PIE Readers Survey: European plastics industry appears optimistic for 2019 / Almost half of respondents plan to invest more / Logistics issues a major concern / Majority expecting Brexit to impact business

Acquisition of majority stake in Spanish compounder Repol / Expansion of PA 6 business

PP compounding plant starts up in US / Automotive OEMs targeted

Japanese producer to compound PPS in US / Start-up in 2020

PS plant in Spain to close / European consolidation continues

Transparent PA capacity increase in Germany

MOL acquires German compounder Aurora / Expansion of PP recycling materials

Explosion and fire at new "Rapid" refinery in Malaysia / Start-up for polyolefins production delayed

First batch of PS from recycled styrene / Next step to take process to industrial-scale

Packaging manufacturer extends presence in Scandinavia / Acquisition of Scandiflex Pac

Polish film manufacturer reports further loss of earnings / Additional stretch film line for the Olawa plant

New extrusion line in Belgium for agriculture applications

Valorplast announces a record for plastic packaging recycling

More 3D printing with plastics / Auxiliary tools for the "R8"

Minority stake in Spanish specialist of thermoplastic filaments / Entry into 3D printing market

Expansion of high-performance polymers for 3D printing simulation / Research collaboration with Belgian start-up

3D-printed PA 12 prosthetic leg socket introduced / Available in Europe and North America

Slowdown impacts consumption of polymers / Solid growth for plastics machinery sales in 2018 / Agreement with China could lead to investments in Italian ports

Plastic Consult's Paolo Arcelli talks to PIE about Italy's plastics industry / Communication and sustainability are challenges for sector / "There is ample room for growth, both in rigid and flexible packaging solutions"

Standard Thermoplastics Trend April 2019: Prices rise further / Higher monomer costs are main driver / Unscheduled plant outages bring additional upward thrust to polyolefins

Standard Recyclate April 2019: Prices predominantly stable / Some grades slightly more expensive / Upcoming holidays dampen demand / Recyclers still aiming to factor in increased costs

Engineering Recyclate April 2019: Notations largely stabilise / Only occasional softening with rPA 6 and rPC / Little change expected in May

Trading prices for polyolefins continuing to rise

Polypropylene: Borealis declares force majeure on PP from Schwechat / Malfunction of reactor

North America March 2019: Major fire in Texas hits exports / PE prices move sideways / PP falls further / PS and PVC up slightly / Engineering plastics unchanged

China Standard Thermoplastics March 2019: Most polymers on downward price trend / PET, HDPE imports and PP are exceptions / Feedstocks witness falling notations / High inventory levels and subdued demand in general

Russia March 2019: Polyolefins give way / Otherwise moderate increases / Prices rising in April

China Engineering Thermoplastics March 2019: Most polymers see downtrend on subdued demand / Subdued market in general / April should see demand growing stronger

Polymers growth set to soar worldwide / Revenues to reach nearly USD 9 bn by 2027 / Need to develop wider range of materials / SmarTech report