Markets Polymers General

European polymer output sees downward trend in H1 2012 / Slight recovery in processing segment / Automotive and packaging stable / Moderate growth in consumption in 2011 / PlasticsEurope report

German plastics packaging association IK predicts economic decline in Q4 / Warns of rising feedstock costs, supply shortages

Follow-up: Hurricane "Isaac" approaches Louisiana / Numerous US refinery complexes shut down or operating at reduced rates

US hurricane season kicks off / “Isaac” threatens plants across Louisiana in particular / Numerous oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico have been evacuated / Reminiscent of “Katrina” and “Rita”

Plans to invest USD 17.2 bn in petrochemical sector by 2020 / State-owned Belneftekhim to raise almost USD 10 bn

Plans to build third petrochemical hub in Duqm / Creating an entirely new city from scratch

Polymer demand outstrips GDP / Third largest consumer after China, US / GlobalData report

Demand for plastics picks up again / Good prospects for insulation materials / Significant increase in imports

Plastics producers raise 2011 output to 20.7m t / Revenues on the rise / Margins pressured by feedstock costs / PlasticsEurope Deutschland predicts “growth interval” in 2012

Spotlight on China's Zhang Mu Tou plastic trading centre in Dongguan / PIE visits regional hub for plastic buying and selling activities / EUR 1.2 bn in annual turnover

Global production reaches about 280m t / China remains leading plastics producer / Latest figures from PlasticsEurope

Number of global joint ventures on the rise / Most activity focused in Asia, followed by Middle East / Jv formation follows global consumption patterns and cheap feedstock trends / Latest GlobalData report

Chemicals trade group calls for investments to stem rising imports / Trade deficit reached record levels in 2011

Functional polyolefins range restructured / Production of certain “Evatane” and “Lotryl” copolymers to discontinue

Global demand to reach 1m t/y in 2015 / Largest gains predicted for non-biodegradable bioplastics / Brazil emerges as leading producer / Market shift away from Europe, US / New Freedonia report

Demand has recovered from last economic crisis but is still below 2007 peak / Development is “erratic and patchy” / German-speaking countries and engineering plastics lead / Volatility bites / AMI report

Plastics industry continues to boom / Processing sector expected to grow by 15% in 2011 / Extremely dependent on raw material imports / Saudi Arabia by far most important plastics supplier / Industry association Pagev reports

Safety checks for petrochemical complex in Mailiao / Full operations scheduled to resume in August 2012

Recovery from crisis stuttering / Global polymer output at 265m t in 2010 / China now leads / Sales growth in Europe / Packaging still top application / Better recycling structure needed / PlasticsEurope report

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