Poland's synthetic rubber and plastics production grew in 2011

(chemmonitor) -- Production of synthetic rubber and most plastics showed a considerable increase last year in Poland.

For instance, whole-year polyethylene output amounted to 365,000 tonnes in 2011. Local polyethylene makers generated only 30,000 tonnes in December 2010, down by 73,000 tonnes year on year.

Polyvinyl chloride output totaled 282,000 tonnes through January-December 2011. It was 15,700 in December.

Synthetic rubber production reached 186,000 tonnes in the previous year, in comparison with 16,300 tonnes in the last month of the year.
MRC

(chemmonitor) -- A European producer INEOS ChlorVinyls brought its chlorine unit at Wilhelmshaven site off stream (Germany) on the back of a minor gas escape. The plant was shut immediately right after the accident happened for safety.

No one amid local citizens and plant's staff was injured in the accident.

The company produces about 190,000 tonnes of caustic soda, 168,000 tonnes of chlorine, 400,000 tonnes of vinyl chloride and 380,000 tonnes of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) per annum at Wilhelmshaven site.

The information about the restart of the plant is unclear.

MRC

(chemmonitor) -- Regular and spot customers of Singapore's PCS now see delivery cuts this month from the company. This is owing to a number of technical glitches at one of the maker's production unit located at Jurong Island.

The manufacturer operates one more facility of the type at the same site. Both facilities are currently run at around 65 percent capacities.

The firm generates 100,000 tonnes of benzene per annum at No. 1 unit, while the plants' annual toluene capacity is 50,000 tonnes per annum.

MRC

(plasteurope) -- As the second month of 2012 gets underway, there are no signs of any real improvement in the dire situation in Rimnicu Vilcea, as petrochemical group Oltchim (Rimnicu Vilcea / Romania) continues to send both its own workers as well as employees of subsidiary Petrochemical Arges into ⌠technical unemployment.

By now a mantra, group CEO Constantin Roibu continues to blame a lack of both feedstocks and capital for the measures.

A small glimmer of hope may be the fact that the measures so far had applied to about 1,000 employees, while this latest round ⌠only affects 840 workers, who have been sent home but continue to receive 80% of their wages.

MRC

(plasteurope) -- Making its debut in November last year, Germany's Dreyplas (Meerbusch) has been appointed the official distributor of Sabic's polyolefin product range in Poland.

The German group's portfolio comprises a range of raw materials, additives and processing aids - mostly sourced from the Far East - for European plastics converters and compounders. Beyond the German-speaking markets, Dreyplas' distribution activities are either handled by a network of local sales representatives (Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary) or by its Polish affiliate Plaskobel (Lodz).

Dreyplas GmbH is a new but experienced player among the pan-European distributors. The company's diversified portfolio comprises raw materials, additives and processing aids for plastics converters and compounders as well as for the producers of adhesives, paints and coatings, chemicals and building materials.

MRC