Estimated PVC consumption up 31% in Russia

PVC-S output in January - February exceeded the same index of the previous year by 19%, and moved at 95.03 kt. Nearly all feedstock volumes were shipped to the domestic market. Only 40 tons of resin were exported in January - February.

Awaiting drop in PVC-S supply, many converters began to build up stocks already at the end of March. In February consumption in window profile and vinyl siding sectors increased. Stronger demand was also observed in the sector of PVC compounds. Plans of Sayanskkhimplast and Kaustik to suspended operations for scheduled maintenance in May turned out to be an additional reason for converters to build up stocks.

Despite continuously weak demand for finished goods made of PVC, importers increased feedstock supply in Russia in February. Suspension imports went up by 65%, comparing with January, and moved at 10.83 kt.

MRC

More detailed information about PVC market can be found in MRC Monthly reports.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Cereplast, Inc., a leading manufacturer of proprietary bio-based, sustainable plastics, today announced the launch of the new investor relations platform of the Company's website.

"Cereplast's new investor relations section shows that the Company is making continuous efforts to promote its brand and better communicate with investors and the analyst community," said Mr. Frederic Scheer, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Cereplast, Inc. "Cereplast's new investor relations page offers improved functionality and features that allow users to obtain a better understanding of the Company's strategic vision while granting easy access to detailed financial information about the Company."

The new investor relations section on the Company's website developed by shareholder.com, a NASDAQ OMX company, offers better navigation and provides visitors with user-friendly information in a variety of downloadable and printable formats. The website also allows visitors to register and receive the latest information about the Company, enhancing the Company's transparency and responsiveness to investors.

MRC

(prw) -- Korean additives and materials company Songwon Industrial has strengthened its customer support in the UK and Ireland by appointing Elastomerics as the distributor of its polymer stabilisers portfolio. ⌠The UK and Ireland is one of our core European markets and demand for Songwon products continues to strengthen said Dieter Morath, executive vice-president EMEA/SEA, Songwon International.

⌠Elastomerics will allow us to offer customers experienced and highly skilled support. Their knowledge of the market and products extends beyond additives and they have built a reputation based on technical capability and quality of service. Gordon Cook, managing director of Elastomerics, added: ⌠Our partnership with Songwon is of tremendous value to both of us. More importantly, it will deliver greater value to customers.

MRC

(Dow Jones)--Market speculation was rising Monday that Germany-based BASF SE (BAS.XE) will make a bid for German specialty chemicals company Cognis GmbH, a combination that analysts say makes sense.

Two people familiar with the matter told Dow Jones Newswires Friday that BASF has resumed talks to acquire Cognis, which is owned by Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) and private equity fund Permira Advisors Ltd. They said Cognis' owners are also in early-stage talks with other potential bidders, but that none of the interested parties is expected to make immediate bids.

MRCMRC Reference

BASF. The share in the Russian market in 2008:
PS - 9.1% (GPPS - 5.9%, ABS - 11.4%, EPS - 10.6%).

Annual sales growth in Russia over the 5 years:
PS - 15%.

Imports by polymers processing technologies:
foaming;
injection molding.

(Plastics News) -- Dow Chemical Co. has donated 600,000 pounds of its Continuum high density polyethylene to produce WaterBrick International Inc.'s plastic containers that will be used to transport clean water to areas of Haiti, and potentially also be used to build more than 400 individual structures. Midland-based Dow and its employees have made other donations in the wake of the January earthquake that killed more than 200,000 and left an estimated 1 million people without homes.

WaterBrick, an Orlando, Fla.-based company, is out to help provide water and the material for shelter with its blow molded containers. The HDPE bottles will be filled with clean water and distributed in Haiti, the company said in an April 8 news release. After they're empty, the bottles are designed so they can be filled with dirt, interlinked and stacked like concrete blocks to create homes, schools and other buildings.

WaterBrick estimates that Dow's donated resin will make more than 250,000 containers ≈ enough to build 460 12-foot-by-12-foot structures or 370 20-foot-by-20-foot buildings.

MRCMRC Reference

Share in the Russian market, 2008:

polyethylene - 2.5% (including LLDPE - 33.1%);

polypropylene - 0.8% (including PP-impact - 1.1%);

polystyrene - 2.6%.

Annual sales growth in Russia, recent 5 years:

polyethylene - 55%;

polypropylene - 28%;

polystyrene - 2%.

Imports by processing technologies:

pipe extrusion;

film extrusion;

sheet extrusion;

foaming.