POLYMER PRICES Standard Thermoplastics June 2013: Margin improvement for PE smaller than hoped / Monomer boosts PP, PS and EPS / Tightness despite weak demand / Costs stable / More hikes ahead	03.07.2013
BASF Next generation weight-saving auto parts requires new concepts / Plastics players team up on continuous fibre-reinforced composites / Partnership with Ten Cate and Owens Corning	01.07.2013
NOVAMONT Generation 4 “Mater-Bi” from renewable oil and sugar / Genomatica process	01.07.2013
LANXESS First bio-based PBT produced in German commercial-scale plant / Genomatica's process technology utilising BDO key	26.06.2013
PURAC New company name and brand / Plans to accelerate growth in biochemicals	24.06.2013
WILLIAMS Explosion at US Geismar cracker / Two fatalities and several injuries / Force majeure likely / Downstream reporting little impact	17.06.2013
BASF Sales of EUR 25 bn targeted in Asia through 2020 / Strategy creates 9,000 jobs	07.06.2013
CIECH Polish polyurethane foam plant on the sales block / Further trimming of the business 'fat' to focus on core competency / Potential Chinese buyer shows interest	06.06.2013
BASF / SINOPEC Plans to expand EO capacity and build NPG plant at Nanjing JV / Start-up expected in 2014	03.06.2013
POLYMER PRICES Polyurethane feedstocks May 2013: Solid benzene price stabilises MDI / TDI and Polyole down / Public holidays slow down orders / Demand below expectations / Increase effect Upstream	23.05.2013
BRASKEM Higher resins prices boost Q1 operating profits	21.05.2013
BASF Thermoforming and injection moulding “ecovio” grades now available	21.05.2013
CORRECTION - BASF / TORAY / GENOMATICA German group purchases technology licence for renewable BDO / Japanese prepare for scale-up	15.05.2013
OMV Austrian giant invests EUR 230m in butadiene production / Targets Burghausen refinery / Upgrades Schwechat plant	13.05.2013
INEOS PVC joint venture with Solvay / Combined projected sales of EUR 4.3 bn / Potential to be in the global top three	08.05.2013
POLYMER PRICES Engineering Thermoplastics April 2013: Standard grades cripple ABS and PP compounds / PC and PMMA benefit from better weather / All other types stable / Benzene bounces back in May	07.05.2013
POLYMER PRICES Standard Thermoplastics April 2013: PE producers forced to pass on full cost reduction / PP holds up better / PVC and PS buyers also see price cuts / Rising trend in May possible	06.05.2013
BASF Q1 2013 sales and earnings rise / Price increases boost Performance Materials	29.04.2013
PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS Shell declares force majeure for C2 and C3 from Moerdijk	26.04.2013
BASF Restructuring hits former Ciba businesses / Job cuts in Plastic Additives and Pigments units	25.04.2013
POLYMER PRICES Polyurethane feedstocks April 2013: Global weakening of European petchems creates downward pressure / Demand falls as supply lengthens / Trend likely to continue	23.04.2013
RUSSIA Engineering thermoplastics market contracts slightly in 2012 / Imports from Europe and Asia on the rise / Russian production still too low / Western European quality often not matched / Plastinfo report	19.04.2013
POLYMER PRICES Standard Thermoplastics Trend April 2013: Producers hold onto half of cost reductions / Falling naphtha strengthens converters' waiting game / Intensity of demand revival will decide further developments	15.04.2013
COMPOSITES MARKET Focus on automation and mass production capability / Expected growth of 6-8% per year / GRP applications take a back seat in Europe / JEC Show in Paris experiences continued growth	08.04.2013
POLYMER PRICES Engineering Thermoplastics March 2013: Rollover dominates / ABS and PA 6 weaken / POM slips amid mounting pressure from copolymer imports / PP lifted by higher C3 window / All signs point to rises in April	05.04.2013

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