Europe PE, PP buyers get little relief in steady market

(ICIS) -- Buyers of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) in Europe have not been able to procure the lower prices for material they were so confident of achieving by the end of 2010, as there is limited availability for most grades, market sources agreed on Monday.

Delays in new capacities in the Middle East, coupled with careful monitoring of output of European product and, more recently, production constraints caused by strikes in France last month, meant that most PE and PP grades were not in oversupply.

In the case of low density polyethylene (LDPE), product availability was restricted globally, and European buyers were even faced with higher prices in November.

High density polyethylene (HDPE) and PP were also firmer than most buyers had expected.

New PE and PP capacities from the Middle East and Asia would have an effect on European pricing sooner or later, several producers admitted. But in 2010, they had not had the impact that most buyers and sellers had anticipated.

MRC

(PRW) -- The Netherlands-based plastics pipes systems producer Wavin has expanded its position in the Swedish market with the acquisition of part of KWH Pipe's local operations.

Wavin has agreed to acquire the underground PE water pipe business of KWH Pipe Sweden, including a PE pipe and fitting factory at Boras and 30 fulltime employees. The business generates sales of around ┬10m.

Neither company has disclosed the value of the transaction, which takes effect from the beginning of December this year.

Finland-headquartered KWH Pipe will continue to operate its District Energy, Weholite and Environmental businesses in Sweden.

MRC

(Ides) -- BASF announced it is increasing prices for all grades of Styropor╝ expandable polystyrene (EPS) in North America by $0.05 per pound effective Nov. 15, 2010.

This increase is necessary due to raw material cost increases.

BASF is the world's leading chemical company. With about 105,000 employees and close to 385 production sites worldwide the company serves customers and partners in almost all countries of the world.

MRC

(PRW) -- Germany-based additives producer Baerlocher has finished converting production at its Bury, UK, plant to calcium-based PVC stabiliser one-packs. According to the manufacturer, this makes the plant the first stabiliser facility in Europe to achieve this milestone.

A further upgrade of the granulation facilities early next year will provide additional capacity at the plant, which is currently capable of producing more than 12,000tpa.

⌠The decision to concentrate production of calcium-based solutions at our Bury site for the British and Irish markets, further demonstrates Baerlocher's confidence in its technology for the most demanding applications and their total commitment in continuing to meet local customer needs, said Arne Schulle, Baerlocher CEO.

Baerlocher started production in the UK with lead stabiliser one-packs in 1996 to serve the uPVC building products sector and began production of calcium-based additive one-packs in 2008.

MRC

(Trend) -- The Azerbaijani State Committee on Standardization, Metrology and Patents adopted the standard AZS 484-2010 (TS 11989 EN 13164/2003) "Thermal insulation products for buildings - extruded polystyrene (XPS). Features", developed by "Gilan-TN" Ltd, the State Committee said. The standard will be applied from November 10.

This standard covers penopolystyrene materials, processed in a covered and uncovered condition and used for thermal insulation.

The standard covers the fundamental methods of experiments with features of the product, conformity assessment, marking and labeling. Finished products, included in the scope of this standard, are also used in thermal insulation systems and complex panels manufactured at the plant.

MRC