Markets Europe General

Sale of Latin American PET plants to Alfa completed

Acquisition of Eastman's last European PET plants / Thai group unexpectedly beats La Seda

Angst+Pfister appointed first European distributor / “Synergistic benefits”

Saint Gobain acquires Schefenacker share in PC glazing joint venture / Sales of EUR 27m

Growth exceeds 6% in 2006 / All GRP markets improve / Recovery of the construction sector

Consumption almost 40m t in 2006 / Strongest year this decade / Recovery in European economy drives demand growth / Central and eastern Europe developing / Strength in the building market / AMI report

Revamped PET plant starts up in Sardinia

PBT production joint venture at Schwarzheide to be dissolved / Saudi group plans diversification drive

“Deltio” process improves handling properties of TiO2 / Capacity expansion at UK facility

Second phase of restructuring for flexibles / 900 jobs to go / EUR 30m benefits annually

Expansion with adipic acid and HMDA / Entry into PA 6.10 and 6.12 production

Joint Venture with Galactic to produce PLA bioplastics

Total Petrochemicals cracker restarted at Carling

Europen: Dutch to introduce carbon-based packaging tax / Belgium condemned by European Court of Justice / Germans revision of Packaging Ordinance delayed / Higher plastics bag levy in Ireland / New bulletin highlights progress on regulation

Moerdijk PB-1 expansion

Exclusive sales partnership with Visteon

Europe shows consistent growth / Lively interest from private equity / Large players significantly increase market share / PE is clear leader / PVC hit by environmental concerns / AMI study

New online sales channel to meet TDI demand peaks / PU feedstock at “spot” conditions / Dormagen pilot plant can fill gaps

Chinese machine manufacturer aims at leading world position / First models to come from German production facility at the end of 2008

Global production of PTFE and derivatives controlled by a few large manufacturers / China expands base polymers / EU and Indian punitive tariffs on Chinese goods lead to overcapacity

EU clears acquisition by Arcapita Bank

EU Commission calls for stricter measures on toy safety / Review of the European directive promised

France's Billion and Italian businessman final bidders for machinery manufacturer

Joint venture agreement kicks in from Q4 2007 / New company is world's third largest ABS player

Mobile phone component production to be sold by the end of 2007 / Concentration on the touch-screen and medical segments