Polymer manufacturer, LyondellBasell produced and sold 206,000 tonnes of recycled and renewable-based polymers in 2025, slightly higher than the 203,000 tonnes the company reported for 2024.   LyondellBasell aims to produce 800,000 tonnes per year of recycled and renewable-based polymers by 2030. This target was revised down in February 2026 from a previous goal of 2 […]

China’s economy grew faster than expected in the first three months of the year, even as countries around the world feel the impact of the US-Israel war with Iran.   Gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 5% in the period, compared to a year earlier, according to official data. Economists had expected the figure to […]

The global economy is at risk of recession if the US-Israel war with Iran continues and high energy prices persist, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned.   In its World Economic Outlook report, the IMF said in a worst-case scenario, where oil, gas and food prices spike and remain high this year and next, […]

European polymer prices continued to rise over the week to 10th April. There were increases of between 25 and 400 EUR per tonne reported in the prices of HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, Polypropylene, PVC, ABS and Polystyrene.   Asian polymers were mixed with increases of 20 USD per tonne reported in the prices of PET and […]

Inflation in the US accelerated last month to its highest rate in nearly two years, as surging oil prices triggered by the US-Israel war in Iran started to spill over into the wider economy.   Consumer prices climbed 3.3% over the 12 months to March, picking up from 2.4% in February, the Labor Department said. […]

China has once again ‌limited its price increases for petrol and diesel to around half the typical increase under its pricing mechanism, in a bid to mitigate rising oil prices from the Iran war and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.   Oil prices continued to rise ​after Iran rejected a ceasefire proposal […]

Global oil prices rose in Asian morning trade on Thursday as investors watch developments in the fragile US-Iran ceasefire.   The conditional two-week ceasefire has been tested after Israel launched a wave of deadly strikes on Lebanon, prompting Tehran to warn of a “regret‑inducing response” if the attacks continue.   Oil prices plunged on Wednesday […]

European polymer prices continued to rise over the week to 3rd April. There were increases of between 15 and 50 EUR per tonne reported in the prices of HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, PVC and Polystyrene.   Asian polymers rose with increases of between 15 and 120 USD per tonne reported in the prices of Polypropylene, ABS […]

Hiring in the US surged last month, despite the energy shock and uncertainty stemming from the US-Israel war in Iran.   Employers added 178,000 jobs, far more than expected, while the unemployment rate dipped to 4.3%, the Labor Department said.   Analysts said the gains were likely lifted by the end of strikes in the […]

Oil prices started climbing again after US President Donald Trump reiterated threats to hit Iran “extremely hard” in the coming weeks and failed to give concrete details on how the war will end.   Brent crude briefly surged past $109 per barrel and stock markets in the US, Europe and Asia fell following Trump’s address […]