Polymers Exchange

• Update to ICIS Topics: Storm Season 2024 and impact on chemicals
  Visit the Storm Season 2024 and impact on chemicals topic page for latest updates and analysis on storms impacting chemicals markets across the globe. Helene has strengthened into a Category ... read more
• Viking Plastics Names New CEO
  Current president Shawn Gross will succeed Kelly Goodsel as CEO effective Nov. 1, 2024. ... read more
• Resin Price Report: Resin Market Abides as Storm and Port Strikes Loom
  Transactions rose to above-average levels while pricing took a flat to lower path. ... read more
• CRUDE SUMMARY: Oil tumbles as players price in possibility of oversupplied market in Q4
  Saudi Arabia and OPEC reportedly to increase production in December Libya agrees on new head for the central government China releases new economic stimulus but unable to move markets LONDON ... read more
• Gasoil-diesel ARA stocks post first decline following multimonth peaks
  LONDON (ICIS)--After marking a rise for eight consecutive weeks, European gasoil and diesel stocks at the key import-export Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) hub recorded first decline in the week to ... read more
• Distressed vessel Ruby carrying 21,000 tonnes of explosive AN anchors off the UK coast
  LONDON (ICIS)--In the North Sea, a distressed Maltese-flagged general cargo vessel named Ruby, carrying 21,000 tonnes of Russian ammonium nitrate (AN), finds herself anchored off the UK coast of Kent ... read more
• Russia’s Novatek freezes work on new LNG export projects
  Novatek suspends work on two LNG projects Commercial future of Arctic LNG-2 project uncertain LNG production in Russia up year on year SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Novatek will suspend work indefinitely on the ... read more
• EVENING SNAPSHOT – Europe Markets Summary
  CRUDE: Down; expectations that Saudi Arabia will increase production output despite falling crude prices. NAPHTHA: Drops following upstream weakness despite firming crack. BENZENE: Lower on crude ... read more
• Europe Q3 melamine contracts down, September contracts up
  LONDON (ICIS)--September contract prices have settled at various double-digit increases depending on starting point and account, and Q3 contracts were assessed at a decrease. September, Q3 contract ... read more
• ACER clarifies REMIT rules on representatives
  ACER details third-party representative requirements under REMIT reforms This clarifies who and how non-EU firms active on energy markets comply with reforms Rules on representatives and market ... read more
• Update to ICIS Topics: Storm Season 2024 and impact on chemicals
  Visit the Storm Season 2024 and impact on chemicals topic page for latest updates and analysis on storms impacting chemicals markets across the globe. Helene is expected to make landfall ... read more
• BASF eyes M&A market to strengthen core business
  LONDON (ICIS)--BASF will look to carry out acquisitions in the coming years to strengthen its core business as part of its growth strategy, alongside a focus on the green transition ... read more
• Europe's jet fuel prices rebound in headwinds of oversupply, poor demand
  LONDON (ICIS)--A lack of buying interest and poor liquidity continues to take a toll over European jet kerosene spot quotations with upstream volatility largely dictating price movements. Average ... read more
• Plant status: LAT Nitrogen melamine turnaround in Germany ongoing
  LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: LAT Nitrogen Location: Piesteritz, Germany Product: Melamine Capacity (tonnes/year): 80,000 Event start: August 2024 Event finish: September 2024 ... read more
• Update to ICIS Topics: Logistics – impact on chemicals and energy
  Visit the ICIS Logistics: impact on chemical and energy markets topic page for latest updates and analysis. Container rates falling as carriers continue to slash freight rates ahead of China’s ... read more
• Azeri, extra LNG to pressure Bulgarian October gas price
  Bulgarian state supplier Bulgargaz to offer €32.75/MWh gas price for October This is cheaper than the current TTF front-month price Two LNG cargoes to aid Bulgarian October supply WARSAW ... read more
• German consumer confidence perks up; GDP to shrink 0.1% this year
  LONDON (ICIS)--Consumers in Germany are slightly less pessimistic, according to market research firm GfK’s September consumer survey, released on Thursday. Consumers’ income expectations rose, as ... read more
• Uptick in power demand likely for October with ample wind supply
  UK October power demand is expected to increase slightly, compared to 2023 Above average wind through most of October will support boosted power demand Gas demand will typically rise in ... read more
• Swedish wind power growth faces hurdles
  Municipal vetoes and absence of an offshore grid connection to put strain on expansion of Swedish wind Lack of government support in offshore wind could jeopardize Sweden in meeting its ... read more
• 3D-printed PEEK-based Spine Implant Cleared by FDA
  The implant’s porous structure, enabled by the polymer and Bond3D printing technology, promotes native bone ingrowth, potentially improving patient outcomes. ... read more
• Asia naphtha market may firm on supply constraints
  SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia's naphtha market has held steady over the past week, but could strengthen in the short term due to fewer cracker maintenance and lower-than-usual arbitrage cargo arrivals ... read more
• What to watch this week – ICIS calendar highlights
  Crude and petrochemicals players will be looking at the results of damage assessments from Hurricane Francine in the US Gulf Coast after last week’s uptick in prices. Major central banks ... read more
• Jefferies cuts Dow profit forecasts for Q3, Q4 2024 and 2025 on updated guidance
  NEW YORK (ICIS)--Jefferies is taking down earnings forecasts for Dow on the company’s recent updated guidance from a Texas cracker outage as well as lingering macro weakness in residential ... read more
• EVENING SNAPSHOT – Europe Markets Summary
  CRUDE: Higher, on track for weekly gain after Hurricane Francine disrupted 42% of US Gulf of Mexico oil production NAPHTHA: Stays static despite firming crude, crack spread BENZENE: Erases earlier ... read more
• Bearish Europe PET market at odds with expensive upstream PTA stocks
  LONDON (ICIS)--Earlier problems sourcing upstream purified terephthalic acid (PTA) increased polyethylene terephthalate (PET) production costs, putting producers in an awkward position since the ... read more
• DESNZ confirms the launch of NESO for 1 October 2024
  Department of energy security and net zero acquires ESO for £630 million on 13 September Following this NESO will launch on 1 October, taking full oversight of the electricity and ... read more
• German Chancellor Scholz rejects outright PFAS ban
  LONDON (ICIS)--German Chancellor Olaf Scholz opposes an outright ban on  perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the EU. In applications where PFAS are causing damage and where ... read more
• Government intervention, long-running underinvestment lift Romania's electricity prices
  Romanian electricity prices soar to some of the highest levels across Europe Elevated prices linked to market distortions and underinvestments Unless market allowed to function, Romania to see ... read more
• British storage injections to return on higher supply
  Storage withdraws have been balancing for reduced Norwegian flows Britain to return to being oversupplied with the return of the Langeled pipeline Injections may spike during BBL pipeline maintenance ... read more
• Plant status: Spain’s Novapet plans regular PET maintenance in November
  LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Novapet Location: Barbastro, Spain Product: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) Capacity (tonnes/year): 100,000 Event start: November Event finish: ... read more
• Serbia to receive additional gas supply from Azerbaijan
  Serbia agrees to receive additional gas supply from Azeri incumbent SOCAR Allows Serbia to diversify its gas supply Serbia also working on expanding Banatski Dvor storage facility with a capacity ... read more
• 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