Volkswagen chooses Borealis to produce automotive parts

(ReinforcePlastics) -- Volkswagen (VW) and parts manufacturer MAHLE Filter Systems UK are using a glass fibre reinforced polypropylene (PP) composite from Borealis to produce air intake manifolds used on a variety of VW car models.

The choice of Borealis' XMOD GB306SAF 35% glass fibre reinforced polypropylene makes VW the first automotive OEM to switch from glass reinforced polyamides (PA) to polyproplene for the manufacture of air intake manifolds.

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.

Graham Packaging intends to raise earnings to $300m in Asia

(prw) -- Blow moulding giant Graham Packaging, which entered the China market in April with its first acquisition there, has set an aggressive target of up to $300m in sales in China and Asia within five years.

The firm seems intent on growing quickly in Asia, though, and more acquisitions and investments are planned to tap into growing consumer markets there and boost sales to between $200m and $300m in five years, with China being the most important market, said Daniel Yu, general manager of Asia for Graham Packaging.

MRC

Formosa refinery shut down for safety

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -- Taiwan's Formosa Petrochemicals Corp has shut its entire 540,000 barrel-per-day refinery for safety reasons following a fire at the weekend.

One of the three crude distillation units will be shut for a long period without a definite timeframe, while the company is likely to restart the two CDUs in about two days.

MRC

MRC Reference

Formosa

The share in the Russian market in 2008:
PVC-S - 3.0%;

PP - 0.4%.

Annual growth sales in Russia :
PVC - 79 % (over the last year) ;

PP - 272 % (over the last 3 years).

Supply by processing technologies:
profile extrusion

film extrusion

Uralchimplast Board satisfied with company's results

(Uralchimplast) -- Uralchimplast approved economic results of the company's activity in the first half of the year. The session of the Board took place on July 21.

The Board considered the results of the company's activity in the first half of the year and defined the goals till the end of 2010. Positive development dynamics were marked: over the course of the first six months the company was operating within the terms of the adopted budget and generated profit. The Board defined economic results of Uralchimplast as positive.

The main goals for the upcoming period are sales increase and investments into projects.



MRC

DOP prices beat another record in Russia

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Tight Russian DOP supply together with the impossibility of quick imports of plasticizer continue to push prices up - according to MRC Price reports.

Plasticizer production is still tight in Russia, and DOP demand continues to grow. The biggest plasticizer consumers - plasticized PVC producers - talk about scarce DOP stocks, and the possibility to replenish stocks quickly is nearly zero. Some companies are trying to organize supplies from Europe and Asia. Small volumes of Serbian DOP are to be delivered to the Russian market soon. Supply of South Korean plasticizer is expected in the second half of August. Prices for the future DOP deliveries vary within the range of RUB 84.000 - 90.000/mt, including VAT, DDP.

Prices for Russian plasticizer moved at the level of RUB 85.000/mt, including VAT. Generally, current prices for small DOP volumes in the Russian market are in the range of RUB 85.000 - 100.000/mt, including VAT. In the second half of August, Russian producers are expectedly to increase plasticizer production; as well, additional volumes are going to arrive from Asia. As a result, prices should become more stable in the domestic market.

MRC

For more information about Russian DOP market please refer to MRC Price reports.