European Commission publishes regulations on disposable plastic products / Collection rate for bottles set / Sharp criticism from PlasticsEurope and EuPC

EU council passes legislative package / Landfilling to be phased out by 2030 / BPF releases vision document

“We have to take care not only of the low hanging fruits such as PET bottles” / EuPC managing director Alexandre Dangis on the EU plastics policy and industry actions preoccupying Europe's converters

Base Petrochemicals, Aromatics and Feedstocks: May / June 2018

Polyethylene May 2018: Many long bank holiday weekends dampen price dynamic / Producers' hopes of recouping cost increases mostly prove unrealistic / Rising oil prices drive up C2 reference for June / Price hikes unavoidable

Polypropylene May 2018: Hikes below cost rise / Bank holiday lull brakes producer announcements / Costs will drive prices higher in June

PVC May 2018: Good supply prevents full cost recovery for base grades and compounds / Rollovers predominate / Pastes higher on solid demand / Upward movement expected in June due to sharp price increase for ethylene

Styrenics May 2018: Prices continue to decline / Only slight discounts on ABS / Holidays dampen demand / Price trend reversal likely in June following uptrend for styrene

PET May 2018: Things go haywire / Spot prices skyrocketing / Freely negotiated trade dries up / Imports lacking / Restrictions in Europe / Free contracts moving upwards / Price explosion continues

"Best Polymer Producers Awards for Europe 2018": Six plastics producers awarded / Vynova gets special prize for polymer quality / Ceremony at EuPC conference in Milan

Government planning restrictions on US imports of PVC / As early as this June

Engineering Thermoplastics May 2018: Only minor price swings as spring settles in / Buyers' reticence limits price rises / Cost increases in the oil sector will step up the pressure in June

US materials supplier takes over LFT compounder PlastiComp

New jv of Total, Borealis and Nova complete / Cheap shale feedstock a draw

DSM exits caprolactam / Sale of the business to China's Highsun / New owner will guarantee feedstock supply for Dutch PA 6 production

Chinese company to take over German auto parts supplier / Bid to acquire outstanding shares / Extensive employee commitments

New line expands PA, PBT and PPA compounding capacity in Turkey

Polyamide compounding extended in the US

MoU with Adnoc for polyolefin compounding at Ruwais / Utilisation of production scrap

EPS consumption rising slightly / Higher demand from packaging sector

UK foam producer to open new manufacturing plant in Poland

Acquisition of Chinese elastomeric insulating foams producer

Belgian converter merges with Masterfoam / Udo Storck to become CEO of new group

Strategic Value Partners acquires PU foam manufacturer

One more production plant for EPS insulation board in Turkey

New product grade for EPS packaging

Economic recovery helps sector gain highest business volume in 10 years / Rising number of plastic containers companies / "Hispack" 2018 attendee numbers up

Ban on disposable plastic tableware from 2020? / PS packaging targeted / Iberostar hotels eliminating single-use items