LyondellBasell

Polyethylene production in Brindisi back online

The plastics industry continues to work in a state of emergency / Slumps in demand, cheap imports and ever-new regulations make life difficult for producers and processors / Producers on the other side of the Atlantic also face more difficulties

Marine waste becomes part of car component / Partnership yields injection moulded part, resin maker claims

Third compounding plant in India / Completion planned for 2024

Construction of second plant for solvent-based recycling to commence in 2024

Low-carbon group cuts ties with World Economic Forum / CEOs line up to accelerate journey to net zero targets

Polyolefin supplier to review profitability of European plants / Management could axe low-margin sites

Repsol declares multiple forces majeures / Fire reportedly impacts styrene, propylene oxide, glycol, polyols

Fire hits production site in Tarragona, Spain

Supplier greenlights German chemical reclaim plant / UK distribution centre opens

Billion-euro purchase offer from Adnoc / Emirates group plans to extend downstream value chain

North America October 2023: Rollovers predominate, only PP and PS move up / Surplus in nearly all segments / End of strike in auto industry unlikely to affect prices / Reductions expected in November / Further uncertainty due to Middle East conflict

LYB takes 25% stake in recycling JV / Reclaim firm to create ‘circularity centres'

Firm takes stake in Dutch recycler De Paauw / Purchase serves as latest acquisition along the value chain

Polymer with transparency for high-density packaging films

Italian fair reopens after five years / Visitor, exhibitor attendance lower than before pandemic / Market players mostly pessimistic / Green Deal or ‘Green Death?'

US seeks to unseat Europe as frontrunner in the race to ‘net zero' / Energy Department publishes hydrogen strategy paper / Generous subsidies under Inflation Reduction Act

Polypropylene plant in Brindisi to be shuttered / One third of PP capacity in Italy goes offline

North America August 2023: Prices vary / Firmer styrene costs prop up PS / Hurricane Idalia has no effect on prices so far / Extent of damage to polymer production not yet clear / September likely to be generally weaker

Partnership enables construction parts from bio-based polymers, natural fibre

Styrene: Plant failure at Trinseo exacerbates situation / Spot prices surge

US giant buys stake in Dutch polyolefin recycler Stiphout

Styrene/propylene oxide: Dutch plant shut down due to weak demand / Styrene spot prices significantly firmer

North America June 2023: Weak market fundamentals and falling feedstock prices depress polymer markets / Producers cut back capacities

Chemical group calls time on Akron compounding plant / Plans to shift production to Mexico