Sabic

Standard Thermoplastics Trend April 2014: Widespread upward momentum / PE increases still marginal / PP costs could escalate / PVC continues to soften / Moderate rises for PS and EPS

High strength film developed for beverage industry combines PP and LLDPE

China Engineering Thermoplastics February/March 2014: Feedstock prices decline / Some grades firming / Factories gradually resume normal production after Chinese New Year holiday

Arab region's first PBT plant to come on stream this year / 63,000 t/y facility built by ThyssenKrupp

Ageing populations and packaging growth boost global consumption / European market robust despite challenging economics / New medical products showcased at “Pharmapack Europe” in Paris

China Engineering Thermoplastics January/February 2014: Feedstock and polymer prices soft or falling / Factories shuttered for holiday break / Slow start to the lunar new year / Consumption levels will continue to rise

China Standard Thermoplastics January/February 2014: Chinese New Year hiatus takes feedstock import quotes down / Declines across the entire polymer board / Adequate stock levels see prices continue soft even after the holidays

Engineering thermoplastics consumption recovers slightly in 2013 / Gains driven by ABS and PMMA / Import volumes of PC, PA and SAN down / Asian producers increasingly step into the fold / Low local capacity utilisation rates / Plastinfo report

German sales activities of non-automotive PP and PE types restructured / ML Plastics to distribute portfolio in northern Germany, Pio Kunststoffe in the south

"Plastivision Arabia 2014" set for April in Sharjah / "GPCA PlastiCon" during the exhibition

Polymer capacity continues to rise / PE accounts for most regional output / Saudi Arabia is largest production base / Conversion sector focused on packaging and construction

2.7m t of engineering thermoplastics consumed in 2012 / National strategy to raise domestic output / Self-sufficiency does not preclude imports

New multimodal HDPE grades for blow moulding applications available / Improved production process

Part 2 – US shale gas advantage a game changer for European plastics industry / Players seek to level the playing field but authorities slow to react

New technology centres open in China and India

Study to build cracker and PE complex in the US / Project led by shareholder Odebrecht / Option to purchase land from Sabic

Decision to stop construction of UHMW-PE plant with Petrokemya

Business “on track” for 2013, CEO says / Polymer investment proceeding as planned

EPSE Awards 2013: Recognition of special polycarbonate applications in construction and design / Awards ceremony during K 2013

Rebranding the former Quinn Plastics / Broad portfolio of transparent and translucent sheet / Margins suffer following price decline for semi-finished products

Start-up of EVA and LDPE Saudi facility moved to Q4

Polymershapes division opens branch in Texas, US

Engineering contract goes to Dragados for Saudi POM project / Start-up delayed to 2016 / Cost estimate now at USD 400m

Standard Thermoplastics Trend July 2013: Moderate increases for most products / Sharp output cuts / Demand still sluggish / Rising crude oil notations support producer hike plans

New 6,000 t/y aluminium alkyls plant starts at Al Jubail / Growing demand in the region