Polymers Exchange

• Airmould-System: Wittmann und SKZ: Workshops zur Gasinnendrucktechnologie
  Material und Energie sparen lautet das Gebot der Stunde. Dieser Trend rückt das gasunterstützte Spritzgießen in den Fokus. In zweitägigen Workshops vermitteln der Spritzgießausrüster Wittmann und das Kunststoff-Zentrum SKZ, welche ... read more
• Hungary’s MOL starts up largest green hydrogen plant in CEE
  LONDON (ICIS)--Hungary’s MOL Group said on Wednesday it has started up the largest green hydrogen plant in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The 10-megawatt and €22 million facility is located ... read more
• Plant status: Slovnaft shuts down petchem units for maintenance, modernization
  LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Slovnaft (MOL Group) Location: Bratislava, Slovakia Products: Ethylene, propylene, polypropylene (PP) Capacity (tonnes/year): 240,000 (ethylene), ... read more
• Germany manufacturing orders rise in July, chemicals fall
  LONDON (ICIS)--New orders in Germany’s manufacturing sector rose 2.9% month on month in July, but excluding big ticket items they fell 0.4%, according to statistical data released on Thursday: ... read more
• China to review anti-dumping duties on phenol imports from US, EU, Korea, Japan,Thailand
  SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China will review its anti-dumping duties (ADD) on imports of phenol from US, EU, South Korea, Japan and Thailand, starting 6 September, the Ministry of Commerce announced on ... read more
• Plant status: Scheduled turnaround imminent at LyondellBasell Wesseling, Germany cracker
  LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: LyondellBasell Location: Wesseling, Germany Product: Ethylene, propylene, butadiene Capacity (tonnes/year): 760,000 (ethylene), 335,000 ... read more
• Germany in structural crisis, no GDP growth this year – ifo
  LONDON (ICIS)--Germany’s economy is in a structural crisis, with no GDP growth expected in 2024, Munich-based economic research group ifo said in cutting its forecasts on Thursday:  Year New GDP ... read more
• Plant status: Planned turnaround imminent at BP Gelsenkirchen, Germany cracker
  LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: BP Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany Product: Ethylene, propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 550,000 (ethylene), 335,000 (propylene) Event start: 15 ... read more
• Environmentalists Want to Change the Meaning of the Word ‘Recyclable’
  A product shouldn’t be labeled as recyclable if the appropriate recycling infrastructure is not readily available, say environmentalists. ... read more
• Moldovan gas TSO under sharp criticism over tariff hike
  European traders asked to pay difference for capacity booked prior to a sharp tariff increase The increase could wipe out transit on Trans-Balkan route Ukrainian TSO GTSOU says the latest ... read more
• Plant status: Orlen Unipetrol Litvinov refinery, cracker production to resume
  LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Orlen Location: Litvinov, Czech Republic Product: Ethylene, propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 585,000 ethylene; 320,000 propylene Event start: 23 ... read more
• Asia’s lube demand set to slow in Q4 on seasonal dip in consumption
  SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia’s lube demand is likely to slip in the fourth quarter of the year from the previous three months amid a seasonal dip in consumption at year-end. The region’s ... read more
• Limited signs of PET bale improvement as summer consumption window closes
  LONDON (ICIS)--Volumes of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) post-consumer bottle bales in the European market have not increased by as much as expected during the summer, meaning the chances of any ... read more
• Low gas demand drives Europe’s price discount to Asia
  European and Asian prices fall on bearish fundamentals European weakness a bigger driver than Asian demand US producer margins favor Asian delivery in October LONDON (ICIS)--European gas prices and ... read more
• Henning Karbstein: Neuer Geschäftsführer bei Kraiburg TPE Americas
  Mit Wirkung zum 1. Oktober 2024 übernimmt Henning Karbstein die Geschäftsführung von Kraiburg TPE für die Region Nord-, Zentral- und Südamerika. Er wird das operative Geschäft des global agierenden TPE-Herstellers ... read more
• NOON SNAPSHOT – Europe Markets Summary
  CRUDE: Up on expected declines in US crude, gasoline and distillate stocks. NAPHTHA: Marginally up amid upstream volatility. BENZENE: Lower on persistent market weakness. STYRENE: Offers dip after ... read more
• Europe domestic SN150, SN500 spot prices soften, brightstock holds steady
  LONDON (ICIS)--Domestic SN150 and SN500 spot prices in Europe eased  $10/tonne this week, while brightstock remained flat. A stable to soft trend is expected to continue as supply restrictions have ... read more
• Hike appears likely for European Q4 sulphuric acid supply contracts
  LONDON (ICIS)--Talks on Q4 sulphuric acid supply contracts are to kick off across northwest Europe in late September, with an increase widely expected. A hike appears likely on a combination ... read more
• ICIS TTF Early Day assessments: 5 September 2024
  – Norway’s Gassco shows an offline capacity of 165mcm/day on 5 September with its peak output freeze of 237mcm/day slated to take place on 6-8 September – Gassco – Five ... read more
• Europe jet fuel prices hit new lows on supply overhang, crude softness
  LONDON (ICIS)--Average European jet kerosene spot prices for cargoes fell 6% week-on-week while barge prices dropped 5% from the week prior as supply overhang and lack of demand continues to ... read more
• July air passenger demand up 8% year on year, led by Asia, Latin America – IATA
  LONDON (ICIS)--Global air passenger demand measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) increased by 8% year on year in July, with no significant negative demand impact from the CrowdStrike IT ... read more
• EVENING SNAPSHOT – Europe Markets Summary
  CRUDE: Jumps on signs of reduced oil exports and loadings from Libya; Brent front month expiry tomorrow. NAPHTHA: Rallies on firming crude, crack spread. BENZENE: Range fell as bids-offers switched ... read more
• Resin Price Report: Spot Resin Trading Bounces Back as Railroad Strike Is Averted
  The government stepped in to stop the nightmare scenario of an extended shutdown of Canada’s rail system in its tracks. ... read more
• Europe oxo-alcohols spot prices steady as market slow to wake
  LONDON (ICIS)--Prices in the European oxo-alcohols spot market held steady this week as buying activity remains sparse although the summer holiday season is nearing its end. “It’s still everyone ... read more
• British capacity holders may start withdrawals in September on outages, spreads
  Norwegian outages to support storage withdrawals in the first half of September This may lead traders to replenish stocks in the second half of September once prices drop LONDON (ICIS)--British ... read more
• UK's Ofgem fines Drax £25 million on two breaches of the Renewables Obligation scheme
  Drax Power Limited set to pay £25 million to Ofgem’s voluntary redress fund after finding two breaches of the Renewable Obligation (RO) scheme Electricity generated from Biomass qualifies Drax ... read more
• Hungarian premium to remain supported on hot weather
  Hungarian front-month premium over Germany rose to €24.15/MWh on 28 August Premium to remain supported by Balkan heatwave, low hydropower output Hungarian 350MW Dunamenti G3 gas-fired unit in ... read more
• Bulgarian gas customers could pay September bills below TTF
  Bulgarian state supplier Bulgargaz to offer €30.53/MWh gas price for September This could boost local demand, aid economic activity Bulgarian gas consumers requested an increase in the gas ... read more
• Corrected: NOON SNAPSHOT – Europe Markets Summary
  CORRECTION: In the ICIS news story headlined "NOON SNAPSHOT - Europe Markets Summary", dated 29 August 2024, please read the benzene price change as $1,002.50 instead of $1,005.00. A corrected ... read more
• BASF to shut down adipic acid production at Ludwigshafen next year
  LONDON (ICIS)--BASF is to end production of adipic acid and several downstream units at Ludwigshafen, Germany, as part of structural changes underway at the site, the company said on Thursday. ... read more
• GLM MARKET REPORT: Asia spot LNG prices up, while Freeport shuts again
  HOUSTON (ICIS)--Asia spot LNG prices rose this week, boosted by production outages in Malaysia and Australia. The October ’24 ICIS East Asia Index (EAX) rose nearly 4% on 29 August ... read more
• Plant status: Braskem puts Schkopau, Germany PP on force majeure after mechanical damage
  LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Braskem Location: Schkopau, Germany Product: Polypropylene (PP) Capacity (tonnes/year): 365,000 Event start: 9 August (FM as of 28 Aug) Event ... read more
• Shetland Islands link to aid UK power supply, but bottlenecks remain
  New subsea cable has connected the Shetland Islands to Great Britain’s electricity grid for the first time The 443MW Viking onshore wind farm in the Shetlands has also been completed ... read more
• Italy’s July lube demand rises
  SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Italy’s lube consumption rose in July for the first time in three months, extending a period of uneven demand growth in Europe so far this year. The more volatile ... read more
• Europe’s June Group I base oils exports extend fall
  SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Europe’s Group I base oils exports to non-EU markets fell to an eleven-month low in June as steady demand and firm prices incentivized refiners to keep more supplies within ... read more
• Europe Melamine August contracts roll over; spot prices flat-line
  LONDON (ICIS)--European melamine August contracts roll over this month, according to canvassed sources. August contract prices were assessed unchanged between €2,480-2,720/tonne free delivered (FD) ... read more
• Post-summer demand uncertain for Europe AA
  LONDON (ICIS)--The Europe acrylic acid (AA) market faces an uncertain September as the demand rebound following the summer lull is uncertain. Post-summer pick-up uncertain as players return Supply ... read more
• Europe toluene September contract prices on the horizon
  LONDON (ICIS)--Certain contract discussions for toluene for September in the European market are expected to be finalized soon. According to feedback, a major talking point during this round is ... read more
• NOON SNAPSHOT – Europe Markets Summary
  CRUDE: Stable as market mulls Libya's oil field shutdowns; stronger US dollar limited gains NAPHTHA: Lower as crack spread weakens BENZENE: Focus of business switches to September, with no August ... read more
• East Asian LNG spot premium edges back up on European weakness
  • East Asian LNG spot price premium firms to around $1.3/MMBtu • Asian interest, producer covering as much a factor as European weakness • Norwegian maintenance could tempt European buyers ... read more
• Economic sentiment, employment expectations for eurozone and EU improve in August
  LONDON (ICIS)--The economic outlook in the EU and eurozone improved in August on stronger industry confidence and brighter employment expectations. The European Commission’s Economic Sentiment ... read more
• BASF targets 20% performance materials sales from ‘circular’ products by 2030
  LONDON (ICIS)--BASF is looking to grow the share of revenue from products that support the substitution of fossil feedstocks for circular economy alternatives to 20% by 2030, the Germany-based ... read more
• Kurzanalyse des VDI ZRE: Wie KMU von 3D-Druck profitieren können
  Additive Fertigungsverfahren bieten nicht nur Produktionsmöglichkeiten für das Prototyping, sondern auch ökonomische und ökologische Potenziale für kleine und mittlere Unternehmen. Mit Chancen und Herausforderungen industrieller 3D-Druckverfahren setzt sich die neue ... read more
• Rising costs, outages fail to rattle sluggish propylene oxide market in Europe
  LONDON (ICIS)--Outages at domestic suppliers, a local unit being flagged for a potential sale and rising production costs have failed to rattle a sluggish European propylene oxide (PO) market. ... read more
• Europe DMT August prices drop heavily after upstream PX price tumbles
  LONDON (ICIS)--The August contract indicator for Europe dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) dropped, according to ICIS calculations. The assessed August range was, therefore, down by €40/tonne on both ... read more
• ICIS TTF Early Day assessments: 29 August 2024
  - Temperatures in northwest Europe are forecast above the seasonal average for the week starting 2 September, while wind power generation will be below average - MetDesk - Spot power ... read more
• Europe isocyanate September contract price talks underway
  LONDON (ICIS)--Europe isocyanate contract price discussions for September are have begun for products including toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). For crude ... read more
• Europe polyols September contract price talks start
  LONDON (ICIS)--Europe flexible slabstock conventional polyol contract discussions for September are underway in Europe. Some players are targeting an increase on rising costs in feedstocks, gas and ... read more
• Chemical M&A market in retreat on uncertain outlook – banker
  NEW YORK (ICIS)--Chemical mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity has declined this year, and the market will continue to be challenged through the end of the year, an investment banker said. ... read more
• CRUDE SUMMARY: Crude prices slide ahead of Chinese economic data release
  Investors await Chinese PMI data next week US crude stocks fall by less than expected US dollar index recovers from 2024 low LONDON (ICIS)--Crude prices continued to slide on Wednesday ... read more