Base Petrochemicals, Aromatics and Feedstocks: August / September 2018

Polyethylene August 2018: Holiday lull dominates picture / Lack of demand weakens prices / Some minor reductions despite stable costs / Consolidation possible in September

Polypropylene August 2018: Notations remain flat / Slight impetus for hikes melts in summer sun / September could see increases

PVC August 2018: Reductions for standard PVC / Calls for a rollover fall on deaf ears / Market still tending toward oversupply / Hopes of seasonal pickup in demand for September

Styrenics August 2018: Rollover results after slight increase in SM / Full cost transfer only for polystyrene / Problems with delivery / Holiday season governs demand / Hikes expected in September

PET August 2018: Prices still stable at high level despite improved supply / Explosion of PX costs in China driving the polyester world / Increases likely in September

Engineering Thermoplastics August 2018: PA 6.6 situation continues to be very tense / Notations nevertheless largely stable in the holiday month / Stimulus for further price rises will remain effective into autumn

Subsidiary S-Oil conducts feasibility study for cracker complex in South Korea / Investment of more than USD 4 bn

Italian compounder expands operations

Lead producer invests in added capacity for PP compounding / Takeover of Italian company Politec

Polydist UK named distributor for Sabic's Specialties / PC resin and compounds

German producer to buy Total's PS business in China / Two plants in Ningbo and Foshan / French group to focus on European PS activities

PA 6.6: BASF has pessimistic outlook on supply

Dutch company to take over German distributor Velox

Take over of Belgian speciality polymers distributor Alphamin

Distributor forms polymers division for new US capacities / National and international trade

Spanish cosmetic packaging manufacturer expands production of PMMA jars

Expansion of injection moulding production in Hungary planned by German company / Medical packaging for European market

Acquisition of Colombian films producer Biofilm / On the heels of market leader Jindal

First production plant in eastern Europe / Introduction of "Snapsil" packaging for medical products

New silos double storage capacity in Belgium / PE film business unit plans expansion

Waste associations support European Parliament's draft for more recyclate in drink bottles

EU draft law could threaten plastics recycling from e-waste / European associations view limit for flame retardant deca-BDE in recyclate as unrealistic

Partners for plastics recycling project announced / Test plant to start in 2019 / "Game-changing" technology

Austrian company recycles over 500m PET bottles in first half of 2018 / Up 7% on last year

Hungarian petchem company partners with German recycling specialist APK / New technology for central European market

Partnership with chemical recycler Loop Industries / Incorporation of rPET into packaging

Canadian recycler with chemical recycling process for polystyrene / New plant in Québec / Higher-quality PS recyclate

Plastics industry so far manages to maintain growth / Resins consumption grows significantly again in 2018 / Trade associations call for government intervention / Appeal for stable relations with Europe

Production in Q1 2018 worth USD 5.5 bn / About 93% of production consumed domestically / Germany, Italy and France among top five exporters / Turkish lira devaluation creates uncertainty

Plans for virgin plastic packaging to become more expensive / Higher landfill taxation / Environment ministry calls for radical restructuring of French economy / Marine litter mission

UK government publishes consultation on disposable plastics tax / Chancellor Philip Hammond notes "extraordinary" public interest