Lukoil is among top 250 energy companies of the world

(Lukoil) -- Lukoil ranked 5th among the oil and gas companies of Europe, Middle East and Africa, and placed 10th among the world's majors in the 2011 list of Top 250 Energy Companies' compiled by the American energy agency Platts. All companies were ranked by four main criteria: asset value, revenues, profits and return on invested capital. The valuation was performed based on Standard & Poor's database which is, like Platts, a unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

A year ago, in the 2010 list of Top 250 Energy Companies' by Platts, Lukoil placed 5th in Europe, Middle East and Africa, and was 10th in the world.

MRC

(PRNewswire) -- LyondellBasell Industries N.V. today announced that it is planning to issue an aggregate principal amount of up to $1.0 billion of senior notes due 2021 (the "notes") to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and to certain non-United States persons in offshore transactions in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act.

LyondellBasell intends to use the net proceeds from the offering of the notes, together with available cash, to pay a special dividend in the aggregate amount of up to approximately $2.6 billion. The notes are expected to be guaranteed on a senior basis by, subject to certain exceptions, each existing and future wholly owned United States subsidiary of the Company that is an issuer or co-issuer in respect of, or guarantees, any debt securities issued in the capital markets by the Company or any subsidiary.

MRC

SHANGHAI (ICIS)--KP Chemical, South Korea's largest polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle chip producer, is planning to raise the output at its 450,000 tonne/year plant in Ulsan from 80% to 100% next week because of improved market conditions, a company official said on Friday.
KP plans to increase its PET output after the decline in raw material purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and monoethylene glycol (MEG) prices eased an earlier squeeze on PET margins, the company official said.

The company reduced its plant's run rate in early October because of uncertain market conditions in the fourth quarter.
Average spot PTA prices were at $1,145/tonne (┬824/tonne) CFR (cost & freight) China for the week ended 28 October, down by 4% from early October. Spot MEG prices dropped to $1,165/tonne CFR China for the same week, down by 5.5% from early October, ICIS data showed.

⌠Even though PET prices are declining, raw material prices are falling even faster, the company official said. ⌠Margins for PET are starting to see some recovery.
The average spot price for bottle grade PET was at $1,550/tonne FOB (free on board) Korea for the week ended 28 October, down by 6.1% from early October, ICIS data showed. PET has been falling since the middle of September, when the average spot price was at $1,730/tonne FOB Korea.
⌠When there is a sharp downturn in feedstock prices, there is a short-term improvement in margins, said a southeast Asian PET maker. ⌠The lower prices also help to boost demand.

MRC

(DSM) -- Because of continual increases in the cost of key raw materials, DSM Engineering Plastics will increase prices by at least 10% for their Arnitel and Arnite products. This will be effective from 1 November 2011 and apply on a global basis.

While DSM Engineering Plastics continues to pursue and implement cost saving initiatives, targeted at absorbing the impact of the raw material price changes, this additional increase is necessary to ensure the sustainable long-term growth of the company.

Ute Schick, Global Business Director Arnitel & Arnite, says: ⌠Within the strategy of DSM Engineering Plastics we are strongly committed to Innovation and Sustainability. We will continue to work in close partnership with our customers and be different because of new and greener products. DSM is passionate about playing a leading role in the change from a fossil fuel dependent economy to a more sustainable, bio-based one. An example of this is Arnitel ECO which is a unique addition to our Arnitel TPE family.

MRC

(Azelis) -- Azelis has extended their distribution agreement with SO.F.TER. Tecnopolimeri, Italian supplier of Engineering Plastics and Thermoplastic Elastomers. Building upon our excellent partnership with SO.F.TER through existing sales in France, Benelux, Italy, Nordic and CEE, the new agreement now includes Spain.

To help support this major highlight, Adrian Blakemore was appointed as Sales Manager - Azelis Plastic Polymers for Spain in June.

The new activities in Spain centre on supply to the automotive, domestic appliance and rail sectors, with speciality materials ranging from technical reinforced polyamide, polypropylene and polyester grades fulfilling the needs of converters serving some of the most demanding industries.

MRC