Sabic

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

Standard Thermoplastics in February 2012: Polyolefins see triple-digit rises as margins improve / PVC producers also enjoy some margin relief / Styrenics reach limit / Olefin costs will rise again in March

MDI and TDI manufacturing license from Mitsui Chemicals / Part of strategic plan to penetrate global PU business

Follow-up: Anti-dumping duties on Saudi petrochemical products cancelled

Market for standard thermoplastics grapples with old and new challenges / WTO entry will force lower import tariffs that could further pressure local producers / Price developments similar to western Europe

Major upstream producers unite to address foreign anti-dumping charges

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

North America January 2012: PE and PP hold firm / PVC sees a slight rise / PS follows costs upward / Engineering plastics still moving sideways / C3 cost explosion in February will propel notations upward

Third “GPCA Plastics Summit” in Dubai

Official distributor for Sabic's polyolefin range in Poland

India lifts anti-dumping duty on PP imports from Saudi Arabia / Turkey files case against Sabic over MEG exports

New addition to PP “Flowpact” range / Designed for thin-wall containers such as margarine tubs

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

Follow-up: Divestiture of PP business to Braskem completed

Sabic appointed country leaders across Europe / New structure for polyolefins and engineering plastics business

German packaging and film manufacturer to build second plant in Saudi Arabia

LFT PP demand growing in most applications / Increasing role in automotive design / AMI report

PC line in Al-Jubail to hit full production in October

Standard Thermoplastics Trend July 2011: Producers largely pass on cost reduction / Margin improvement proves elusive / Converters are still holding back / Abundance of special offers

Daniele Ferrari appointed new president of PlasticsEurope Italia

Carbon fibre licence agreement with Montefibre / Companies plan to build plant in Saudi Arabia

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

Joint Venture with MRC to build and operate methacrylates facility in Saudi Arabia / MMA plant will be world's largest / Focus on downstream activities

The most widespread polymer continues to make inroads / Global consumption reaches 72m t/y / Production capacities stand at over 90m t/y / Output predicted to rise by almost a third in five years / LDPE remains short despite PE flood

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