louisiana disaster zones / Oil refining operations about to be restarted / Flooding and electricity problems

Follow-up: Hurricane "Isaac" approaches Louisiana / Numerous US refinery complexes shut down or operating at reduced rates

US hurricane season kicks off / “Isaac” threatens plants across Louisiana in particular / Numerous oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico have been evacuated / Reminiscent of “Katrina” and “Rita”

Standard Thermoplastics Trend August 2012: Market suddenly turns around / Polyolefins, PS and EPS rise significantly / PVC also up / Prolonged phase of price increases likely in store

Standard Thermoplastics in July 2012: Trend turns around despite summer lull / Feedstock cost slide reversed / Polymer price reductions limited / August cost rise will meet slack demand head on

Standard Thermoplastics Trend July 2012: Producers pass on only part of their cost reduction / Rising oil increases margin pressure / Some producers stop orders as inventories shrink / Prices likely to bottom out

ExxonMobil ceases all shale gas extraction in Poland / Government alleges conflict of interest in the wake of gas deal with Russia

Repsol nationalisation sparks row over shale gas deposits / Investors cautious amid ongoing economic uncertainty

Standard Thermoplastics in May 2012: Slipping oil prices pull polymers down / Margin losses on a broad front / Inventories swell as converters cut orders to a minimum / Prices destined to fall again in June

New ethane cracker and PE plants at Baytown / Cheap US shale gas gives price advantage

BPA project planned in China / Technology provided by Badger Licensing

Standard Thermoplastics Trend April 2012: Increases for polyolefins are limited to cost pass-through / PVC profits from start of building season / PS notations lose ground / Slack ordering sets the tone

Standard Thermoplastics in March 2012: Significant margin improvement for PE and PVC in Q1 / Stable costs keep PS and EPS in check / Scant supply improvement / High prices dampen demand / Fresh hikes in store

Dawn of the “Great Ethylene Era” / Five Year Plan calls for massive increase in domestic C2 capacities / Pinpointed regional investments / Foreign players race to form joint ventures

Scottish environmental agency slaps ExxonMobile with record fine for failing to report climate pollution from Fife ethylene cracker / Dow Chemical penalised as well

Standard Thermoplastics Trend February 2012: Producers improve margins / Only styrenics players fail to cover their costs / Icy conditions hamper production / Upward price trend likely to continue up to Easter

Agreement to acquire ExxonMobil's stake in Fina Antwerp Olefins jv

US Environmental Protection Agency to study shale gas-related water issues / European resistance growing / Strategic move toward exploitation in Poland

North America October 2011: Polymer markets are increasingly feeling the pressure / PE on a moderate decline / Polypropylene and polystyrene notations cave in / ABS in free fall / RTi reports

Alternative feedstocks rejuvenate global plastics sector/ Oilfield licences to be awarded in Brazil / Shale gas fever rages on three continents / Middle East resources still firmly driving / Saudi Arabia, Iran are major players / GlobalData reports

Leading global per capita consumer and producer of plastics / High capacity utilisation rates / Above-average EU salaries impede capacity to compete on world stage

New polycarbonate line to go up in Tianjin by 2015 / Beachhead for Indian subcontinent

The post-quake reality: One-third of ethylene capacities offline / Petrochemical industry crippled by electricity shortages / European and US companies appear largely unaffected / Numerous plants idled as a cautionary measure

Almost half the olefin chain affected by quake and tsunami / Exact extent of damage remains unclear