Borouge starts commercial production in Ruwais

(plastemart) -- Borouge has started operations at key units - ethane cracker and polyethylene plant of the US$5 bln, phase two expansion of its facility at Ruwais. This 1.5 mln tpa cracker is the world's biggest ethane cracker, and will take 12 to 18 months to ramp up production to full capacity. Borouge is also starting the biggest olefins conversion unit of 750,000 tons, converting ethylene to propylene. Two polypropylene plants, with 400,000 tpa capacity, are part of the second-phase expansion project and will be started up in the next few months. The expansion will bring the company's total production capacity to two mln tpa.

MRCMRC Reference

Borealis. The share in the Russian market in 2008:

polyethylene - 4.1% (including HDPE - 4.7%, LLDPE - 8.7%);
polypropylene - 3.2% (PP-impact - 7.5%).

Annual sales growth in Russia over the last 5 years:
polyethylene - 11%;
polypropylene - 6%.

Leader in polymers processing technologies:
extrusion coating;
cable extrusion;
injection molding.

SIBUR declared being the best branch exporter

MOSCOW (SIBUR) - SIBUR and its associate companies SIBUR-mineral fertilizers and SIBUR - Russian tyres became winners of competition The best Russian exporter - 2009 in Chemical industry (inorganic chemistry), Chemical industry (organic chemistry), Petrochemical industry nominations.



The competition being under Industry and Trading Department aegis was held among 16 main industry branches in terms of state export support. Winners were defined on the basis of figures of consolidated exporting reports of organisations. Methods of grade include size of export margin, export share in total volume of company's shippings, export dynamics in concerned period comparing with the previous one, range width, quantity of international clients and representative offices and other external economic business figures. Winners will receive special badges and honourable certificates.



MRCMRC Reference

Sibur Holding is the largest Russian petrochemical group.

Shareholders:
Gazprombank (70% minus 1 share);
Gazfond (25% plus 1 share);
5% reserved for option program.


Petkim to build new refinery with 10 million tonnes/year capacity

(Reuters) -- Turkish petrochemical company Petkim said in a filing with the stock exchange that the energy market regulator EPDK awarded permission for the construction of a refinery with 10 million tonnes/year capacity by Petkim.

Launch of a new plant in Turkey should raise Turkish exports quotes and may promote future contracts with converters and traders from CIS countries. No terms of construction or value of investments have been announced yet.

MRC

Techmer PM purchases BASF additives business

LUDWIGSHAFEN (BASF) -- BASF yesterday announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its hydrophilic melt additives business to Techmer PM, LLC, a manufacturer of colors and additives for the plastics and fiber industries located in Clinton, Tennessee, USA. The hydrophilic melt additives are currently marketed under the brand name Irgasurf HL. Both companies have agreed not to disclose financial details of the transaction.

⌠In the course of the integration of the former Ciba Plastic Additives business we have analyzed our combined offering to the plastics industry and have decided that the Irgasurf HL products do not fit our strategic scope, explained Soeren Hildebrandt, Vice President Global Strategic Management and New Business Development in the Performance Chemicals Division.

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.


Solvay SA looses BSZ purchase contest

(RBC-Daily) -- Belgian concern Solvay SA, which was waiting for several months for the permission of Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) to purchase Bereznikovsky Sodovy Zavod (BSZ - Berezniki Soda Factory), didn't obtain the deal. Last Friday the plant was bought by ⌠Bashhim associates, which has also obtained FAS permission together with Belgian company.

According to official Kaustik Ltd. (⌠Bashhim associated) data, On June 4 this year the company became an owner of almost 97% of BSZ stocks. Kaustik's documents witness that value of the deal formed about EUR 133,81 mln., which colud be change in respect to BSZ work in the first half of 2010. The first EUR 60 mln. Payment has already been done. The rest will be paid during next three years. Sberbank has opened credits for Kaustik under average 12% per annum

MRC