PVC February 2017: Producers achieve the hoped-for trend reversal / Brisk orders and export opportunities allow initial small margin improvements / Clearer upwards movement in March over a broad front

Base Petrochemicals, Aromatics and Feedstocks: February / March 2017

Polyethylene February 2017: Producers succeed in bringing about a trend turnaround / Mostly moderate margin increase / Imports from Middle East down to a trickle / Further price rises expected in March / Maintenance turnarounds restrict supply

Styrenics February 2017: All-time high of PS and ABS prices / Exorbitant SM price increase fuels skyrocketing notations / No full cost transfer / Price rally continues / EPS also approaching record high

PET February 2017: Rising costs drive up notations for bottle material too / Imports dwindling considerably / Producers still subject to margin pressure / Upwards trend continuing worldwide

Polypropylene February 2017: Producers pass costs through for all grades / Copo sees first margin gains / Supply limitations palpable in March / Demand swells / Prices rising sharply

Engineering Thermoplastics February 2017: Cost explosion sends shock waves through the market / Polyamides make a triple-digit leap / Step-by-step implementation of quarterly increases / Rally to continue

Record 2016 net profits on a strong polyolefins market and Borouge 3 start-up / Net sales decline / Focus on optimising existing plants and building Borouge 4

Sales and earnings "considerably higher" in 2016 / Europe seen as weakening in 2017

Record performance in 2016 / Both PC and PU profit from strong demand

Sale of 50% Oxochimie stake to Ineos / Former joint venture partner guarantees acrylic ester supply

Acquisition of competitor Cristal in progress / Creation of world's largest titanium dioxide producer imminent

Finnish wood specialist starts commercial polymer compounding / Wood fibre-reinforced PP for several applications

"PlasChem Park" to include automotive cluster / OEM suppliers will be located on-site

Shanghai technology centre to be expanded / Facility will support customer collaboration and growth / Seven-layer cast film line to be added

New UHMWPE plant started up in Texas

Completion of Corpus Christi ethylene expansion / Project ends multi-year expansion programme in USA / Further investment of USD 3 bn planned

New gas-phase LLDPE unit in Calgary reaches full run / Output capability of 430,000 t/y

Acquisition of UK packaging firm Petainer / Deal to run alongside purchase of Belgian preform specialist Resilux / Businesses may be combined

New multi-layer PMMA films plant to be built at Weiterstadt / Start-up in late 2018

French start-up planning water-soluble films based on casein / Competing with PVOH film

Electronics to remain dominant consumer for thin and ultra-thin films / Miniaturisation and soaring spending boost demand / Asia will keep largest share of world market / TMR report

Global demand to expand by 4.7% per year to 2021 / Dominance of large retail chains and rising demand for convenience food drive growth / Smithers Pira report

UK plastics industry seeks clarity over Brexit / Concerns surrounding free market access continue / Skills, supply chain and workforce issues unlikely to go away soon

EP Environment Committee targets 80% packaging waste recycling / EU Commission's original goals revived

Prices of white pigments rise worldwide / Availability remains tight / Huntsman force majeure adds more pressure / Further cost reductions must come soon / France seeks classification as carcinogenic