Sharp rise in price volatility since 2015 / Market turmoil batters traditional trade structures / New Chinese capacities loom / Europe's importance shrinks

"Enormous competitive advantage" through the use of shale gas / Steve Harrington, head of Ineos Styrolution's styrene business, talks about expansion plans and prospects for the industry

Japanese plastics company establishes European compounding base in the Netherlands / Start-up in 2020

Italian compounder doubles capacity in Poland / EUR 30m investment / Addition of TPE compounds

Polyamide producer riding the surge in demand / Expansion of Italian compounding plants

Successful opening of plastics import hub in Antwerp / Chevron Phillips welcomes container concept

Distribution of “Purell” polyolefins for Basell Orlen in Poland

Distribution of Sabic's polyolefins in France

TPU collaboration with BASF extended

Multi-million euro IBC facility opens in Netherlands / Ideal for Benelux-based customers

Sales and profit last year gained due to acquisitions / Plans to divest non-core businesses this year

Plastic packaging plant planned in US

Active and intelligent packaging to see healthy growth through 2023 / Emergence of cost-competitive intelligent technologies will boost global demand / Smithers Pira report

More than 60 firms sign up to "UK Plastics Pact" / Plastics waste initiative led by Wrap / First global network of this kind / Supported by Ellen MacArthur Foundation and BPF

Nation-wide circular economy plan released / Aim to recycle all plastics by 2025 / Elipso remains highly engaged

Further steps towards EU plastics strategy / New forum for recycling quality

Government voices support for plastic carrier bag fees and possible ban / Steps to reduce post-consumer waste

Waste management plan with 2020 target proving difficult / Chamber of commerce holds waste and recycling symposium / Importance of separating secondary raw materials

North America May 2018: PP trending up in radical turnaround / PE remains surprisingly stable notwithstanding historic C2 lows / PS and PVC on downtrend / Engineering plastics stable / C3 price explosion coming in June

China Standard Thermoplastics May 2018: Shortage of supply and strong bottled beverage market lead to skyrocketing PET prices / Notations of all standard plastics increase / Volume of imported PE projected to remain at high levels in June

BASF declares force majeure for entire product chain

China Engineering Thermoplastics May 2018: PMMA skyrockets / Seasonal price increases for ABS, PA 6.6, PBT and POM / PA 6 notations decrease on low demand / Several plant turnarounds in May and June

SM-purchasing firms suspected of violating EU antitrust rules / European Commission confirms unannounced inspections in several countries

Standard Thermoplastics Trend June 2018: Higher feedstock costs drive up all polymer notations / Price speculation dampens demand / Producers not prepared to make further concessions

Standard Recyclate June 2018: Prices largely sideways / Hikes only for rPET and rHDPE blow moulding grades / Demand up slightly / Costlier virgin material will drive rPP

Polyolefins trading prices still influenced by the previously firm feedstock prices

Composites/GRP May 2018: Resins still on a rollercoaster ride / SM reverses course after dip / Glass fibre products may gain some momentum in Q3

Engineering Recyclate June 2018: Bottleneck for rPA 6.6 dogs market / Dramatic hikes / rPC consistently tight / Demand still lively / More increases sure to come in July

US plastics show sets exhibitor and space record / Strong economic backdrop / Recycling plays prominent role / Orlando remains the venue until 2027