Markets Polymers General

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

Devastating explosion in China rocks Tianjin free trade zone / Dagang refinery hub apparently not affected

BPF survey points to improved business confidence / Increased expectations for higher sales and investments

Plastics industry sees dynamic growth / Processing rises by 7% in 2014 / 3.1m t polymer consumption / Dependent on feedstock imports / Few petrochemical projects / Large-scale investment in packaging

Formidable competitive turnaround through shale gas / Exports to Europe and Latin America will improve US trade balance / American Chemistry Council report

New online store opened on Alibaba / PA and MDI among first products / SMEs targeted

Germany's GKV industry association says plastic processors can apply for specific tariff quotas / Cooperation among European associations / Long-term application process

EuPC unveils agenda of “Polymers for Europe Alliance” / Pan-European platform to address recent spate of FMs / Potential legal action against producers / Lobby work against EU import tariffs / Potential group purchasing platforms for imported material

Belgium's Federplast industry association sounds the alarm over recent FMs / Future of countless companies and jobs at risk / Calls on suppliers to make “necessary” investments

PlasticsEurope France “sounds the alarm” for Europe's plastics industry / Increasingly uncompetitive

EuPC general assembly yields “strategic alliance” for European polymer supplies / Former RPC chief executive Ron Marsh to steer efforts / Strong criticism of producers and EU's import duties on plastics

Slight reduction in output in 2014 / Market's current zigzag movements prove exhausting

Four leading industry associations call on plastics producers to “urgently” invest in European production facilities / Supply security needs to be restored

Plastics consumption down in 2014 / Lack of investment / Too many small businesses / Only slight signs of recovery / Efforts to switch to "green" chemistry not sufficient / Study by Plastic Consult

BPF poll reveals ”further flat lining of business confidence” for 2015 / Number of companies expecting rise in profitability sales / Little investment planned / Recruitment of trained staff remains problematic

EU chemicals output treads water in 2014 / Petrochemicals production down 4% year-on-year / Cefic chemicals trends report

Most producers see sales and earnings improvement in 2014 / Cautious optimism for 2015 / Falling raw materials prices and strengthening demand provide impetus / Currency shift will boost European companies

2014 capacity utilisation levels return to long-term average / EU import duties put pressure on polymer exports / Polyolefin overcapacity? / Plastics processing sector still in its infancy / Plans for four large conversion sites

New plastics trade platform launched on Plasteurope / Sell and search offers online

European output up slightly in 2014 / PlasticsEurope says sector is a strategic pillar for European reindustrialisation / Sector expected to see additional growth

Acquisition of German adhesives specialist Bostik wrapped up / Business integrated into High Performance Materials segment

Sadara teams up with Bavarian chemical park management firm to promote investment at Saudi's PlasChem Park / Production at EUR 15 bn complex set to start up this year

Economy slowly looking up after double recession / Plastics exports rise / Processing sector shows signs of improvement / Tools production pointing up

Consumption grows 1% in 2013 / Polyolefins, PU and PET see gains / PVC and PS demand continues to fall / Producers under rising pressure / USA as most important trade partner

Part 2 – Plastics Production: Shale gas revolution drives Europe into a corner / Ailing facilities are consolidated / Massive changes in PVC market / Shale oil reserves change the balance once again