Sinopec

Posts loss in first-half 2016 operating profit on lower selling prices / Restructuring of chemicals business continues / Increased ethylene production

Seeking buyer for stake in Chinese jv SECCO / Asset sale to improve finances / China's largest cracker

DSM spin-off shuts down US caprolactam plant / Successive wind down

ChemChina to acquire 40% stake in VNHK petrochemicals hub near Vladivostok / Feasibility study for petchems project with Sinopec

China Engineering Thermoplastics May 2016: Feedstock costs slide despite maintenance cycle / Aside from PA, all polymers point down / Consumption levels considered average / Positive outlook for June

Chinese compounder sets sights on Europe / Negotiating distribution arrangement in Poland

China Engineering Thermoplastics April 2016: Increase in oil and tight supply drive up most feedstocks / Polymer notations firm to rising / PMMA skyrockets / Outlook for May mostly seasonally normal

China Standard Thermoplastics April 2016: Ethylene and styrene point down while propylene stays firm / Downtrend for polymers sets in by mid-month / Demand higher in first half of April / Inventory build-up / May business likely to be seasonally normal

Test batches of South Korean POM to be made available in early 2017 / Joint venture not indicative of a shift away from Europe

China Engineering Thermoplastics March 2016: Tight supply and strong demand drive up feedstock costs / ABS and PC rising, while other grades remain firm / Demand quite strong / Prospects for April range from stability to slight increases

China Engineering Thermoplastics February 2016: Cost of key feedstocks rises / ABS and PC point up, while PA remains depressed / Consumption considered satisfactory despite Chinese New Year holidays / March outlook positive

China Standard Thermoplastics February 2016: Feedstock costs rise on back of tight supply and post-holiday demand / Processors resume activity in mid-February / Demand in line with expectations / Domestic polymer prices mostly firm / Import quotes rising

China Engineering Thermoplastics January 2016: Butadiene and styrene rise while other feedstocks point down / Polymer prices firm / ABS and PC rise slightly / Consumption in line with expectations / Processors gearing down for Chinese New Year holidays

China Standard Thermoplastics January 2016: C2 and C3 point down, while styrene rises / Polymers mostly firm / Local producers manage to lift some notations slightly ahead of Chinese New Year holidays / Imports trending up / Demand normal for the season

Chinese state-owned group completes acquisition of minority stake in Russian petchems producer / Collaboration at proposed Amur hub?

China Engineering Thermoplastics December 2015: Feedstocks rise / Only benzene and PX point down / Polymer notations recede / Only PC firms / Demand slightly higher than in November / Processors could stock up in January ahead of Chinese New Year holidays

China Standard Thermoplastics December 2015: Feedstock notations firm / Domestic producers fail to lift polymer prices / Cost of imports continues to slide / National polymer inventory trending slightly long amid flat demand

Eye on the world: A journey from Brazil to China, from Russia to Italy / Challenges experienced by most countries

China Engineering Thermoplastics November 2015: Feedstock costs trending down / Polymer notations continue to drop / PA sees largest fall / Consumption at normal levels / Little change expected in December

China Standard Thermoplastics November 2015: Ethylene rises while propylene and styrene trend soft / Domestic polymer notations slump / Imports also recede / Demand mostly flat / PE inventory down as PP rises

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

China Engineering Thermoplastics October 2015: Aside from butadiene, all feedstocks post modest gains / Low consumption levels keep polymer notations down / Decline in PA 6.6 particularly steep / No significant changes expected in November

Concerns about industrial safety rising / Sinopec reportedly mulling stake in Dragon Aromatics' ill-fated PX plant / Tianjin chemical companies ordered to relocate following deadly blast

Global growth rates remain high / Degradable and bio-based polymers still niche materials / Market dominated by drop-in applications / Europe is leading production region / 5m t of bio-PET for bottles by 2018

Plasticiser precursor joint venture BASF MPCC officially starts up / Feedstock for DINP