Iran to export petrol from next March

(isna.ir)-- Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Alireza Zeighami said the country would start petrol export from next March.

"Iran is not exporting gas presently due to its local needs, but it only sells light and heavy naphtha since it is improving its reserves," he told ISNA.
He continued Iran exported two consignments of petrol from last March, but it has continued only exporting naphtha since then. "Now our petrol consumption exceeds our production, but petrol production will become more than its consumption by March and we will be able to export the product." Zeighami noted Iran is producing 60 million liters of petrol daily and the amount would hit 73 million liters by March 2012.

Iran is under 4 rounds of the UN Security Council resolutions over its refusal to halt peaceful enrichment work. Iran however insists its nuclear enrichment only aims to generate power and meet medical needs.
The sanctions mainly target Iran's energy and banking sectors as well as industrial domains. However Iran says that it has managed to bypass sanctions and obtain self-sufficiency in the domain of petrol production.


The Polymers Summit ICIS-MRC - 2011 has started today, on Nov, 30 in the Ritz-Carlton Moscow. The main topics of the reports were devoted to the development of petrochemical market and the strategy in the market of base polymers as well as launching new polymer productions.


MRC

Fresh Russian naphtha stream to reach Europe in 2012

(Reuters) -- A stream of Russian naphtha from the port of Svetly has been awarded to Royal Dutch Shell , potentially directing a steady supply of the refined fuel to Europe throughout 2012, traders said on Tuesday.

The term contract was for up to three shipments a month of around 12,500 tonnes of Russian naphtha from the port of Svetly. Traders said the cargoes would end up in Europe because smaller vessels limit the opportunity for arbitrage play.

Continued appetite for term contracts for the supply of naphtha, an indicator of industrial demand, is in contrast with a glum outlook demand ahead, as traders contemplate the prospect of another recession in major European economies.

Trading house Trafigura will also be in a position to direct streams of Russian naphtha to Europe, having recently won new term contracts with Russia's TNK BP for 2012, following similar deals with the Russian refiner this year.
Traders said three streams of the refined product to the terminal of Murmansk had been secured by Trafigura, amounting up to 115,000 tonnes per month.

Naphtha prices are languishing this winter as moderate temperatures help keep rival feedstock propane at a deep discount, and refining margins for gasoline have fallen into negative territory.
Russian demand for naphtha has tapered off in line with the end of the driving season which has increased the volume of naphtha available, also helping to depress prices in Europe.


The Polymers Summit ICIS-MRC - 2011 has started today, on Nov, 30 in the Ritz-Carlton Moscow. The main topics of the reports were devoted to the development of petrochemical market and the strategy in the market of base polymers as well as launching new polymer productions.


MRC

The Polymers Summit ICIS-MRC - 2011 has started today

(MRC) -- The Polymers Summit ICIS-MRC - 2011 has started today, on Nov, 30 in the Ritz-Carlton Moscow.
The major players in the polymer market in Russia and abroad, including representatives of Nizhnekamskneftechem, Sibur, Lukoil, Sayanskchemplast, Dow, Borealis, SABIC, Centropolymer, Biaxplen, Vinmar, Titan, Profine RUS, Koltec and other companies have taken part in the Summit. Companies-participants produce and process more than half of all bulk polymers in the CIS.


The Summit has begun working with the reports of top managers of Russian petrochemical companies - Alexander Rappoport, Head of KGD&PPNiG of Lukoil, Dmitry Konov, General director of SIBUR, Sergey Komishan, Head of directorate of basic polymers of Sibur and Paul Lyakhovich, Deputy head of directory of plastics and organic synthesis sales and marketing of Sibur.


The main topics of the reports were devoted to the development of petrochemical market and the strategy in the market of base polymers as well as launching new polymer productions.
During the first session of the Polymers Summit - 2011 there were discussed the problems of polymers market balance and price formation on the back of recent changes in polymer market.


MRC

Arkema declares force majeure on PVC and caustic soda

LONDON (ICIS) -- France's Arkema has declared force majeure on its chlor-alkali and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) production, following strike-related shutdowns at several sites, a company source said on Tuesday.
The force majeure on PVC was declared last week and has now been extended to its chlor-alkali products, including caustic soda, the source said.

⌠It's a disaster for us and we have no knowledge of when production will resume, the source added.
The strikes were triggered by last week's announcement that Arkema will sell its vinyl business to Switzerland-based investment group Klesch in order for Arkema to focus on its industrial chemicals and performance products segments.
The electrolysis units in Fos and Lavera, in southern France, were shut as a result, the source said.
In addition, production at the Jarrie site has stopped because of a chlorine leak associated with start-up problems, following an unplanned shutdown in October, the company said on a statement on 28 November.

There is no material available from the Jarrie site, while the company is only able to provide 50% of its regular quantities from Fos and Lavera. Its plant in St Auban consumes most of its product internally.
The company's total nameplate capacity for caustic soda is 850,000 tonnes/year, according to the source. Among its plants, Lavera is the largest.
The European caustic market remains balanced to tight. Although demand has weakened over the past two weeks, scarce availability and production outages have continue to tighten the market.
Most local producers remain out of the spot market and only able to meet their contractual obligations.

Perspectives of development of the polymers 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 is 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

Europe December ethylene agreed at ┬1,080/tonne, down ┬15/tonne

LONDON (ICIS) -- An initial European ethylene contract settlement for December has been agreed down by ┬15/tonne at ┬1,080/tonne ($1,440/tonne), primarily reflecting the weak demand situation, a key producer said on Tuesday.

The producer said that it wanted ⌠to break the ice referring to the slow progress and tough nature of the discussions which had gotten underway last week.

Another major producer said that it had also reached an agreement at ┬1,080/tonne and the ┬15/tonne reduction was a ⌠compromise because cracker margins are not that brilliant and neither are derivative margins. It added that there had been little significant change in upstream naphtha values over November.
So far, two producers and one major non-integrated consumer have confirmed the settlement. Confirmation is pending from another two integrated consumers and one other non-integrated consumer.
The contract is settled on a free delivered (FD) northwest Europe (NWE) basis.

Perspectives of development of the polymers 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 is 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