Global polymers production rises to nearly 360m t in 2018 / European output nevertheless on the decline / Trade balance surplus falls / Good progress with collection and recycling of post-consumer plastics waste

Giant PE production plant to be built on Baltic coast / Basis will be ethane from gas processing

Minority shareholder Gazprom is purportedly pushing the pace / Serbian government will again attempt to sell the polyolefin producer at the end of 2019

Purchase of recyclate-based compounds company Aurora completed

UK manufacturing plant to be closed / Company shifts production to three plants in Germany

Israeli compounder expands production network / First plant in Europe

Distribution of Lonza's lubricants in Eastern and Northern Europe / Heli Kilpala appointed digitalisation director

French group now distributing Westlake's polyolefins in Germany and UK

New distribution partners in Europe / Styrenic copolymers and PC blends for Iberia and France

Plastics group announces performance decline / Plant shutdowns impact results

Q3 profits plunge as disappointing demand depressed selling prices / Forecast for 2019 confirmed but narrowed ranges / Sales down 14.6%

Core profit down 48% on provision to cover EU anti-trust probe into ethylene market / Masterbatches and Pigments business declines / Bernd Högemann joins executive committee

Styrenics group struggles with adverse economic environment / Net earnings plummet in Q3

Q3 net profit and EBITDA down 13% / Quarter included USD 85m positive one-offs that flattered earnings

Zero Waste Europe recommends changes to EU waste rules on chemical recycling / Plastics to fuels could undermine circular economy goals / ChemRecEurope supports all methods

New guidelines for barrier polytheylene film / “RecyClass” tests show EVOH concentrations compatible for recycling

Belgian waste disposal company to open regrind plant

New Ecoplast PE film recycling line opens at Wildon

Doubling output of rPP for automotive / PS recycling in France

Increased use of rPET with recyclate from external sources / Company renamed ANL Packaging

Acquisition of the Sky Plastic recycling company

Standard Thermoplastics Trend November 2019: Most producers factor in reduction in feedstock costs / Dull market means that pressure continues / Further price cuts possible by the end of the month

Standard Recyclate November 2019: Price erosion continues / Reductions granted across the board / Only rPET clearly rolls over / Demand remains weak / Further decreases expected before end of year

Engineering Recyclate November 2019: Notations unchanged with an uninspiring month / Demand picks up only slightly / Pressure from primary sector continues

Polyolefin notations fall back in November

UK government calls new fracking moratorium / Authorities say earthquakes unpredictable / Green groups pleased / Labour smells “election stunt”

North America October 2019: Market weakness continues in the US / Price pressure remains

China Standard Thermoplastics October 2019: Feedstock prices drop / Most polymer grades decline / Anti-dumping duties on PVC imports lifted / Demand remains low

Russia October 2019: Prices slipping across the board / PET and PE drop significantly

China Engineering Thermoplastics October 2019: Demand lower than expected / Polycarbonate prices fall sharply with several plants starting or resuming operations / Shorter supply of PMMA and PBT pushes notations upwards

Additional recycling capacity needed to meet rising plastics collection / UK remains dependent on export markets / Wrap report