International news

The European Parliament has decided to ask the European Court of Justice to assess whether the EU-Mercosur agreement complies with EU Treaties. This move blocks the European Parliament's ratification vote and opens a phase of legal and political uncertainty over one of the EU's most ambitious trade agreements...

The global leader in the design and production of custom mechatronic solutions for pharmaceutical, cosmetics and packaging sectors uniting highly specialized brands such as CB Automation, Neyret Group, Union, Tecom, Alci, SMP and Ermo, Mech-I-Tronic announced the acquisition of Colamark, a company based in...

The International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) has released the latest edition of the World Rubber Industry Outlook – the twice-yearly report providing forecasts for the global economy and the automotive, tyre and rubber sectors – with projections updated through to 2032...

“Future? Ready!” With this motto, Henkel has launched the celebration of its 150 years of history, which began on 26 September 1876 when Fritz Henkel founded the company in Aachen (Germany). Today, it is a multinational producer of adhesives, sealants, and functional coatings...

Will the economic upturn finally arrive in 2026? There is reason for optimism, at least for plastic pipe manufacturers. For some time, the European market for PVC, polypropylene and other polymer pipes has been stagnating at around 5 million tonnes per year. However, according to market research company Ceresana...

“Today marks a historic milestone with the signing of the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement, creating the biggest trading block in the world. European business – represented by more than 28 associations across a wide range of sectors – warmly welcomes this signature. It sends a strong and timely signal that...

With effect from 1 January 2026, Markus Büngers has taken over the position of CEO of Hasco Hasenclever. Following the departure of the long-standing CEO, Christoph Ehrlich, in the summer of 2025, Thomas Karazmann initially assumed responsibility for managing the company and...

Kraton Corporation announced that its CEO, Marcello Boldrini, left the company. To ensure continuity, the Polymer and Pine Chemical businesses will be led by Kraton’s Business Presidents, Prakash Kolluri and Minco van Breevoort. Kraton’s Business Presidents, as well as other members of the Executive Team, will report...

The German sites of Domo Chemicals will be allowed to continue operating at a minimal level for the time being. The state of Saxony-Anhalt has ordered the continued operation of the production facilities in Leuna on public safety grounds. This means that an immediate shutdown of operations is off the table for now...

The European Petrochemical Association (EPCA) announced Ketan Joshi, President of the Intermediates Division at Basf, as new President of the EPCA Board of Directors. Ketan Joshi takes over from Richard Roudeix, President of Ventures EMEAI at LyondellBasell, who has...

Davis-Standard, a global leader in extrusion and converting technology, announced a significant strategic integration of its Canadian specialty brands. Effective January 1, 2026, Deacro Industries (slitting/rewinding), Brampton Engineering (blown film), and Gamma Machinery (bag machines/winders) have been...

CompoSecure completed its previously announced business combination with Husky and the combination creates a best-in-class, diversified compounder featuring two global market leaders with approx. 70% recurring revenues, high margins, and strong free cash flow generation...

Kevin Green is the new Managing Director of Netstal Inc. and President of Netstal Americas, based at the US headquarters in Hebron, Kentucky. He possesses over 25 years of experience as a leader in blue chip companies and small capitalization companies, in the...

AMI Market Intelligence, a business unit of Applied Market Information (AMI), has released a report on polyethylene markets in the Middle East and Africa (MEA). This report offers a comprehensive analysis of the market dynamics and competitive factors that are influencing the future of PE use in the region...

On 12 January 2026, Volker Nilles took up the position as Chief Executive Officer of Arburg. The appointment of the new CEO brings the top-level management team of the globally active Lossburg-based machine manufacturer to six people. In addition to Nilles, the other members of the Arburg management team are...

After 40 years, Ulrich Reifenhäuser is stepping down from his operational role as managing director of Reifenhäuser. The company announced this in a LinkedIn post, highlighting the dedication, commitment, passion and inspirational ability demonstrated by the...

Trelleborg Group, through its business area Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, has signed an agreement and finalized the acquisition of the Austrian company Nexus Elastomer Molds. The company provides advanced, customized tooling solutions and automated manufacturing cells, primarily for liquid silicone rubber...

Sabic has announced the signing of two strategic transactions to divest its European petrochemicals business to Aequita and its engineering thermoplastics business in the Americas and Europe to Mutares, for a total combined enterprise value of 950 million dollars. These transactions represent...

Plastics Europe, the pan-European trade association representing plastics manufacturers, has appointed Rob Ingram, CEO of Ineos Olefins & Polymers Europe, as its President, effective 1 January 2026. Ingram succeeds Benny Mermans, Vice President Sustainability at Chevron Phillips Chemical, and will...

The Plastics Industry Association and the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) have finalized the agreement announced in recent months and, effective 1 January 2026, have come together as a unified organization representing the entire plastics supply chain in North America...