Material Insights

AKRON, OHIO — News of a tragic explosion at an olefins plant in Louisiana is featured in this week's video. Also featured is news of a polypropylene outage at a plant operated by Formosa Plastics Corp., as well as news of Eastman Chemical Co. launching a $1.6 billion expansion.

AKRON, OHIO — Different price directions for North American polystyrene and PVC are featured in this week's Material Insights video. Also this week, we report another downstream move by materials maker RTP Co., as well as news that China's Dalian Commodity Exchange will begin offering PP futures.

AKRON, OHIO — A. Schulman Inc.'s busy week of acquisition, job cuts and plans to sell its Australian compounding plant is featured in this week's Material Insights video. Also featured is news of a 1-cent decline in North American polypropylene pricing.

AKRON, OHIO — Ferro Corp.'s response to challenges at its annual meeting are featured in this week's Material Insights video. Also this week, we report on four global compounding expansions.

AKRON, OHIO — A recent drop in North American PET bottle resin prices is featured in this week's Material Insights video. Also this week, we report on polyethylene supply issues impacting two material firms, as well as news that sustainable chemicals maker BioAmber Inc. raised $80 million in an initial public offering of its stock.

AKRON, OHIO — An April price drop for solid polystyrene resin in North America is featured in this week's Material Insights video. Also this week, we report a big PVC merger in Europe, as well as news of a new player in the plastic additives market.

AKRON, OHIO — A fire that injured 14 at a Formosa Plastics Corp. USA plant in Texas is featured in this week's Material Insights video. Also this week we report a big drop in North American PP prices, as well as news that compounding leader A. Schulman Inc. has opened its first plant in India.

AKRON, OHIO — Still more potential new polyethylene capacity for North America is featured in this week's Material Insights video. Also this week, we report on PlastiComp LLC's addition of a new compounding line, as well as news that Toray Industries Inc. is developing a PBT resin with some bio-based content.

AKRON, OHIO — A price increase on film grades of North American polyethylene resin is featured in this week's Material Insights video. Another proposed materials plant for Appalachia also is featured, as well as news of a business uptick at International Process Plants.

A shale gas-related expansion from Kuraray America and PolyOne's move into Saudi Arabia are featured in this week's Material Insights video. Also, A. Schulman releases financial results for the first half of its fiscal year and Sabic is working with MIT on processes using unconventional feedstocks.