Markets Regions and Countries

Fire destroys warehouse of Italian plastics distributor

IK member companies optimistic about 2016 / Selling prices likely to be increased

Dow/YPF joint venture will triple shale gas output in Argentina / “Extraordinary results” from drilling

Q3 shipments edge up on Q2 despite year-on-year fall / New orders rise versus 2014 / Optimistic outlook for 2016 / SPI report

Positive outlook for GCC chemicals / Saudi Arabia offers opportunities to downstream investors / New petrochemical projects temporarily halted / Exports to China continue to grow

Steady output of plastic products / Growth slows in first three quarters of 2015 / Economic development shifts towards country's central and western regions / CPRJ reports

Are the energy prices for chlorine production in Runcorn falling? / Potential exemption from climate tax

Sales after first nine months of 2015 match those of last year / Packaging products perform above average / Construction and semi-finished goods barely move / Technical parts and consumer goods looking up / Positive mood despite feedstock upheaval

Polymer production grows by 4% in 2014 / EU 28 trade surplus widens / Turkey still most important resin buyer / PlasticsEurope recommends landfill ban to improve recycling / "Plastics – the Facts 2015"

Exports up 71% in 2014 / Imports rise enormously in volume terms / Foreign trade deficit remains / Injection moulding machines make up most imports / Exports largely consist of extrusion lines / CPRJ reports

Uzbek gas chemical complex completed / Start-up in January 2016 / Integrated project includes HDPE and PP facilities / Korea and Japan jostling for position in Central Asia

UK retail chains donate bag fee to charity / Alzheimer's and WRAP are key beneficiaries

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

German plastics fair meets expectations / Rising internationality among visitors / Movers and shakers attend / Aside from VW crisis, sector mood mostly upbeat

Spanish household recycling up 10.7% in 2014 / Improved sorting

Spanish plastics association ANAIP joins “Polymers for Europe Alliance” / “Best European Polymer Producer Award”

Growth accelerates in first half of 2015 / Purchases from overseas increase by 17% / Germany remains as key market / Assocomaplast reports on trends

Consolidation of PTA production in South Korea / Hanwha, Lotte and Hyosung want to merge activities

Growth in value added products to be above average / Overall market to increase by 2% annually to 2019 / AMI report

Plastics processors' association FEP criticises poor support from petrochemical producers / Low oil price and higher margins not being passed on

US market to grow by nearly 5% to 2019 / Construction and electronics sectors to be best performers / Healthy demand from packaging / Freedonia report

Share in ChemChina acquired / Chinese group in turn enters into Nakhodka mega-project

Confidence maintained despite minimal output growth / Sales down 4% / Trade surplus deteriorates / Polymers output continues pointing down in June / Cefic chemicals trends report

413,000 t of plastics recycled in H1 / Close to 50% of annual goal met / Q2 sees slight rise in material exported for reprocessing

Plastics division builds new production hall in Czech Republic / EUR 30m investment to cater to rising regional automotive demand