Markets Regions and Countries

Proposals for preserving the plastics industry / Suggesting creation of large-scale national cluster / Fragmented industry should agglomerate / New study by European House – Ambrosetti

Strong growth forecast / M&A activity likely / EMEA is largest market / AMI multi-client study

Nanjing-based BASF-YPC joint venture commences acrylic acid and superabsorbent polymers production

New furnace commissioned at Texan cracker / Ethylene output raised / Capable of using ethane as feedstock

Chemical output stagnant in 2013 / H2 growth helped pull sector out of a recession / Net trade surplus reached EUR 46 bn / Sector confidence down slightly in January 2013 / Cefic report

Flexible packaging accounted for 79% of LLDPE demand in 2013 / Maxiquim study

African demand growth slows on weakening infrastructure and rising prices / PET bottles comparatively expensive / Canadean research

Fracking company Cuadrilla lifts UK shale estimate / Experts warn of complex local factors

Latest BPF poll finds sector optimistic about 2014 / 73% of respondents expect UK sales levels to rise / Half anticipate increase in profitability / Energy supply and recruitment of skilled staff remain problematic

Legal dispute between Argentina and Spain's Repsol over YPF expropriation comes to a close / USD 5 bn agreement / Argentine shale gas now up for grabs

Leading associations call on government to reduce tax on energy-efficient building products and shale gas exploration / Propose higher landfill tariffs and warn about rising energy costs

Plastics industry continues to see solid growth rates / Europe's second largest plastics processing country / More than 8m t of polymers converted in 2013 / Activities centre around Istanbul / Strongly dependent on feedstock imports

Cautious welcome for revised UK rules to improve quality of recyclate / Work continues to amend packaging waste recovery systems

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

EU Commission sets non-binding fracking rules / NGOs critical / Praise from the UK

Economic mood surprisingly positive in H2 2013 / All indicators point up / High expectations for the coming months / Energy costs pressure converters and recyclers

Producers need to specialise to raise selling prices, says trade group / Production takes a 7% decline in 2012

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

British Plastics Federation welcomes government committee's support towards exploring UK shale gas reserves / Ineos considers role in future UK extraction

New PS plant in Vietnam in planning stages/ Growing demand from the electronics industry is catalyst

US plastic bottle recycling rates jump 6.2% year-on-year in 2012 / PET and HDPE account for 96% / Total bottle recycling rate stands at 30%

UK government says health risk from extraction emissions low / Industry needs regulating

Industry enjoys robust 2012 / "All hail shale" great morale booster but little substance / Polymer production still below pre-recession levels / Large customer sectors see slowdown around the corner

People's Republic is world's largest producer and user of plastic pipes / 11m t produced in 2012 / Increasingly competitive on a global scale

Plastics production and demand for EU 27 in 2012 dips against growing global production / Export of primary plastics climbs 2.9% / PlasticsEurope presents findings at K 2013