PT Pertamina to collaborate with petrochemical companies to produce naphta, reduce dependence on imports

April 7 (plastemart) -- In a move that will help Indonesia reduce its dependence on foreign refineries to produce naphtha (crucial as feedstock for high octane gasoline), state oil and gas firm PT Pertamina will collaborate with domestic and foreign petrochemical producers. The joint forces will construct three refineries within 10 years as part of a US$15 bln mega project. Each refinery is estimated to cost up to US$5 bln and will have a total combined capacity of 900,000 bpd of naphtha.

The first project will commence this year for a refinery in Cilegon, Banten. The partners for the project comprise PT Chandra Asri, Malaysia's PT Titan Petrochemical, PT Trans Pacific Petrochemical Industry, PT Tri Polyta and PT Polytama Propindo. The other two new refineries will be built in East Kalimantan's Bontang and East Java's Tuban. Indonesia's number one ethylene maker Chandra Asri has a long term plan to invest US$2 bln on expansion of its oil refinery unit, including US$1 bln on a naphtha cracking unit.

MRC

April 7 (k-online.de) -- High Performance Polymers Business Line of Evonik Industries AG, Germany, will raise prices of their product ranges VESTAMID, VESTOSINT, VESTAMELT, TROGAMID and VESTENAMER by an average of 7%, depending on region and product type. Customers will be informed of specific price increases by their regional representatives. The increase will become effective May 1, 2010.

Furthermore High Performance Polymers will raise prices for the C8 and C12 monomers by 12% at the same date.

The last months increases in raw material prices and transports have forced Evonik to take this decision because they reached a level that cannot be compensated by improved profitability of processes.

MRC

April 7 (marketwatch) -- W. R. Grace & Co. today announced a new multi-year agreement to supply polypropylene catalysts to Borealis AG, a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The catalysts are used in the production of polypropylene, a plastic polymer that is a versatile substitute for wood, metal, glass and other plastics. Grace polypropylene catalysts are used to make specialty plastics for applications in automobile parts, household appliances and consumer product packaging.

"This agreement is a reflection of our ongoing strategic direction to expand into the polypropylene catalyst segment through greater collaboration with a technology leader," remarked Tony Dondero, Vice President and General Manager of Grace Davison Specialty Catalysts and Process Technologies. "We are working together to meet the growing demands for this versatile polymer."

"Borealis is an established industry innovator and we are extremely pleased to continue to expand our relationship," commented Greg Poling, Vice President of W. R. Grace & Co. and President of Grace Davison. "We look forward to developing new and next generation catalyst technologies and greater manufacturing capabilities with them."

MRC

MRC Reference

Borealis. The share in the Russian market in 2008:

polyethylene - 4.1% (including HDPE - 4.7%, LLDPE в─⌠ 8.7%);
polypropylene в─⌠ 3.2% (PP-impact - 7.5%).

Annual sales growth in Russia over the last 5 years:
polyethylene - 11%;
polypropylene в─⌠ 6%.

Leader in polymers processing technologies:
extrusion coating;
cable extrusion;
injection molding.

April 7 (PlastEurope) -- European vinyl manufacturer SolVin (Brussels / Belgium) has launched its "Award for PVC Innovation" for the fourth time. Once again, special prizes will be awarded for Recycling and Industrial Design. Entries can be submitted for innovative products, processes or concepts that have been in the development phase at least since 1 January 2008, or are already on the market. The winners will be presented with their awards during a ceremony at the Plastics Fair "K 2010" (27 October until 3 November 2010) in Dusseldorf / Germany. The prizes are worth a total of EUR 100,000.

The competition is targeted above all at plastics processors, additive suppliers, machine manufacturers, buyers, service providers and end-users. Applications can be submitted until 30 April 2010.

MRC

The fall of Belarusian LDPE import (-63%) appeared to be the most significant. The malfunction in the work of Byelorussian petroleum refineries, caused by changes in Russian oil supply terms, happened at the beginning of the year.

In February a significant reduction of PE supply from Russia was observed. LDPE deficit in Russian market has led to decrease of material import into more than in two times in comparing with January 2010.

Lack of imports from Russia and Belarus was covered by Ukrainian companies by increasing the supplies from Europe. In February LDPE import from Europe improved more than in 1.5 times in comparing with January 2010.

MRC

More information about PE market is presented in company's DataScope reports.