China's import of petrochemical products mostly declined in May

(ICIS) -- China's import volumes of petrochemical products mostly declined in May as domestic demand continued to shrink, industry sources said on Monday.


Its naphtha imports fell 29% year on year to 107.201 tonnes, while propylene imports only reached 73,580 tonnes, down 32% compared to the same period last year, according to data from China Customs.


The country took in 55% less butadiene (BD) product in May at 7,269 tonnes from the previous corresponding period because of rising import prices, according to the data.

Its benzene imports were halved to 11,745 tonnes, while toluene imports fell by more than quarter to 47,194 tonnes, official data showed.

MRC

Spot polypropylene prices 8% fell for July cargoes in the Middle East

(ICIS) -- Spot polypropylene (PP) prices have tumbled by around $140/tonne, an 8% fall for July cargoes in the Middle East from June, as producers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region slashed offers after the recent price fall in the China market, industry sources said on Tuesday.


On Tuesday, prices for PP raffia were discussed at USD 1.510-1.530/tonne (EUR 1.057-1.071/tonne) DEL (delivered) Dubai and at USD 1.470-1.480/tonne DEL Saudi Arabia, regional players said.


PP prices have fallen by nearly 12% since a downturn began in mid-May from a 10-month high.
GCC producers have had to reduce offers in a bid to attract buyers in a bearish market, and to reduce mounting inventories.


Regional makers said that they had no plans to reduce operating rates, but instead aimed to seek more outlets for their products, such as Africa.


MRC

Lotte Pakistan PTA focuses on plant expansion

(Plastemart) -- Lotte Pakistan PTA Ltd is currently focusing on expansion of its plant with an investment of USD 400 mln to serve the domestic market, as well as the export market. 40% of the company's output will go towards exports, as per Pakistan Observer. Lotte Pakistan's USD 490 mln is the single largest foreign direct investment to date in Pakistan's petrochemical industry. The company is seeking incentives including rationalized tariff rates, tax holiday before going into expansion. Besides expansion of the project, Lotte is also mulling plans to invest in Hydero Power generation, setting up a Mango Processing Plant in Pakistan.


Currently, the company produces Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA), an essential raw material for Pakistan's textile and PET packaging industries and forms the backbone of the polyester chain, including Polyester Staple Fibre, Filament Yarn and PET (bottle grade) resin. In addition to its own manufacturing facilities, the Company has helped create a large infrastructure network at the Port Qasim vicinity, which includes a chemical jetty, raw water pipeline and manufacture of industrial gases through third party contracts. It has therefore been a trendsetter in industrial investment in Pakistan.


MRC

US ethylene margins slump 13%

(ICIS) -- US ethylene margins fell by 13% last week after weakening demand pushed spot prices sharply lower, ICIS margin reports showed on Monday. Ethylene margins fell to 30.31 cents/lb (USD 0668/tonne, EUR 474/tonne) last week, from 34.96 cents/lb a week earlier, using ethane as a feedstock.


The average US ethylene spot price dropped by 8% in the week ended 24 June, pressured by softer demand and a drop in derivative prices, market sources said.


Ethylene for June traded at 57.50-63.00 cents/lb, down from 65.25-66.00 cents/lb a week ago, while July ethylene traded at 56.50-63.00 cents/lb, down from 64.25-65.50 cents/lb in the previous week.


The slump in spot prices last week reflected weaker demand for polyethylene (PE) in both the domestic and export markets, sources said, adding that some PE producers were actually selling ethylene instead of PE.


MRC

Solvay to invest EUR 120 mln in a plant

(Plastemart) -- Solvay is to invest around EUR 120 mln in a plant to produce Solef Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF), Tecnoflon, Fluoroelastomers (FKM) and their monomer VF2 in China. The plant, to be located at Changshu in Jiangsu province, will become operational at the beginning of 2014, and meet Asia's growing demand.


"This new production plant will enable Solvay to capture a part of the huge growth potential in this region," said Solvay plastics sector group general manager Jacques van Rijckevorsel. "We'll bring our customers more value-added polymers which will help them improve their environmental footprint and sustainability profile."


MRC