Base Petrochemicals, Aromatics and Feedstocks: September / October 2018

Polyethylene September 2018: Notations of low-pressure types trend softer / Producers happy with a rollover / Firmer tendency expected in October despite sluggish demand

Polypropylene September 2018: Most suppliers not successful in raising prices / Disappointing demand thwarts ambitions / Compounds hesitant to follow costs / Upward trend persists

PVC September 2018: Slight drop to a rollover in most cases / Combination of disappointing demand and good supply puts pressure on prices / No significant momentum with demand expected in October

Styrenics September 2018: Prices follow increased styrene reference / Full cost transfer in only some cases / Speculation softens hikes / ABS feels import pressure / Discounts foreseeable in October

PET September 2018: Price rally for PX pushes up prices again / Market picture one of uncertainties / Improved supply and declining demand set to limit buoyancy in October

Engineering Thermoplastics September 2018: Upturn largely comes to standstill / Weakness of auto industry clouds producers' prospects / Easing of tension with PMMA / Situation with PA 6.6 and PBT still tense

Chang Chun to increases resin prices / Hikes for compounds in Europe also in the cards

Third PP plant on stream in Malaysia

Additional compounding line for PA and PBT in Germany / Production start in mid-2019

Purchase of European PVC compounder Nakan / Fate of Alphacan and Omniplast unclear

Propane-to-propylene production running in UAE / FCC line at refinery still under reconstruction

Belgian compounder and distributor acquires Bolcof / Boost to US polymers business

Swedish compounder acquires Kirkhill Rubber / Presence to be boosted in US rubber compounds

Polyolefin compounding lines expanded by 30,000 t/y

US rings in round three of trade war with China / Beijing reacts promptly with countermeasures / Chemical products and plastics severely impacted / US chemical industry threatened with significant losses

Polyethylene exports increase / EU doubles imports since start of 2018 / Strong growth also in China in H1 2018 / US trade unsettles market policies

Great expectations for Europe's recreational vehicle industry this year / Denmark, Finland and Germany are largest motor caravan markets / Impending Brexit affects UK

EPDM plant opened in Italy / Automotive elastomeric materials

Executive board surprisingly resigns / Ningbo Jifeng's takeover conditions to remain unchanged

South Korean consortium takes over US speciality chemicals group

Thai plastic components unit sold to Singaporean company / Strategy to focus on automotive sector

Takeover of two US composites suppliers / Tyre reinforcement producer aims to become big player in aviation applications

UK report calls for plastic bottle waste going to landfill to be eliminated by 2030 / Coordinated action needed by drinks industry, government and consumers

Alliance for high-grade plastics recycling / Focus on ecodesign for packaging

Rigid packaging division to be renamed Paccor

Polish stretch film specialist expands capacity / First line due on stream in 2019

Dutch packaging company acquires competitor Interpak

Swedish film and packaging manufacturer builds new plant / Stand-up pouches for liquid food products

Acquisition of Draka Polymer Films / PVC film plant in the Netherlands to be renovated

New technologies transforming traditional packaging methods / Easy sustainability improvements are diminishing / Smithers Pira report

Bioplastic and "green" polymer packaging demand to grow 6.5% per year / Flexible green packaging makes slow gains / BCC Research report