Repsol

Argentinian oil and gas giant signs MoU for shale gas joint venture with Dow Chemical / Focus on ethylene production / Repsol suspicious about latest developments

Standard Thermoplastics in December 2012: PE slide halted / PP follows monomer downward / PS producers recoup cost rises / PVC and EPS prices softer / Polyolefin producers will seek triple-digit hikes in January

Anti-fracking movement has mounted effective campaign, study says / Technology also is credited with progress

Standard Thermoplastics Trend December 2012: Notations tend unusually firm / Occasional increases for PE / Only building applications weaker / Fear of triple-digit rises in January

Repsol reportedly idles Portuguese cracker for “market reasons”

Petrochemicals capacity to remain flat to 2016, GlobalData reports / Dow upgrades Bahia Blanca PE operations

Spanish Puertollano LDPE plant converted to EVA

Standard Thermoplastics Trend October 2012: Polyolefin prices slip as costs decline slightly / First signs of deterioration? / PVC stable / Styrenics somewhat firmer / Pressure on notations increases

Standard Thermoplastics in September 2012: Cost momentum in first half drives polymers / Supply adequate despite production cuts / Slack ordering pressures the market / Price zenith evidently reached

Standard Thermoplastics Trend 2012: Producers win more than their increased costs / Margins up, volumes down / Demand shows distinct signs of slowing down / Market is becoming tense

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

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

Repsol declares force majeure for Puertollano cracker in Spain

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

Standard Thermoplastics in June 2012: Polyolefin prices follow petrochemicals down / Bleeding margins / PVC producers manage to pass on costs / Styrenics also down / Buyers' market / July will see clearance sales as prices bottom out

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

“UTech Europe Exhibition and Conference” in Maastricht

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

Standard thermoplastics in August 2011: Worldwide turbulence gradually settles / Month ends with firm rollover for PE / Margin losses abound / Notations likely to firm again in September

Standard thermoplastics in July 2011: All prices slip, but only LDPE, LLDPE and PP below the cost reduction / HDPE margins improve minimally / Restocking stimulates / August monomer rises trigger hike plans

Standard thermoplastics in June 2011: Price cuts go beyond cost reductions / Notations down across the board / Special offers widely available / More reductions expected in July

Standard Thermoplastics Trend June 2011: Notations slide on monomer decline / PVC with slight gains / Tendency toward surplus / Volume pressure propels special offers / Some prices could go lower

Plans to raise EVA capacity in Spain / Focus on higher VA content grades

Standard Thermoplastics in March 2011: Higher costs mostly factored in / Minimal margin gain with HDPE and PVC / PS softer / Seasonal business boosts EPS / Sales decline / Fresh price hikes for PVC and polyolefins