New orders for US durable goods fell sharply in April from March

(ICIS) -- According to Commerce Department, new orders for US durable goods fell sharply in April from March, dropping by 3.6% or USD 7.1bn (EUR 5bn) to USD 189.9bn, all but reversing the 4.4% March gain and fuelling more concern about the recovery. The decline in durable goods orders was widespread, with only computers and electronic products showing a 0.7% advance last month, according to the department's data.

Much of the decline was attributed to a precipitous 30% drop in new orders for commercial aircraft and parts and an 8.9% decline in orders for military airplanes and parts. Aircraft orders often are made in multiple-plane purchases and in any given month those commitments - or their lack - can affect manufacturing data disproportionately.

But even with aviation and other transportation orders backed out of the total, overall durable goods orders saw a 1.5% decline. Durable goods are manufactured products meant to last three years or more and include such items as automobiles, appliances, transportation and manufacturing equipment.

Many durable goods, such as computers and automobiles, are major downstream markets for chemicals and derivatives used in manufacturing processes or as end-product components. Within durable goods other than transportation equipment, orders for new machinery were down by 3.4% in April, the department said.

MRC

(Sibur) -- At the largest petrochemical exhibition in Asia - Chinaplas (Guangzhou, China) - SIBUR provided an assessment of the prospects for Russian-Chinese cooperation in the petrochemical sector. The respective press conference involved SIBUR Vice-President of planning, logistics and sales support Oleg Makarov, Vice-President and Head of the Plastics and Organic Synthesis Division Sergei Merzlyakov, representatives of the Russian Consulate in Guangzhou, as well as the leading Chinese media.

In 2010, China accounts for more than 14% of SIBUR's total sales, amounting to EUR 312 mln (with that figure being over EUR 934 mln for the Asian region on the whole).

The Company sells a diversified line of products on the Chinese market, primarily polyethylene, nitrile rubber and butyl rubber.

The partnership with SIBUR offers Chinese consumers a number of advantages, noted Sergey Merzlyakov. This ensures a stable supply owing to our own resource base, European quality at an affordable price thanks to large-scale production in Siberia, the positive experience of long-term relations, and the unique properties of polymers with a wide brand assortment.

MRC

(Sabic) -- At Plastpol 2011 (:Poland), the SABIC family of plastics businesses - including Polymers and Innovative Plastics - will showcase their expanding array of advanced material solutions for the Polish market. These innovative technologies have been designed for Polish customers in both established and new market sectors, including infrastructure, packaging, electrical/electronics, consumer goods, lighting and fluid engineering. As part of its comprehensive offering to Polish customers, SABIC also provides a strong local team and extensive resources. These include a logistical centre in Kutno for reliable, local supply of materials; and a Fluid Engineering Centre of Excellence in The Netherlands in close proximity to help customers find the right material solutions throughout the application development cycle -- from concept through production.

MRC

(Packaging Essentials) -- Capacity is predicted to pass the one million tonne mark already in 2011, according to a current study presented by the industry association European Bioplastics in cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Hanover at the interpack trade fair in Dusseldorf.

From a figure of around 700 KT in 2010, the production capacity for bioplastics will increase to a predicted 1.7 million tonnes by 2015. The current year will see capacity pass an important threshold: the first half of 2011 already shows production capacity exceeding 900 KT. The million tonne mark is close, and will likely be passed by the bioplastics industry within this year.

A further change is evident in the composition of global production volume. In 2010, the bio- plastics branch primarily produced biodegradable materials, totalling around 400 KT (compared to 300 KT of biobased commodity plastics). This ratio will be reversed in the coming years - despite overall growth.

Essential to this rapid growth is the swift expansion of bioplastics into an ever-increasing number of applications. From packaging to car manufacture to toys, carpets and electronic components - bioplastics are in demand as never before. The strongly growing group of dura- ble biobased bioplastics appeals strongly to the packaging market, for example. Several large brand producers such as Danone and Coca-Cola have brought products to market.

MRC

(Plastics Today) -- Executives at the world's leading supplier of polystyrene said they are keen to support their Asian business, already strong, with new compounding capacity, most likely in China. Without revealing specifics, Styron president and CEO Chris Pappas also said he is actively eyeing potential acquisitions in the region.

The Styron executives spoke during the Chinaplas trade show, held May 17-20 in Guangzhou. Styron was acquired last year by Bain Capital from Dow Chemical; its plastics portfolio includes polystyrene (PS) - both general purpose and high impact (HIPS), plus expandable PS, copolymers ABS and SAN, and compounds based on polycarbonate (PC), PS and polypropylene (this last only for the automotive industry). It produces styrene-based plastics (PS, EPS, ABS and SAN) at two manufacturing facilities in China and one each in the U.S., Brazil, Indonesia, Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands. It has a PC plant in Germany, and compounding sites in Taiwan and The Netherlands.

MRC