Nizhnekamskneftehim increases production in first 6 months of 2010

(Prime-TASS) -- Over the course of the first six months of the year Nizhnekamskneftehim has increased production 19,4% in comparable prices, 72,2% in present prices comparing with same period last year to RUB 42,76 bln. The growth was provided by polystyrene production - to 90 kt (up 12,4%), polyethylene - to 71,8 kt (up 39,8%, capacities were launched in 2009) and polypropylene - to 100,4 kt (up 5,6%).

MRC
MRC Reference

PP-block - 34.7%,

PP-random - 22.1%);

polystyrene - 34.5%.

Leader in polymer processing technologies:

moulding.

LDPE imports down 16% in Ukraine

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) in Ukraine over the course of January - June 2010 went down by 16% (to 52,71 kt) comparing with the same period last year - according to MRC DataScope report.

There were interruptions in supply of film and pipe-grade material in the HDPE market. In the meantime, black pipe-grade polyethylene is not available in the Ukrainian market. Arriving natural PE100 grade from Russia has already been contracted by certain converters.

Demand for pipe-grade HDPE became much stronger in June: Ukrainian companies increased imports more than 1,5 times (to 3,2 kt), comparing with May 2010. Imports of PE100 pipe-grade hiked nearly 5 times. Ukrainian companies resumed supply of Hostalen CRP 100/LyondellBasell after the four-month break.

MRC

For more information about polyethylene market, please refer to MRC DataScope report.

DuPont's sales and investment in Indonesia to double by 2015

(JacartaPost) -- Global giant DuPont expects its sales and investment in Indonesia to at least double by 2015, citing positive progress in the local economy.

DuPont, an industrial materials producer, has been operating locally for 35 years and has invested more than US$100 million in Indonesia during that time. The company estimates its sales in Indonesia will reach around US$200 million this year.

MRC

Solvay joins forces with Entegris in material development

(prw) -- Solvay Advanced Polymers is partnering with Entegris's Tegotm Polymers unit to develop advanced carbon nanotube-enhanced Peek products for emerging applications in the medical, aerospace, automotive, and oil and gas industries.

Alpharetta-based Solvay Advanced Polymers will supply its KetaSpire Peek resin to Entegris, which will sell compounds using its carbon nanotube technology. The compounds will target applications requiring weight reduction, enhanced stiffness and flexibility, thermal management, and static charge dissipation.

Entegris has developed proprietary technology for the uniform dispersion of carbon nanotubes into Peek and other thermoplastics to create homogeneous blends.

MRC

Total Petrochemicals demonstrates new UOP technology

(plastemart) -- Total Petrochemicals has successfully demonstrated UOP technology that will enable the use of feedstocks other than petroleum to produce plastics and other petrochemicals.

A demonstration unit built by Total Petrochemicals at its complex in Feluy, Belgium, used UOP/Hydro MTO methanol-to-olefins technology to convert methanol to ethylene and propylene. The propylene was then successfully converted to polypropylene product. This demonstration proves that propylene produced from methanol at a semi-commercial scale is suitable for plastics production. Methanol is commonly produced from natural gas and coal.

MRC