Markets Regions and Countries

The Islamic Republic catching up as supplier of HDPE to Turkey and China / Global sanctions proving to have little impact

UK aims to double plastics recycling by 2017 / Impact only comes with more investment

Chinese company plans first gas-based ethylene production in Qingdao / Future of coal-based plants in question

Findings released by an independent study point to a shale gas potential in the UK surpassing China

Positive start in 2013 turns sour for exports / Industry looks to government for support / Assocomaplast releases first-quarter trends

DAK Americas in process of closing all polyester Cape Fear operations in the US

China gives green light for PTA plant at Zhuhai / New energy-saving technology

Plans PVC capacity expansion in US / Growing sales in emerging markets

Bvse recyclers have much too worry about / Inclement weather affecting demand / EEG tariffs are strong barriers

Swiss plastics industry sees sales fall to CHF 15 bn last year / Pressure from euro crisis and strong Swiss franc / Processed volume amounts to 812,000 t / Productivity declines / Packaging industry also weak / Recovery expected during 2013

Tenth cracker furnace planned for Texas facility / Additional 90,000 t/y ethylene available in 2014 / US Gulf Coast petrochemicals project on track

Growing number of international visitors and exhibitors in Guangzhou / Focus on sustainability and production efficiency

Plans to expand EO capacity and build NPG plant at Nanjing JV / Start-up expected in 2014

Port Arthur, steam cracker processes ethane from shale gas / Revamp allows use of cheaper feedstocks

Plastics production and demand take pronounced plunge in 2012 / Turnover nearly EUR 23m / Recession in building and construction sector

Latest European data shows demand for plastics materials retreating slightly / Industry recovering but only slowly

UOP licenses C3 Oleflex process to Ascend in US / New plant to be built on Gulf Coast

Full-year 2012 output sinks 3.4% after especially dismal Q4 / Outlook clouded by economic weakness / US shale gas competition worries the sector / Germany leads Europe in recycling

MoU to build 'Plastic Park' in Egypt / Plans for PVC downstream activities

North America April 2013: PE sideways after March rise / PP follows steep monomer dive / PVC sideways / PS crumbles on slight pressure / Engineering still subdued

Showcase on transparent plastics / Archi-Light futuristic building / Exclusive B2B conference jump starts exhibition

No start date set for Sichuan cracker following quake / USD 6 bn facility commissioning delayed again

Recycled polymers could stimulate manufacturing / Products return as China costs rise

Germany's IK sees little change in 2012 revenues from previous year / Production at 4.2m shows slight drop / Optimism remains for 2013

IK general manager Ulf Kelterborn: The mood within the industry segment has improved