In 2011 Russian PP market grew by 4%

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The capacity of the Russian PP market over the 2011 rose by 4% year on year and exceeded 810 thousand tonnes. Russian producers met the growing market demand having increased their production volumes and exports reduction, according to MRC ScanPlast.


The growth of the Russian PP market in 2011 slowed down. By the end of 2011, the calculated PP consumption in Russia had risen to 810.8 thousand tonnes, that was by 4% more year on year. According to MRC, in 2010, market capacity grew by 22%. Such a notable growth mostly resulted from a low comparison base of the crisis 2009 year. Before 2008 inclusive, the Russian PP market had grown on average by 18% per year. After the recession, the dynamics of growth slowed on average to 10% per year.


Last year local producers met growing demand for PP in the Russian market by increasing the output to 681.4 thousand tonnes. Export shipments of the Russian PP also increased from 41.8 thousand tonnes in 2010 to 63.8 thousand tonnes in 2011. Imports, on the contrary, decreased by 3% to 192.8 thousand tonnes. Last year the structure of PP consumption notably changed by grades.


Capacity of the Russian market of the homopolymer of propylene decreased by 2% and made 602.4 thousand tonnes. The main reduction in consumption fell at the producers of PP bags and flexible containers and BOPP films. In 2011, the market of impact copolymers of propylene increased by one third and made 133.3 thousand tonnes.


The main increase in consumption fell at producers of polypropylene by injection molding technology (production pallets, automotive components, closures, etc.). A small decline in consumption was seen in the sector of pipe and sheet extrusion.


Over the last year, the market of stat-copolymers increased by 9% though overall consumption increased by 7%. A moderate growth in demand for Random-copolymer of propylene was seen in the sector of injection molding and pipe extrusion. Increased demand for stat-copolymer for pipes production resulted from the growth of domestic production and imports. Growing demand in the sector of injection molding was mainly ensured by domestic production.


MRC

Imports to EU: banned chemicals list is tripled

(plasticsinfomart) -- Producers and distributors across a broad range of industries which place products on the EU market face ⌠significant extra costs under EU proposals to nearly triple the number of banned chemicals.

There are currently six substances outlawed in the EU. However, the European Chemicals Agency has recommended to the EU Commission adding a further 13 chemical compounds to that list.

The new list includes chemicals used in paint production, pigments, ceramics, glazes and metal processing.

⌠This would be a marked expansion and represent a huge undertaking for industry to ensure its stock of products were compliant; a process likely to entail significant costs said John Doherty, a partner and EU regulation specialist at law firm Manches.

Mr Doherty said the bans could be in place within approximately two years.



⌠This is a further example of the seemingly ever-increasing compliance burden imposed by the EU, which is stacking up costs for the UK construction industry, amongst others, at a time when it could do without them.

⌠Industry needs to consider whether any exemptions can be negotiated, which the regulations do allow for if there is no suitable alternative in a particular function.

MRC

Taiwan's CPC Corp restarts its naphtha cracker

(Plastemart) -- Taiwan's CPC Corp has restarted its 380,000 tpa No. 4 naphtha cracker this week following a routine maintenance, but operational rates will be kept low.

The unit was shut in December for maintenance and restarted on Thursday but runs at the unit will stay below full-tilt due to sluggish demand in the Lunar New Year period.

CPC has two other crackers, of which the smaller of the three units- a 230,000 tpa No. 3 cracker -- will be shut permanently around April.

That would reduce its naphtha demand until it commissions a new 700,000 tpa cracker by end 2012 or early 2013.

MRC

AT&T uses eco-friendly plastic packaging derived from sugarcane

(Plastics Today) -- AT&T joins Procter & Gamble and Heinz in an effort to use plastic derived from sugarcane.

The telecommunications provider is now using Klockner Pentaplast's TerraPET films for all of its branded wireless accessories.

Klockner Pentaplast's TerraPET films are made in part from sugarcane, which can allow customers to replace fossil fuel based material with up to 30% plant based material.

"The TerraPET film is sourced from ethanol harvested from sugarcane. Since sugarcane is a semi-perennial crop, the same plant can harvest and re-grown for up to seven years.

Nancy Ryan, corporate communications group director for Klockner Pentaplast, told PlasticsToday TerraPET films have the same performance properties as standard APET films.

The TerraPET films can be used for food and general-purpose thermoformed packages, such as blisters, clamshells, and trays, as well as non-thermoformed applications, including transparent boxes and windows, box lids, and rounds.

AT&T became the first U.S. telecom company to use this type of plastic in its packaging. P&G began using sugarcane-based plastics for some of its products, and Heinz announced it would license The Coca-Cola Company's PlantBottle technology to use for its ketchup packaging.

MRC

Kraft Foods to trim the fat from its packaging

(Plastics Today) -- Kraft Foods has launched an initiative to eliminate 100 million pounds of packaging material from its products worldwide by 2015. This commitment was the driver behind delivering the Yes Pack, Kraft's new sustainable flexible pouch for salad dressings to the foodservice industry.

The Yes Pack is a stand-up pouch with dual handles, and a rigid screw cap closure that replaces the traditional rigid plastic container for salad dressings. The company stated the product is more compact than rigid jugs, and flattens when empty, which can provide easier disposal and lower waste-removal costs.

A Kraft Foods spokesperson told PlasticsToday the Yes Pack is a flexible nylon-polyethylene blend film made in house, and it is produced with about 60% less plastic when compared to the rigid gallon container.

Kraft partnered with PE International, a sustainability consulting company, to conduct a Life Cycle Assessment, which quantified the environmental benefits of the Yes Pack. The Life Cycle Assessment is a standardized method of evaluating environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of a product from raw material production, manufacturing and use, all the way through disposal.


"After extensive data collection from our suppliers, technical modeling, and a rigorous third-party critical review of the study, we confirmed without a doubt that our new packaging design was not only better for our customers - in terms of yield and ease - but also in terms of environmental sustainability," the company stated.

MRC