EPS import to Ukraine increased by 36% over the seven months

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Over January-July 2011, the EPS imports to Ukraine increased by 36% year on year, according to MRC DataScope.

Since the year start, trading companies have been increasing EPS import expecting consumption growth in April-May. But the low demand for finished products made of EPS forced suppliers to reconsider their plans. In June - July, the volume of deliveries decreased compared to May figures. In July, the main share (55%) of foreign EPS still fell at Loyal products.

The most popular grades were F-MS and F-SA (Loyal). The supply of those grades in January-July made 4.2 KT and 1.6 KT respectively.

The price reduced by the European producer Dwory for June - July shipment made its products more attractive for Ukrainian buyers. Among Dwory's grades assortment the leaders are FS0513 and FS0816, while the supply of FS0308 and FS1325 grades have decreased greatly.

A significant increase in Chinese EPS prices in July, amid more stable European products, can change the structure of consumption in the Ukrainian market in the nearest future.

MRC

(SOCAR) -- In July 2011, 2 million 856 thousand 326 tons of Azerbaijani oil were transported via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline. 19 million 867 thousand 408 tons of oil were transported through this pipeline during January-July 2011. The transportation via BTC has made up 163 million 423 thousand 350 tons of Azerbaijani oil since the moment of its operation until August 1, 2011. Besides, 191 thousand 494 tons of Turkmen oil was transported via BTC during July.

MRC

(CRIENGLISH) -- Authorities in east China's Dalian city will decide whether to relocate a petrochemical project following fears of toxic spill sparked by a dike breach earlier this week.

Sea waves whipped up by tropical storm Muifa off the coast of northeast China's Liaoning Province broke a dike in the Jinshan Industrial Zone in Dalian on Monday and threatened to hit the Fujia chemical plant just 50 meters behind the dike.

The two breaches, which measured at least 20 to 30 meters long each, were later temporarily blocked, but there was still fear that the strong waves might wash away the loosely piled rocks and breach the dike again. Trucks dumped rocks and concrete to reinforce the newly repaired parts, Xinhua News Agency said in an earlier report.

The Fujia chemical plant is a producer of paraxylene, a carcinogenic petrochemical used to create raw materials for the production of polyester film and fabrics.

Residents in nearby areas were evacuated, and plant employees transported the toxic chemicals from the tanks near the dike.

Dalian Mayor Li Wancai said at a meeting on Tuesday that the dike breaches had been blocked and no chemical spills had occurred, Xinhua reported. The government will form a team to investigate the breach incident and hold those responsible to account, Li said.

MRC

(GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TPC Group Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has approved funding for the next phase of engineering to produce on-purpose butadiene, targeting the restart of its second dehydrogenation asset at the Company's Houston plant, coupled with construction of a TPC Group OXO-DTM production unit.

These assets would produce butadiene for the North American marketplace in order to meet growing market demand and address the structural shortage of supply caused by the shift from heavier to lighter cracker feedslates. This engineering phase is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter 2012. Normal butane, a natural gas liquid whose production volumes continue to increase as a result of U.S. shale gas development, has been selected as the primary feedstock.

Utilization of the TPC Group OXO-DTM technology allows highly efficient on-purpose butadiene production, and is expected to yield up to 600 million pounds per year of product with this project and to have the capability to expand as needed through additional phases as the market grows.

MRC

(Plastemart) -- Kraton Performance Polymers (Kraton) Formosa Petrochemical Corporation (FPCC) hae inked an agreement for a 50:50 joint venture to construct and operate a 30 kiloton hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer HSBC plant, to be located in Mailiao, Taiwan. The plant will be operated by the joint venture and Kraton will undertake the global marketing of all products manufactured at the facility. This is subject to the completion of the necessary definitive agreements.

The agreement establishes a framework between Kraton and FPCC governing all commercial, operational, technical and management aspects of the planned joint venture company. The paper work will be finalized by end of 2011 and the plant operations will in the H2-2013. The cost of the plant is currently expected to range from USD 165-200 mln.

MRC