Sinopec achieved new highs in 2011 production

(chemmonitor) -- Sinopec, China reached new highs in generating of a range of products through 2011.

For instance, gasoline output amounted to 37.10 million tonnes, up by 3.43 percent from 2010.


Certain growth was also registered in diesel production. Last year output of diesel is estimated at 77.17 million tonnes. This represents an increase by 1.08 million tonnes year on year.

Ethylene output of the company through 2011 is assessed at 9.894 million tonnes, showing an increase by 0.835 million tonnes from 2010.

MRC

(chemmonitor) -- The Oslo-headquartered (Norway) chemical giant Yara International ASA (Yara) acquired an additional stake in Perth-based (Australia) fertilizer company Burrup Holdings Limited (BHL).

The buyer paid a total of USD 143 million, raising its ownership in BHL from 35% to 51%. Meanwhile, the remaining stake of 49% was bought by a division of Houston-based (Texas, USA) Apache Corporation - Apache Energy Ltd., which signed a new shareholders' contract with Yara.

The agreement allows Yara (75.5% ownership) and Apache (24,5% ownership) to work together on the planned Burrup Nitrates project involving the construction of a 330,000 mtpa technical ammonium nitrate (TAN) unit, to be later renamed into Yara Pilbara.



MRC

(binaniindustries) -- Binani Industries Limited, the holding company of USD 1.6 billion Braj Binani Group, today announced the acquisition of 3B - The Fibreglass Company (3B'), a Europe-based major in fibreglass products and technologies. Binani Industries Limited is one of India's leading global diversified business houses, with interests in cement, zinc, glass fibre, composites and ready-mix concrete.

The Braj Binani Group has acquired a 100 per cent equity interest in 3B from Platinum Equity.

Headquartered in Battice, Belgium, 3B is Europe's leading manufacturer of fibreglass for reinforcement of thermoplastics and thermoset polymer applications, and is a preferred supplier to global leaders in industries including automotive and wind energy.

This acquisition is part of Braj Binani Group's strategy to expand its footprint in the global fibreglass market. It further augments the Group's technological and marketing capabilities in the fibreglass business.

Mr Braj Binani, Chairman, Binani Industries Limited, said, ⌠The acquisition, costing us EUR 275 million, will strengthen our group's core operations at a global level. The group is present in fast-growth business segments, of which fibreglass is one. We are among one of the few groups globally that has a robust presence in this niche segment and we are working to accelerate our fibreglass operations further over the coming years. 3B is therefore a perfect match. We look forward to leveraging its expertise, strong R&D and excellent customer network.

MRC

(chemnet) -- China's Shen Hua Chemical Industrial shut its butadiene rubber plant in Nantong for about a month.

High butadiene feedstock costs and poor domestic demand were among the factors leading to the shutdown of the 72,000 mt/year BR plant.

Several domestic tire producers have been operating their plants at reduced rates, citing poor demand from overseas markets such as the US and Europe, and as a result, tire and rubber inventories have increased, industry sources said.

Several BR rubber producers were operating their plants at about 60-70% of capacity, a producer said.

Butadiene costs have risen as end-users have sought to secure their feedstock requirements ahead of turnarounds, both locally and overseas.

For instance, Sinopec Maoming plans to shut its No. 1 naphtha-fed steam cracker in southwestern Guangdong province over February 13-25 for scheduled maintenance.

The cracker supplies crude C4 feedstock to a 50,000 mt/year butadiene extraction unit, which will run at an undisclosed reduced rate as a result of the shutdown.

MRC

(arkema) -- Arkema Coating Resins has introduced Celocor opaque polymer, a voided latex product that imparts hiding and functions as a partial replacement for titanium dioxide (TiO2).

Compared to competitive opacifiers with similar functionality, Celocor opaque polymer offers a more balanced approach to performance attributes such as tint strength, gloss development, burnish resistance and scrub resistance.

⌠We recognize that the cost and availability of TiO2 are among the most important issues that coatings formulators are facing today, Eric Kaiser, Global Marketing Director for Arkema Coating Resins, explained. ⌠Celocor opaque polymer gives paint developers more formulating options in their approach to TiO2 reduction.

Celocor opaque polymer provides an effective way to reduce raw material costs and improve hiding in a wide range of products, including interior or exterior coatings from flat to semigloss. Additionally, this product meets the standards of Arkema Coating Resins EnVia program and is designed to help formulators achieve their sustainability and regulatory goals in finished coating products.
"Everything we do is based around the needs of the formulator, Kaiser said. ⌠In speaking with our customers, we found that they are very interested in having more options for TiO2 reduction while maintaining a good balance of performance attributes in their products. Our new Celocor opaque polymer meets that need."


MRC