Market Flash

Increased investment in US tight oil is likely to drive non-OPEC crude supply growth in 2018 and was a key force behind above-forecast output this year, OPEC said on Wednesday.

• Non-OPEC
• Oil

China’s soda ash market may remain in a correction phase into early 2018 as domestic supply outstripped demand for the first time since June.

• Soda Ash

Keltan 13561C DE has a high product viscosity of 130 Mooney Unit (MU) – higher than any other current Keltan EPDM grade.

• Arlanxeo

The country has also cut its steel capacity by more than 115 million tons, close to upper limit of capacity reduction target of 150 mill...

• Coal
• Capacity
• China

Affordable pouch-sized plastic packaging is emerging as a key driver of growth for India's packaging sector, but some in the industry are warning that a lack of recycling infrastructure could stand in the way.

• Plastics
• Packaging

Prices of palm methyl ester (PME) biodiesel in southeast (SE) Asia are expected to see little upside ahead as obstacles persist for regional exporters.

• PME
• Biodiesel

TPRI produces PE, polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS) and base chemicals in facilities spread throughout Texas and Louisiana.

• Polymers
• PE
• PS

US chemical output will rise in 2017 and continue growing for the next three years, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) said on Friday.

• Output
• ACC

US manufacturing should continue expanding in 2018, with revenue rising by 5.1% and capital expenditures rising by 2.7%, the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said on Monday.

• Manufacturing

Despite the December contract price for propylene in Europe being up by €32/tonne compared to November, most European polyethylene (PE) producers did not increase their December export PE prices to the CIS countries, as per ICIS-MRC’s Price report.

• PE

LPG-based contract margins fell by 6% week on week, and co-product credits were flat.

• Naphtha-Based

Following the excellent South African wool season experienced in 2016/17, which was one of the best in decades in terms of price and production, producers and industry leaders are confident that wool will continue to perform well in 2017/18.

• South Africa
• Wool
• Fiber

The hardware store is cluttered with a variety of finishes. From water based, oil based and in between. To top that off, you have a variety of sheens, liquid vs gel, brands and formulas that make deciding and choosing a finish coat a hard decision.

• Polyurethane

Sweden’s Nexam Chemical Holding AB is acquiring 100 percent shares of the privately owned Plasticolor Sweden AB, a manufacturer of masterbatch products, and thereby adding masterbatch capability to its offerings.

• Plasticolor

Polyurethanes are used in the manufacture of high-resilience foam seating, rigid foam insulation panels, microcellular foam seals and ga...

• Polyurethane
• PU

trade officials voted to continue to investigate a request by four major North American PET makers to place anti-dumping duties on PET i...

• PET
• Resin

Instead, her group is calling for a new label for the paint stripper cans, to tell consumers not to use it for bathtub refinishing.

• Chemical
• Paints
• Strippers

Accelerating chemicals management On the first day of the meeting, a side event was held, which discussed ways of accelerating the sound...

• Environment
• Chemical
• Pollution

107 million bales, according to the report prepared by PCGA, in joint cooperation with All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) an...

• Pakistan
• Cotton

Weak demand has prompted European polyvinyl chloride (PVC) producers to decrease their export prices to CIS countries, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

• PVC