Shell

Shell test drills confirm shale gas reserves in China's Sichuan basin / Sinopec chairman says country's shale gas reserves surpass those of US

Plans for diphenyl carbonate demonstration unit in Singapore / Phosgene-free polycarbonate production

Standard thermoplastics in October 2011: PE, PP and PVC down despite stable costs / PS in triple-digit fall / EPS margins improve / Production cuts with limited impact / Targeted hikes have little chance of success

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

Plans to idle aromatics facility in Wesseling withdrawn / All options being examined

Standard thermoplastics in September 2011: Prices soften on a broad front / Polyolefins tend downwards / PVC in weak rollover / PS and EPS producers pass on feedstock relief / Output cuts to avoid surpluses

Massive fire takes out large Singapore refinery / Plant could be idled for at least a month / Initial declarations of force majeure for distillate

Berre refinery to be closed / Olefins and polyolefins unaffected / Workers in two-day strike

Polyurethane feedstocks in September 2011: Oversupply hits TDI / Producers retain part of cost advantage for MDI and polyols / Supply lengthens as demand recedes / Margin improvement through price hikes?

Polyurethane feedstocks in August 2011: Expensive base materials pressure long TDI / Benzene surge leaves MDI cold / Flexible polyols down slightly / Maintenance shortfall will hit resurgent demand next month

African OPEC member plans to use gas derived from oil production / New large-scale project inspired by the Saudi example

Shell Chemical bows out of Sabina Petrochemicals joint venture / C4 complex now split 60:40 among German, French group

Polyurethane feedstocks in July 2011: Monomer decline ends price rally / MDI in a strong rollover / Moderate losses for TDI, polyols / Vacation season dampens demand / Lower costs improve flexibility

North American shale gas deposits shift the feedstock balance / Second cheapest route to ethylene / Asian naphtha base too costly? / Large gas deposits in France and Poland / Public sentiment sours on fracking

New development pact sealed for “green” engineering polyamide / YXY building blocks

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

Plans to build large-scale ethane cracker fed from Marcellus Shale Basin / Output could reach 1m t/y

Plans to sell Berre refinery in France announced / LDPE and PP production will be continued

EU approves BASF-Ineos joint venture plans / Tarragona ABS unit must be divested

Acquisition of CRI/Criterion completed

New allyl alcohol, cumene and VAM plants in Singapore / Start-up in first quarter of 2013

Follow-up: Shell signs MoU with Qatar Petroleum to study project / Complex to include 1.5m t MEG plant

Follow-up: Shell and Total Petrochemicals pursue Ras Laffan project

Styrene catalyst business of Shell subsidiary acquired / Deal to “open door to attractive growth opportunities”

French sites still have reserves for polyolefin production