Polyethylene: Total reports a brief outage of line in Carling

Demand and foreign trade for polyolefins decline in 2018 / New capacities planned by 2023 to reduce reliance on imports

Second half-year 2018 shows a decline in production output / Main problems are weaker economy and discussions on plastics waste

Trade war leads to plummeting US polymer exports to China / Imports to Europe continue to grow / EU considers imposing punitive tariffs on US plastics

Plans to add major new PP capacities in the next two years / Significant reduction of import dependency expected

Styrene: Explosion disrupts Hanwha Total's production in South Korea

GlassFibreEurope again takes action against dumping by Chinese producers / EU starts investigation / CPIC and Jushi concerned

Olefins: Sabic declares force majeure on production from "Olefins 4" cracker in Geleen / Unknown impact on PE and PP production

World awaits outcome of trade talks / Washington threatens to lift import tariffs to 25% / Plastic packaging and appliances may be affected

Polypropylene: Braskem declares force majeure on production in Schkopau

PP: LyondellBasell declares FM on "Clyrell" copolymer production in Ferrara

PVC consumption heavily reliant on imports / Domestic production from sole plant in Aliaga

China has world market share of over 40% following expansion measures / Low capacity utilisation worldwide / Producers want to halt further fall in market price

Shell declares force majeure on production in Moerdijk / An end to strike is nearing

Fatalities and many injured in explosion at PVC plant in Mongolia