Frank Esposito

The M&A market was buoyed by companies such as Forvia trimming operations and by interest for companies to pick up units to balance their market share or improve a geographic footprint.

Two German financial firms — Mutares and Aequita — will take over the bulk of Sabic's plastics businesses in a deal announced in the first half of 2026.

Senior reporter Frank Esposito shared in the July Polymer Points Live that polyethylene prices could fall another 10 to 15 cents per pound as weak demand and high inventories outweigh higher oil prices.

July's resin price movements are a reflection of feedstock costs and lower demand.

LyondellBasell and Huntsman say artificial intelligence is helping speed product development and improve plastics and chemicals formulations.

Avient posted stronger second-quarter results as packaging demand remained robust and executives identified artificial intelligence infrastructure as a $2 billion long-term growth opportunity.

In this week’s Material Insights, Plastics News Senior Reporter Frank Esposito breaks down what’s driving the North American polyethylene market, examines the balance between inventories and demand, and shares his outlook for upcoming supplier pricing efforts.

Feedstock costs are prompting price changes for North American resin.

Plastics News Editor Don Loepp and senior reporter Frank Esposito discuss diverging commodity resin prices, as North American polypropylene fell in August while polystyrene resin rose, with costs for PGP monomer and benzene feedstock driving both moves.

Ritchie began the company in 1988 as a recycler of ABS. It now has 210 employees at multiple sites.