Global consolidation gathers speed after many years of overcapacities / Margins already on the up / Switch to more virgin material in China as "collateral damage" from new recycling policy

New investments to build up local petrochemicals facilities / Extensive efforts to reduce plastics imports dependency

Danish firm plans acquisition of French thermoformer CGL Pack

US packaging group announces divestment of Global Rigid business

Finnish films manufacturer expands capacity

US consumer goods giant to divest packaging manufacturer Waddington / USD 2.3 bn sale to Novolex

US group buys French cosmetics packaging producer Reboul

Takeover of Spanish packaging manufacturer Envaflex

Turkish flexible packaging manufacturer expands production

Cracker and derivatives plants start up at expanded complex in southern China

New LDPE unit in Louisiana at full run / Petchems profile on US Gulf lifted

Joint PP complex planned in Algeria

Restructure with investor KKR to reduce debt / New PTA plant to yield substantial EBITDA

Further expansion for polyamide compounding in China

PlasticsEurope Deutschland looks back on a successful 2017 / Michael Zobel succeeds Josef Ertl as chair

Eight consecutive years of growth / US remains top importer / Chinese market is most important / Italy moves up a notch

Growth rate reaches 5% mark in 2017 / Renewed record turnover and processed volume / Lack of skilled staff becomes more acute / Confidence predominates at start of 2018

Standard Thermoplastics Trend May 2018: PE notations present non-uniform picture / PP somewhat firmer / Price cuts for styrenics / Long holiday weekends slow down demand / Problems with logistics

Standard Recyclate May 2018: Widespread price increases despite shortened production weeks / Export demand and high waste costs fuel upswing of film grades, rHDPE pipes and rPET / Further hikes likely in June

Engineering Recyclate May 2018: All is still calm / rPC tends upwards / Demand reasonable despite many bank holidays / Prices expected to rise especially for rPA types and rPC / Base polymer often tight

Polyolefins affected by cost increases

Polyurethane Feedstocks May 2018: Price relief for isocyanates / Demand weakens slightly / Polyols unchanged / MDI and TDI prices should soften

Russia April 2018: Spring demand in full bloom / Prices moving upward / PET notations skyrocket

China Standard Thermoplastics April 2018: Domestic spot prices rise on short supply / PET substantially increases due to strong demand / PVC notations projected to go up in May

North America April 2018: PE moves sideways / PP underpinned by firm C3 spot price / PVC, PS and ABS affected by weak feedstock prices / PC and PA 6.6 firm / C2-based materials under pressure in May / C3 products firmer

China Engineering Thermoplastics April 2018: ABS, PC, PA 6 and PBT notations fall / Prices of PA 6.6 and PMMA shoot upwards / Scheduled turnaround at several plants in May

Global environmental initiatives presented at PlasticsEurope's "PolyTalk" conference in Malta / EU commissioner Vella stresses importance of partnering with plastic industry / Need for better recycling quality

Exclusive interview with head of council / Producers' key mission is raising global awareness on marine pollution / New members from Europe and Asia