Invista announces distribution alliance in Europe

(plastech) -- Invista Engineering Polymers and Hromatka Group recently signed a distribution agreement to sell Invista's new Torzen polyamide resin in Europe.

The agreement with Hromatka includes Graesslin, Plastoplan, Lenorplastics and Polymix IP. Among European distributors, Invista's Torzen polyamide is available only through Hromatka Group in countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, France, Italy and Hungary.

⌠The benefit for our customers will be access to Invista's high-quality, high-value Torzen polyamide resin grades through the well-organized sales network of Hromatka Group's subsidiaries, said Adrian Kaminski, Europe distribution manager, Invista Engineering Polymers.
MRC

(plastemart) -- In 2012, Gazprom Neft plans to invest up to RUB3 bln (EUR70 mln) in developing its petrochemical business, in cooperation with Sibur.

The deal will allow Sibur and Gazprom Neft to expand its business in the profitable segment of the market. The two companies have already launched a joint project for polypropylene production at a Moscow refinery.

Neft and Sibur are currently working on the next project, which will involve production of polypropylene at a plant in Omsk which is owned by the Titan Group.

MRC

(chemmonitor) -- With the announcement of growing freight costs in March, European shipping firms have notified of further essential growth in April freight rates, getting most of their rate increase targets for March.

Precipitously rising freight rates bring barriers to polymer trade worldwide into being. Increasing freight costs force traders to look for a more stable price policy. Many are unsatisfied with their shipment volume fallen.

MRC

While China's economic growth has moderated for the past four quarters in line with the curbed export demand and the government's earlier decision about restricting lending in order to tame inflation, the Chinese government cut its economic growth target to 7.5% for 2012 in early March for the first time after keeping it at around 8% for the past seven consecutive years.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- In February, overall production of bulk basic polymers in Russia made about 290,000 tonnes. The two months output of polymers this year exceeded 586,000 tonnes of polymers, according to MRC ScanPlast.

In February, the Russian producers made about 290,000 tonnes of bulk polymers (polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, styrene plastics, PET). In January, the figure made about 296,000 tonnes.

Last month, the volume of polyethylene from Russian producers made about 120,000 tonnes, which was 5% down in comparison with the January figure. In January-February, the total volume of production of polyethylene in Russia made about 246,200 tonnes, which was 9% less compared to the same period a year ago. The decline in production resulted from suspension of HDPE production at Stavrolen (Lukoil Group).

In February, the production of polypropylene in Russia made a little more than 48,100 tonnes. In January, this figure was about 48,650 tonnes. In January-February, Russian producers made about 96,800 tonnes of polypropylene and its copolymers, which was 12% down compared to the same period a year ago. It resulted from the the accident at the third-largest in Russia production of polypropylene - Stavrolen. At the end of last week, the company resumed its work. Injection moulding PP-homo by Stavrolen production has appeared in the market, but the level of capacity utilization does not exceed 50% (with an annual capacity of 120,000 tonnes).

Last month, Russian producers made about 55,000 tonnes of unmixed PVC. Within two months of this year the output of PVC made over 110,000 tonnes, which was 15% up year on year. The growth in production resulted from increasing of capacity utilization of Caustic (Sterlitamak).

At the beginning of last year due to a conflict on the price of ethylene with Gazprom neftekhim Salavat, Bashkir company operated with reduced capacity utilization. The seasonal factor has led to a decrease in production of polystyrene in Russia in February. At the end of the month there was achieved around 26,500 tonnes of polystyrene and styrene plastics. In January-February, the production volume of polystyrene in Russia made about 56,000 tonnes, which was comparable to the same period last year (55,600 tonnes).

In February, PE production in Russia did not change significantly and stayed at January's level. In general, in February, output made 35,400 tonnes of granulate. In the previous month the figure made 35,700 tonnes. Last month the capacities utilization at Kaliningrad plant Alco-Naphtha increased which led to production increase by 2,000 tonnes.


The plant intends to achieve project capacities in the first half of this year. Performance of the plant Polief decreased. Due to unscheduled turnaround the company gained by 2,000 tonnes of bottles PET less than in January. In general, the current output exceeds the figures of last year. Due to the launch of new domestic facilities in the period from January to February in Russia produced 71,000 tonnes of PET. Over the same period of 2011 the plants gained about 53,000 tonnes.

MRC