Lifting of economic sanctions boosts plastics demand / Huge potential for infrastructure and consumer packaging sectors / AMI plastics processors database / "Iran Plast" 2017 trade fair in September

Petrochemical production re-started in Kalush / Interruption of five years

POM plant in Saudi Arabia could start in Q3 / Joint venture with Sabic

USD 2 bn expansion of gas-based petchems in Europe / PDH plant may be built at Antwerp / Cracker capacity at Grangemouth and Rafnes to reach 1m t/y

Two additives plants planned in China / Offering of sustainable products boosted to meet growing demand

Expansion of caprolactam capacity in China / Plans for its own PA 6 processing facility

EUR 25m grant from BBI for biopolymer project / Pilot plant for FDCA

Plastic sachet recycling technology launched / Pilot plant planned in Indonesia / Waste collection schemes to be established

Danish packaging producer poised for sale to Advent International / Basis for further acquisitions

Goldman Sachs fund buys US speciality films manufacturer / Deal cleared by Ireland

Global bio-based chemicals market to exceed EUR 30 bn by 2030 / Drop-in bio-based materials growing at fastest rate / Nova-Institute report

Global bioplastics packaging demand to grow by 17% per year to 2022 / Growth led by sharp rise in bio-PET consumption / Smithers Pira report

Composites/GRP May 2017: Resins prices follow styrene downward / Demand gradually recovers / Inventory refilling slow / Some glass fibre products also see deterioration

China Engineering Thermoplastics May 2017: Downstream demand continued to be lacklustre in May / Major feedstock costs remained stable or decreased / Crude oil price impacted slightly on the market / High level inventories

China Standard Thermoplastics May 2017: Feedstocks see general drop except for propylene / Commodity market no less exciting than a rollercoaster ride / Demand normal to weak

Downward spiral for polyolefins continuing in June

Polyurethane Feedstocks June 2017: Isocyanates still tight / Market could cool noticeably in July / Firm demand unlikely to slacken / Minimal growth for polyols

Russia May 2017: Markdowns for all polymers / Significant reductions for polyolefins / Pronounced price corrections for PS

North America May 2017: Sideways tendency predominates with most types / Slight downward trend with PS, more marked with PP / Engineering plastics calmer / Only polyamides continue to gain ground

ECHA classifies pigment as category 2 carcinogen / Industry takes issue

"Best Polymer Producers Awards for Europe 2017": Ceremony in Madrid / Borealis wins the special category of delivery reliability / Marsh: "Major opportunity for a better dialogue"