Our Events | Industry Awards | Diary | Advertising | Subscribe | Reprints | List Rental | Asian Plastics News | Crain Communications

Polymer demand in 2008 in four key Central European countries – Poland, Hungary and the Czech and Slovak Republics – reached 4.28m tonnes, according to an estimate from AMI. 2 January 2009

Resins and chemicals giant LyondellBasell Industries is considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. 2 January 2009

Kuwaiti officials pulled the plug on a much-anticipated plastics-related joint venture with Dow Chemical, just days before the JV was to open its doors. The pull-out now raises questions about Dow's purchase of Rohm and Haas. 30 December 2008

Kuwait announced on 28 December that it will cancel the planned $17.4bn K-Dow Petrochemicals joint venture with Dow Chemical. 29 December 2008

The global financial crisis continues to impact factories throughout China, with exports down and domestic consumption slowing. But some of the country’s plastics manufacturers are looking for a silver lining in China’s economic stimulus plan. 24 December 2008

A California study is suggesting disclosure legislation for the US state that would go even further than the Reach programme in Europe. 22 December 2008

Lanxess is delaying major investment projects, including a new butyl rubber facility in Singapore, in response to what it calls the “global economic crisis”. 19 December 2008

Despite stinging criticism from a subcommittee of its own Science Board, the Food and Drug Administration said it has no plans to change its stance on bisphenol A or call for a ban. 19 December 2008

Sunoco is seeking a buyer for its chemicals unit, including its polypropylene business. 19 December 2008

Eastman Chemical of the US plans to cut costs by more than $100m in 2009, mostly in labour-related areas. 18 December 2008

A $70m investment by Polyplex (Thailand) in PET film and resin production is likely to get delayed by a few months due to the ongoing financial crisis, said chief financial officer Vinod Sureka. 18 December 2008

Lanxess, the plastics, rubber and chemical products group, is to make temporary production cuts and shutdowns in Germany over the Christmas and New Year period in response to falling customer demand. 17 December 2008

A British sailing boat heavily composed of plastic looks set to become the world’s fastest speed sailing craft, according to advanced composite materials manufacturer Gurit. 16 December 2008

Carbon nanotubes can increase the length of wind turbine blades beyond the current 60 metre limit and offer substantial weight savings in the carbon fibre/epoxy matrix, Bayer chairman Werner Wenning disclosed at an Innovation symposium in Leverkusen, on Friday. 16 December 2008

Two more polymer materials groups, Arkema and DSM, have started temporary plant shutdowns in response to worsening market conditions. Their actions follow similar moves announced by other international groups such as BASF, Dow, DuPont and others. 15 December 2008

• LyondellBasell considers Chapter 11 2 January 2009
• Poor cash flow spells disaster for food packaging firm 5 January 2009
• Sartor signs preliminary agreement to buy Ineos Vinyls Italia 5 January 2009
• Dow pursues claims against Kuwait’s PIC 6 January 2009
• PET bottle maker Constar files for Chapter 11 2 January 2009

more

• BASF takes drastic action and shuts 80 plants (Update) 19 November 2008
• LyondellBasell considers Chapter 11 2 January 2009
• Sabic IP cuts output of engineering plastics 6 November 2008
• Ineos seeks bank waiver as customers destock 18 November 2008
• RPC drastic action for financial security 30 September 2008

more