More about

COMMODITY MARKETS Tough to gauge impact of embargo on Russian oil, natural gas / EU distribution issues could emerge / Russia source of 14% of German naphtha imports	17.03.2022
GLOBAL ECONOMY War in Ukraine fuels spikes in commodity prices / Inflation likely to persist / Analysts, nations reduce growth projections	09.03.2022
ENERGY MARKET CHINA Prices to stabilise in 2022 following last year's shocks / Covid-19 policy brings uncertainties	09.02.2022
AUSTRALIA Feasibility study for circular economy / Chance of advanced recycling plant in Victoria / Facility could divert nearly a quarter of waste plastics from state landfills	20.12.2021
ENERGY MARKET ASIA Vast variation in Asian oil, gas outlooks due to differing climate commitments / Wood Mackenzie reports	11.11.2021
PACKAGING 50% reuse in Europe could lead to enormous CO2 reduction by 2030 / Report on three sector groups / Significant economic incentives for users / Rethink Plastic Alliance report	30.09.2021
PLASTICS AND CLIMATE CO2 emissions from plastics to rise drastically / Increase to be driven by carbon released during incineration / Need for focus on higher-value recycling / Material Economics study	27.09.2021
PLASTICS AND CLIMATE Action needed to meet tougher decarbonisation targets / Recycling key to lower emissions / Wood Mackenzie study	15.09.2021
PACKAGING Leading brands, retailers to help create schemes to collect, recycle / Ellen MacArthur report puts annual cost of programmes at USD 30 bn	23.07.2021
EU CLIMATE POLICY “Fit for 55” leads to hot debates in the industry / EU unveils long-awaited climate package / Transportation to be included in ETS / Chemical and waste sectors mostly on board	19.07.2021
PACKAGING Redesign scenarios see plastics consumption waning / Rigid applications will bear the brunt of reuse models / Wood MacKenzie report	22.06.2021
BIOPLASTICS Government action needed to boost capacity / Cost a significant barrier to scaling up	06.11.2020
PLASTICS VALUE CHAIN Investigation of shift toward sustainability strategy to curb packaging waste as demand grows / Wood Mackenzie report on materials transition	26.08.2020
BP / INEOS Assets worth USD 5 bn to change hands / Chemical group gains berth in polyester and acetyls / Debt-financed deal leverages Styrolution	30.06.2020
CHINA Economic growth to decline sharply in 2020 due to Covid-19 and trade dispute with the US / Oil demand looks set to recover in Q2 / Atradius and Wood Mackenzie reports	08.06.2020
FLEXIBLE PACKAGING Coronavirus pandemic boosts demand in US and Europe / Sharp rise in growth predicted for 2020	28.04.2020
FLEXIBLE PACKAGING Asian market to reach almost EUR 49 bn by 2024 / Growth slowing on sluggish regional economy / Wood Mackenzie report	30.03.2020
CHINAPLAS 2020 Plastics trade fair in Shanghai postponed due to coronavirus outbreak / Negative economic impact predicted	05.02.2020
CHINA Ban on single-use plastics starting in 2020 / Production of household items containing microbeads to end this year	23.01.2020
WORLD TRADE US and China sign agreement in trade conflict / Import duties still in place	21.01.2020
PET Fibre applications compensate for overall slowdown / Surplus tendency with paraxylene / PTA more balanced / Excessive increase in MEG capacities	17.01.2020
CHEMICAL RECYCLING Cross-industry consortium to advance technology targeting hard-to-recycle PET waste / Alpla, Britvic, BP, Danone, Remondis and Unilever	02.01.2020
ALPEK Purchase of Lotte Chemical's UK PET plant / First acquisition outside the Americas	04.11.2019
BOPP FILM Global demand to grow around 5% per year to 2023 / China and India dominate market / Flexible packaging remains key outlet / Wood Mackenzie report	01.11.2019
FLEXIBLE PACKAGING EUROPE Constantia Flexibles CEO selected as chair	21.08.2019