US Myriant and Japan's Sojitz agreed partnership for the distribution of biobased succinic acid

(PlastEurope) -- US biochemical producer Myriant Corp (Quincy, Massachusetts) and Japan's Sojitz Corp (Tokyo) have agreed a sales and marketing partnership for the distribution of biobased succinic acid in Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan. The biobased succinic acid will be used in applications such as plasticizers, polymers, urethanes and solvents. Sojitz also announced plans to build a commercial biobased derivatives plant, which is scheduled to come online in 2015.


The companies said the distribution agreement combines Myriant's biobased succinic acid manufacturing strengths with Sojitz's strong market presence. Sojitz has more than 25 sales offices throughout Asia. ⌠The combination of Sojitz's sales and marketing as well as their intent to expand our production capacity were the twin catalysts for this agreement, stated Stephen Gatto, Myriant's chairman and CEO.


Perspectives of development of polymer markets, pricing issues and other important aspects will be discussed at The Polymers Summit-2011, which will be held in Moscow on November 30, 2011 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The Summit will be organized by MRC with the support of ICIS. The main idea of the Summit is to find a "the golden mean" between producers and converters. When producers receive exactly such margin of production, which helps them to invest in production expansion in order to substitute polymers imports, and the converters receive such price of feedstock that helps them to compete imported finished products. The Summit site gives an access to the live video of the Summit, speakers" presentations, as well as opportunities to ask questions or make appointments to any Summit partcipant.


MRC

Greiner Packaging Switzerland appointed its new CEO

(PlastEurope) -- Greiner Packaging Switzerland, subsidiary of Greiner Packaging International (GPI, Kremsmunster / Austria), has appointed Tobias Strasser as its new CEO to succeed Andreas Frank on 1 January 2012. Frank will remain as CEO of the Greiner Group in Switzerland, which in addition to Greiner Packaging includes Rundpack and the Greiner Packaging Holding. In future, Frank also will oversee the group's west European operations as well as assuming other group management functions. At ⌠Division K, Strasser will be succeeded by Kenneth Boldog.


Perspectives of development of polymer markets, pricing issues and other important aspects will be discussed at The Polymers Summit-2011, which will be held in Moscow on November 30, 2011 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The Summit will be organized by MRC with the support of ICIS. The main idea of the Summit is to find a "the golden mean" between producers and converters. When producers receive exactly such margin of production, which helps them to invest in production expansion in order to substitute polymers imports, and the converters receive such price of feedstock that helps them to compete imported finished products. The Summit site gives an access to the live video of the Summit, speakers" presentations, as well as opportunities to ask questions or make appointments to any Summit partcipant.


MRC

BP signed a framework agreement for the construction of PTA plant

(ICIS) -- UK oil giant BP has signed a framework contract agreement with the Zhuhai municipal government in China for the construction of a $600m (┬432m) purified terephthalic acid (PTA) plant in Guangdong province - the company's third at the site, a government source said on Monday. The agreement on the 1.25m tonne/year plant was signed on Sunday, the government source said. BP's joint venture with Chinese conglomerate Zhuhai Fuhua Group - BP Zhuhai - will operate the plant. BP holds an 85% stake in the joint venture company, while Zhuhai Fuhua holds the remaining 15%. BP officials could not be reached for comment on the project.


The third plant will increase BP Zhuhai's total PTA capacity 2.95m tonnes/year, making the Zhuhai municipality one of the world's biggest production bases for the chemical, the government source said.


BP's PTA project is still subject to the approval of National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), which oversees and approves infrastructure investments in China, the source from the Zhuhai local government said.


Perspectives of development of polymer markets, pricing issues and other important aspects will be discussed at The Polymers Summit-2011, which will be held in Moscow on November 30, 2011 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The Summit will be organized by MRC with the support of ICIS. The main idea of the Summit is to find a "the golden mean" between producers and converters. When producers receive exactly such margin of production, which helps them to invest in production expansion in order to substitute polymers imports, and the converters receive such price of feedstock that helps them to compete imported finished products. The Summit site gives an access to the live video of the Summit, speakers" presentations, as well as opportunities to ask questions or make appointments to any Summit partcipant.


MRC

BASF is participating in the EU-supported research project BIONEXGEN

(BASF) -- BASF is participating in the EU-supported research project BIONEXGEN (Next Generation of Biocatalysts). └BIONEXGEN brings together 17 partners from industry and academia who share the common goal of developing a new generation of biocatalysts for more sustainable production processes in the chemical industry, said project leader Prof. Nicholas J. Turner, Director of the Centre of Excellence in Biocatalysis, Biotransformations and Biocatalytic Manufacture (CoEBio3) at the University of Manchester. BASF with its decades-long experience in White Biotechnology is taking part in research activities on new biocatalytic amine syntheses and on the use of enzymes for the synthesis of functional polymers from renewable feedstock.


In one of the working groups of the EU project, BASF and its partners are searching for more efficient ways to produce amines using biocatalysts. Amines are important for many industries and have a broad spectrum of applications including fine chemicals, plastics, and agricultural products. The use of enzymes can make the production of these chemicals easier.


Perspectives of development of polymer markets, pricing issues and other important aspects will be discussed at The Polymers Summit-2011, which will be held in Moscow on November 30, 2011 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The Summit will be organized by MRC with the support of ICIS. The main idea of the Summit is to find a "the golden mean" between producers and converters. When producers receive exactly such margin of production, which helps them to invest in production expansion in order to substitute polymers imports, and the converters receive such price of feedstock that helps them to compete imported finished products. The Summit site gives an access to the live video of the Summit, speakers" presentations, as well as opportunities to ask questions or make appointments to any Summit partcipant.


MRC

US butadiene prices should rebound in 2012 after sharp fall

(ICIS) -- US butadiene prices should rebound in 2012 after falling sharply since the last of the third quarter, TPC Group CEO Mike McDonnell said on Friday. However, destocking will continue through the rest of 2011, as companies push for a minimal amount of inventory for the end of the year, McDonnell said during the company's third quarter earnings conference call. McDonnell said it is doubtful that the soft market and low prices will be an issue a few months into 2012.


Many of TPC's customers have indicated a more optimistic outlook for 2012. For example, two tyre manufacturers have planned significant building or expansion plans because they forecast an increased demand for tyres, McDonnell said. BD is a key component in styrene butadiene rubber, which is used to manufacture tyres.


He also said when BD prices fell in 2009 to 45 cents/lb ($992/tonne, ┬734/tonne), it rebounded to an average price of 84 cents/lb in 2010. He believes a rebound is in the future for BD again in 2012.
Additionally, there are five ethylene crackers with a planned maintenance turnaround in the first and second quarters of 2012 that will reduce supply on a temporary basis and should drive up the cost of BD, McDonnell said.


Perspectives of development of polymer markets, pricing issues and other important aspects will be discussed at The Polymers Summit-2011, which will be held in Moscow on November 30, 2011 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The Summit will be organized by MRC with the support of ICIS. The main idea of the Summit is to find a "the golden mean" between producers and converters. When producers receive exactly such margin of production, which helps them to invest in production expansion in order to substitute polymers imports, and the converters receive such price of feedstock that helps them to compete imported finished products. The Summit site gives an access to the live video of the Summit, speakers" presentations, as well as opportunities to ask questions or make appointments to any Summit partcipant.


MRC