Markets Polymers General

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

Leading global per capita consumer and producer of plastics / High capacity utilisation rates / Above-average EU salaries impede capacity to compete on world stage

New 50:50 joint venture in Jubail Industrial City / USD 20m integrated chemical complex expected on stream in 2016

Production volume and value back at pre-crisis level in 2010 / Margin stabilisation is the target / Strong demand from China

Friendly cash offer to acquire Rhodia / Enterprise valued at EUR 6.6 bn / Deal expected to close in August

Follow-up: More supply chains in difficulty / Speciality cable manufacturers suffer from shortage of fluoropolymers / TPE and polymerisation additives scarce / BOPET film for LCD also tighter

The post-quake reality: One-third of ethylene capacities offline / Petrochemical industry crippled by electricity shortages / European and US companies appear largely unaffected / Numerous plants idled as a cautionary measure

Earthquake devastates Japan's east coast / Tokyo Bay refineries ablaze / Several countries issue tsunami warnings / Petrochemical industry under threat

Rhine barricades give rise to production outages / Transport takes to railways and streets

Polyolefins capacity set to surge / Increased focus on export-oriented projects

Marketing agreement for products from OPaL complex in India / Daelim wins PE contract

Plastics production on a rapid ascent in H1 2010 / Increasing danger of overcapacities

Worldwide production plummets in 2009 / Slump in polymer consumption throughout Europe / PVC and engineering plastics hardest hit / Horizon much brighter in 2010 / PlasticsEurope report

Polymer production volume of 1.8m t in 2009 / Processing sector dominated by family-run SMEs / Most activity in industrial parks / Business gradually returning to pre-2008 levels / Roadmap for the future

Government gives green light to majority of petrochemical plants in Map ta Phut / Many more months before crackers will be at full capacity

Plastics processing picking up again after last year's crisis / Surplus resin output is exported

Takeover of polyolefin producer Titan Chemicals

Plastics consumption stands at about 6m t / Heavily dependent on polymer imports / Output down 14% / Core machinery losing ground internationally / Exports down 25%

Plastics to be further tweaked for profitability / Focus on Asia / New Chinese MDI unit on track

Car sales in western Europe rise significantly / Demand still poor in eastern Europe / Fewer supplier insolvencies / Plastics availability now a bigger problem than financing

German building industry expects slight downturn in 2010 / Upstream costs drive plastics prices up sharply

Output down 15% in 2009 / Worst setback ever / Industry cautiously optimistic for 2010

Plastics processors association urges manufacturers and processors to remain calm / First customers on allocation

Producers begin to emerge from recession / Capacity cutbacks help boost the bottom line / Asian rebound fuels hopes for worldwide recovery / Overextended players still dealing with crisis

China is driving the global market for automotive engineering / Trend towards small, compact vehicles / Industry propelled by alternative engine systems / Suppliers fear wave of insolvencies