Global production rises to 348m t / Europe defends its position as second largest producer / Consumption increases slightly across all countries / Germany still largest European plastics processor by far

New cracker and PDH facilities confirmed at port of Antwerp / Jim Ratcliffe says decline of petrochemicals in Europe to be reversed

Three-year contract for transportation of 11m t of polyolefins / Adnoc L&S to organise container transport from Ruwais

Two new polypropylene lines planned in India / Projected rise to top three PP producing nations

Framework agreement for Guangdong signed / Sustainability embedded in site concept / Wholly-owned cracker will produce 1m t/y of ethylene

Another alpha olefins plant starts production in Louisiana / LLDPE comonomers

Agreement with BP to explore petrochemicals JV in Turkey / Giant refinery inaugurated in Aliaga

Expansion of PA 6.6 resin capacity in South Carolina / Investment of USD 35.2m

"Rapid" refinery and integrated petrochemical complex starts up in Malaysia / Major project by Petronas and Saudi Aramco

EU greenlights polyamide deal / Required conditions outlined for the first time

JV with PTT and Sumitomo proceeds with butadiene derivatives plant in Thailand / Adjacent Kuraray MPD project also confirmed

Parent company of furniture giant invests in plastics recycling plant in Amsterdam / Facility to use Umincorp's magnetic technology

Thai group asserts itself in US – takeover of M&G's Texas PET plant approved / Commercial start of PIA production in Alabama / Entry into PET recycling

DAK Americas to buy PET recycling plant in US / New capacity of 45,000 t/y

Standard Thermoplastics Trend January 2019: Notations continue to crumble / Many producers unwilling to factor in cost reductions in full / Stabilisation in sight despite uncertain demand situation

Standard Recyclate January 2019: Prices remain stable despite falling virgin material prices / Recycled PET trending up / Demand fuelled by policies to increase recyclate usage in products

Engineering Recyclate January 2019: Rollover for all types / Prices unlikely to move much until Q2 / Surprisingly strong automotive demand / Situation with base material eases

Upward trend on the horizon

PVC: Vestolit resumes supply from Marl / Force majeure remains in effect

Russia December 2018: Market remains weak / Prices falling across the board / Stabilisation in January

China Standard Thermoplastics December 2018: Most standard polymers head downwards / Demand largely subdued / Plants to shut down in January for Chinese Spring Festival

North America December 2018: Downward trend affects nearly all polymers / PA 6.6 again the exception

China Engineering Thermoplastics December 2018: Market mostly subdued on weak demand / Prices of feedstocks and polymers all point downwards

Italy bans sale of plastic cotton swabs at the start of 2019 / More initiatives in other EU countries / Planned and enforced prohibitions and regulations across the globe

Chairman of the BPF Additives Group Steve Harrison outlines industry concerns about REACH and Brexit / "Two-year limit is too short for the UK additives sector"

Government launches waste strategy / Plans for consistent recycling collections and increased producer responsibility welcomed by BPF

Brexit deal suffers heavy defeat / Plastics companies concerned about no deal / Cefic asks for solution to avoid supply chain disruptions / BPF survey