Russian producers expand power cable production

Development of construction sector turned out to be a strong stimulus for low and middle voltage cable production expansion. At the same time, 110/220/330kV power cable production had been already been existing in the domestic market for a long time. Major volumes of 110-500kV cables were imported from NKT cables, Brugg cables, Nexans, Prysmian, Zud cables. However, domestic producers have been actively winning their market share by expanding power cable production (Kamkabel, Sevkabel etc.), recently.

Tatkabel, Invent group project, became an unbeatable investment leader in 2009 (over USD11 mln.). The plant is finishing installation of the equipment. One of the strategic goals of the company is to win a niche in the market of up to 330kV, including, power cables. Four lines were installed at the plant's production site: 2 Rosendahl Maschinen lines to make cables with PVC and PE shells; 2 Finland's Maillefer lines to make cables with cross-linked shells: one line for 10-20kV cables and the second one for 10-35kV cables. The plant is planning to produce 5670 km of all cable types annually.

Kirskabel and Sibkabel are also among investment leaders who use 110 and 15kV cable production lines, respectively.

MRC

Detailed analysis of events happened in the Russian polymers market in 2009 and development forecast for this market for 2010-2013 can be found in MRC Annual reports.

HORGEN (Dow) -- Dow Europe GmbH will implement a price increase of 120┬/mt for all PRIMACOR≥ copolymers sold in Europe.

The increase will be effective June 1, 2010, or as contract terms allow.

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.

(prw) -- United Polymers, the UK's largest supplier of Aquafil technopolymers, has gone from ⌠strength to strength since taking on the distribution of the Aquafil brand.

⌠We've increasing volume and customers, enhancing the Aquafil brand in the UK, said Raj Sanghera, managing director of United Polymers. ⌠Based on customer feedback, present users of Aquamid and Econyl materials are very happy with the service we provide.

⌠Anyone looking to source Aquafil materials is more than welcome to contact us.

MRC

(BusinessWeek) -- Qatar has signed an agreement with Royal Dutch Shell and China National Petroleum Corp. to jointly explore for and produce natural gas onshore and offshore Qatar, Shell said Monday.

The 30-year agreement calls for Shell and CNPC's PetroChina International to worth together in exploring for natural gas. Shell will hold a 75 percent share of the project, with CNPC holding the remaining 25 percent, Shell said in a statement.

The 8,089 square kilometer (3,123.17 sq. mile) "Block D" includes both offshore and onshore areas near Qatar's northern city of Ras Laffan.

If exploration succeeds, Shell and PetroChina will produce the natural gas under the supervision of Qatar Petroleum, the statement said.

MRC

LONDON (ICIS news)-- BP Refining and Petrochemicals (BPRP) has declared force majeure on propylene (C3) supplies from its PCK Schwedt, Germany, and Nerefco Rotterdam, Netherlands refineries, a company source said on Tuesday.

⌠The forces majeures were declared on Monday (17 May) the source said.

In a letter to its customers, BPRP said that a gas leak and resulting fire on 15 May had forced it to declare force majeure for the rest of May 2010 to its customers supplied from its PCK Schwedt fluid catalytic cracker (FCC).

The FCC had been down for planned maintenance since 7 April and had been due to restart around 6 May.

MRC