Plastics processing industry remains dynamic / Production value and employment now only just below pre-crisis level / Political uncertainties could have negative effect

More than 50 companies sign up to use recycled plastics in packaging / Government welcomes commitments within its call for 100% circularity by 2025

Second China “Verbund” site planned for Guangdong / Company's third largest globally

Japanese chemicals group strengthening PVC compounds business / Acquisitions in Indonesia and India

Investment in Belgian polymer site / Modernisation of PP lines / PS recycling / Catalyst production line

More speciality PA powder capacity in France / Investment of EUR 20m

Russian group constructing integrated PET and BOPET production plant in the Baltic region

Plans to acquire DowDuPont's European insulation material business / Seven "Styrofoam" plants

Majority acquisition by LyondellBasell probable / Uncertain destiny of Petrobras' shares

PET: JBF lifts FM in Belgium / BP's PTA facilities delivering again / Shortage to continue into summer

Takeover of Delphia's Polish shipyard / Majority stake in Slovenian sailing yacht builder Seascape

Shipyard deliveries making progress / Investor search for restructuring measures in full swing

Cooperation with CPIC / Composites for wind energy in China

UK firm signs long-term deal to supply composite materials for Boeing's “737 Max” aircraft

Velox appointed to distribute composites in France

Acquisition of Swiss micropump specialist Sensile Medical / Eastern European expansions / Plant in Switzerland to close down

Investment firms Gimv and Mérieux establish medical devices group / Merger of three French companies

German medical component producer upgrades French satellite operation into fully-owned subsidiary

Danish injection moulding firm expanding production area

“Alcom” Med customised compounds for healthcare added to portfolio

Standard Thermoplastics Trend July 2018: Producers aim to pocket fall in reference price / Demand tends downwards / Holiday season casts shadow / Further softening possible

Standard Recyclate July 2018: Prices broadly trending upwards / Rising interest in recyclate usage drives demand / Recycled PET continues to soar / Holiday season to dampen demand in August

Engineering Recyclate July 2018: Primary product increases roll through secondary market / Large hikes for rPA 6.6 and rPC / Brisk demand continues / Varying trends in August

Summer lull has commenced

Polyurethane Feedstocks July 2018: Pure MDI still soaring / TDI prices subject to less pressure / Polymeric MDI and polyols largely stagnating / Trends set to continue in August

North America June 2018: PP takes another massive leap up / Prices of most other standard products stagnate / Polyamide on the move again / Strong upward pressure for PA 6.6 / Producers call for hefty hikes

China Standard Thermoplastics June 2018: Sharp increase in SM price causes PS notations to rise / Low seasonal demand for LDPE, HDPE and LLDPE / Bidding activities of major downstream plants result in falling PET prices

Russia June 2018: PET still climbing / Upward pressure continuing overall / Almost double-digit percentage increase in PP pipe grades / Substantial hikes for PS too / No summer lull in sight so far

China Engineering Thermoplastics June 2018: Surge in POM prices / PMMA continues downtrend started in May / PA 6.6 notations remain high on short supply

OECD calls for urgent action / Report identifies barriers and solutions to boost global markets