Material Insights

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.

A possible contract extension for A. Schulman CEO Joseph Gingo is featured in this week's Material Insights video. Analysts offer outlooks for PVC, PET, polycarbonate and ABS resins, and International Process Plants hunts a buyer for two former Vinyls Italia plants.

AKRON, OHIO — Opposite moves in North American PVC and PP resin pricing are featured in this week's Material Insights video. Also this week, news from the IHS World Petrochemical Conference in Houston, including about the shale gas boom that is fueling ExxonMobil PE expansion plans, and forecasts from IHS consultants on the future of polyolef...

AKRON, OHIO — An asset sale and a capacity expansion from PolyOne Corp. are featured in this week's Material Insights video. Also featured this week is Dow Chemical's decision to add polyethylene resin capacity in the Gulf Coast, and two more compounding-related news stories.

AKRON, OHIO — North American pricing moves on PVC, polystyrene and some grades of polyethylene are featured in this week's Material Insights video. Also this week are major news announcements from Dow Chemical.