Ineos Nova sold out of Europe polystyrene for April

LONDON (ICIS news)--Ineos Nova has sold out of European polystyrene (PS) for April and is already reporting a strong order book for May, Pierre Minguet, business director for PS, said on Tuesday.

⌠Demand is increasing, particularly in XPS [expanded PS]. Things are not super rosy but they are definitely improving and the order book for May is already strong today, he said. ⌠We will be able to supply all our customers, but availability is tight, he added.

The current styrene spot price was leading to some concern among PS producers who had earlier been expecting a rollover for the styrene contract in May. ⌠We now think we might be facing an increase in May [styrene], said another major PS producer, ⌠and this will inevitably translate into higher prices for PS.

One major PS buyer said that it would probably have to accept an increase if the May styrene contract rose, as supply in the PS market had been matched with demand for many months, and that there was limited room for negotiation.

MRCMRC Reference

Ineos is a petrochemical group.
In Russia Ineos's interests are represented by Ineos Polyolefins and IneosChlorVinyls.

The share in the Russian market in 2008:
PVC - 4.5%;

polyethylene - 1.9%
(HDPE - 2.8%, LDPE - 1.2%);
polypropylene - 1.4%
(PP-random - 22.1%, PP-impact - 2.0%);
polystyrene - 0.9%.

Imports by polymers processing technologies:
profile extrusion;
pipe extrusion;
film extrusion;
injection molding.

(DuPont) -- DuPont reported first quarter 2010 earnings per share (EPS) and increased 2010 guidance, reflecting improving volumes in all segments and all regions.

DuPont's first-quarter 2010 earnings per share were $1.24, compared to $.54 in 2009. Sales were $8.5 billion, up 23% versus 2009. This reflects 19% higher volume, 2% higher local selling prices, a 3% benefit from currency and a 1% reduction from portfolio changes.

⌠Our intense focus on customers, sustained R&D investments and productivity improvements are delivering growth, said DuPont Chair and CEO Ellen Kullman. ⌠Macro trends drove first-quarter demand for our science-based innovations, and DuPont was ready. The actions taken last year are benefiting the company as we emerge stronger in 2010.

MRC

(prw) -- Leading Polish PVC profile, window and door manufacturer Dobroplast is expanding production with plans for a new plant in the industrial zone of Lublin, Poland.

The company, which already runs two plants in Poland and another in Lviv, Ukraine, intends to invest more than ┬2m to establish a facility with a production hall, warehousing and 10,000 m2 of office space.

The company has received the green light to operate in the Euro-Park Mielec special economic zone and is acquiring a 4,672 hectare site in the Lublin sub zone. Its planned unit is scheduled to create around 70 new jobs.

MRC

NEW YORK (omnexus) -- BASF has introduced an innovative epoxy resin systems, called Baxxodur╝ for highly resilient, fiber-reinforced components and coatings for rotor blades. The longevity of these wind energy plants is a key factor in improving the economic efficiency of wind power as a climate-friendly source of energy.

Rotor blades need to be very tough and weather resistant to survive operating times of 20 years. Modern rotor blades are made of glass or carbon fiber mats bonded with epoxy resin systems to give them strength. "Basically, this works on the same principle as a two-component adhesive. The first component consists of synthetically manufactured resins and the second is the hardener, or curing agent. When mixed together, they crosslink with each other," explained Dr. Gregor Daun, Head of the BASF Team for Development and Marketing of Epoxy Systems for Composites.

The manufacturing process for large rotor blades can be speeded up significantly using this product. To ensure that the molds for the blades are filled completely and quickly, the hardener initially reacts slowly. When warmed after filling the mold, the hardening rate increases, leaving the mold free more rapidly to produce the next blade. This allows rotor blade manufacturers to speed up this process step by as much as 30 percent. The time saving also reduces manufacturing costs while simultaneously increasing production output, making electricity generation by wind power more cost effective and even more competitive. This innovative system has been approved by certification agencies for wind energy plants, including Germanischer Lloyd AG.

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.

Dioctyl phthalate production capacities were suspended for repairs by Salavatnefteorgsyntez from April 11 to May 16. Seasonal elevation of demand for plasticizers in soft PVC-composites production sector and shutdown for maintenance of the biggest producer have led to deficit in the domestic market. Price for dioctyl phthalate made in Roshalsk plant starts from RUB65.000/mt, VAT included, FCA.

Tight plasticizers market could have been compensated by the other Russian producers, in particular, Ural chemical plant. However, in April - May supply of diethyl hexanol, one of two key material sources, is limited in Russian market. At the same time it is highly possible that Salavatnefteorgsyntez will earlier resume dioctyl phthalate production.

Deficit in Russian dioctyl phthalate market traditionally appears when Salavat capacities are suspended. Salavatnefteorgsyntez is the biggest Russian plasticizers production, the capacity forms about 36.000 tpa. Monthly dyoctyl phthalate supply into the domestic market forms average 2.9 kt. Suspension essentially reflects on Russian market balance.

MRC