Composites can open up new horizons in the construction industry / New focus at the “JEC” trade show in Paris / Automotive and aerospace industries still strong / Record visitor numbers / Attention turning to the lack of recycling options

Global market for carbon fibre-reinforced thermoplastics to grow by 10.8% per year / Automotive and aerospace applications drive demand / Grand View Research report

Introduction of accident prevention measures following blast / New appointments in emergency services

Cracker expansion planned at Daesan complex / USD 450m project will increase feedstock flexibility

Construction completed of large-scale C2 cracker in Texas / On-track for mid-year startup

GRP Solutions appointed exclusive distributor for UK

Acquisition of Mexican distributor Ultra Chem / Specialist in PU foams

"Purell" licensing agreement with LyondellBasell / Expansion of product range for healthcare

Defensive move has initially failed / Hastor manoeuvrings put automotive seat manufacturer under threat again

Car parts supplier establishes joint venture with Iranian company Riseco / Plastic components for the auto industry

Deutsche Post plans second production plant for electric vans / To be sold to third parties throughout Europe

Groundbreaking for instrument panel production plant in Poland / USD 20m investment in 27,000 m² facility

US plant converted to headlamp production facility / Catering to growing demand in NAFTA region

New plant in Moldova / Production of cable sets for the automotive industry

SVP endeavouring to acquire Linpac / Complete withdrawal possible via IPO in New York

Owner EQT selling packaging manufacturer / Sale expected to raise EUR 700m

Introduction of fees for retail plastic bags from January 2018 / Ban on thin plastic bags

Buenos Aires bans free plastic bags in supermarkets / University researchers say new system is less environmentally friendly

Retail trade bans thin plastic bags at checkouts / Still permitted for fruit and vegetables

Polyurethane Feedstocks April 2017: All components higher, isocyanates by triple digits / Hefty hikes for polyols / Momentum slackens but May will still see increases

Composites/GRP March 2017: Last month's momentum sweeps resins even higher / Plateau likely in April / Demand trends slightly weaker / Chopped strand mats see minor dip

Standard Recyclate April 2017: Oversupply provokes slight erosion of rPE prices / rPP and rPS mostly stable / Seasonal effects supporting rPET / Diverging trends will continue in April

Engineering Recyclate April 2017: Recent price increases across the entire portfolio / Boom in demand / Availability of production scrap considerably tighter in some cases / Demand only minimally slowed by holiday period

Trading prices for polyolefins essentially stagnating

Russia March 2017: Beginning of spring prompting movement in the markets / PS rocketing / PVC and PET rising / PE and PP still mixed picture / Across-the-board upwards trend in April

North America March 2017: Prices rally in a big way / Increases across the board / PP reaches turnaround point / Other commodities also seem to have peaked / Engineering thermoplastics still rising

EU plastics and additives market under pressure

Growth prospects in Europe remain buoyant / Rising retail demand and new markets offer support / Increasing scope for automotive and construction sectors