Base petrochemicals, aromatics and feedstocks: April/May 2020

Polyethylene April 2020: Order activity varies / Producers consider controlling supply / More price cuts expected in May after cost of ethylene drops again

Polypropylene April 2020: Triple-digit rebates across the board / Coronavirus hits automotive demand / Compounding lines shut / More rebates likely in May

PVC April 2020: Notations fall after cost of ethylene plunges / Producers hang on to margin component / Further price reductions expected in May

Styrenics April 2020: Prices continue to plummet / Partial transfer of cost reductions / Softening in the course of the month / Coronavirus crisis shapes demand / Smaller discounts expected in May

PET April 2020: Plunging costs cushioned by sudden boom in demand / Disinfectants to prevent spread of Covid-19 need packaging / Price pressure continues

Engineering thermoplastics April 2020: Small price cuts initially / Hesitant pick-up in demand / Volume planning in price negotiations / Substantial reductions expected in May

Turkish packaging manufacturer plans to double PET resin production / Second line planned to start in 2022

Chemical recycling from late 2023 / Pact with Plastic Energy to use “Tacoil” feedstock

Expansion of cyclic olefin copolymer capacity in Japan

Q1 results contract due to Covid-19 pandemic and oil price fall / Suspension of select production units

All operating segments affected by coronavirus pandemic in Q1 / Reduced production rates on several continents

Waste management considered essential in Covid-19 pandemic / Germany's bvse calls for interest-free loans for recyclers / Unrestricted EU waste flows urgently needed

Agreement to install chemical recycling site at Dutch research hub

EUR 1m investment in lab facility for plastics recycling

Laboratory accreditation for plastics recycling centre in Slovenia

Plastics segments already significantly weaker / Q2 will show actual consequences of coronavirus pandemic / Only few plant shutdowns to date

Acquisition of Pochet's Qualipac cancelled / Dramatic decline in sales due to Covid-19

Aircraft JV between Boeing and Embraer terminated / Reorganisation at Boeing to prepare for post-pandemic recovery

Investindustrial offers EUR 91m for minority stake

Buyout of Nova's 50% stake / Wider North American footprint

Merger falls victim to coronavirus

Divestment of moulded elastomer component operations in Sweden and Estonia

More than half of new global growth will be in Asia / Flexible plastic sector to grow the fastest / Smithers report

Coronavirus pandemic boosts demand in US and Europe / Sharp rise in growth predicted for 2020

Black plastic packaging re-think needed / End market for recyclate can drive circularity / Recoup update report

LLDPE: Europe becomes the stage for a sales battle for film grades / Prices for C4 and C6 materials nearly equal in some areas / Can plastics converters benefit from the price pressure?