Azelis to promote and distribute Poliya's polyester resins in Italy

(specialchem4adhesives) -- Poliya Composite Resins and Polymers (Poliya), one of the leading composite resin manufacturer, has entered into a marketing and distribution agreement with Azelis, a leading Pan-European specialty chemicals distributor.

Speaking about the new agreement, Serge Gradys International Business Manager Azelis Composites states, "We are delighted to sign this distribution agreement with Poliya, representing their Polipol customized UPR- polyester resins, Polijel high performance custom coloured gelcoats brands, and complimentary composite products in Italy".

Gianni Ostelli, Regional Business Manager Azelis Composites, Iberia & Italy adds, "Azelis will be supplying products manufactured by Poliya in Turkey as well as in their new Italian plant. This will enable us to provide more efficient logistics, faster response times, reduced lead times and better service. We are looking forward to working closely with the company's local team to increase market share in the region and are confident these brands will be well received by our clients."

"Italy is a very important market for Poliya. After our recent, local production agreement with Novaresine, we foresee great opportunities to expand our overall presence. We are confident our partnership with Azelis will provide a boost to Poliya's growth in the region and their experienced team of professionals will help increase our sales greatly" says Buelent Oeztuna, CEO of Poliya.
MRC

(news.szenergy) -- According to data from Chinese Customs, China's polymer imports posted a noticeable rise in February 2012 from January 2012.

With this monthly increase, the country largely compensated for the steep drop recorded in December 2011 and January 2012, largely due to the occurence of the weeklong Chinese New Year holidays in January this year instead of February as usual- resulting in depressed import figures for January. As a result, the new February figures were the highest for the month going back to 2001. According to data from Chinese Customs, China's polymer imports posted a noticeable rise from 1.134 mln tons in January 2012 to 1.478 mln tons in February 2012, a jump of 344,000 tons month over month. With this monthly increase, the country largely compensated for the steep drop recorded from December 2011 to January 2012.

Apart from major exporters such as Saudi Arabia (295,423 tons), South Korea (260,605 tons) and Taiwan (172,766 tons), the US (99,611 tons), Thailand (95,866 tons) and the United Arab Emirates (89,400 tons) were the top polymer exporters to China in February 2012, with all of these countries increasing their total export volumes to China when compared to the previous month. Saudi Arabia, Oman and Japan almost doubled their total polymer exports to China over the month while Iran's polymer exports to China fell to only around half of the level seen in January.
MRC

(canplastics) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it will deny a petition from the National Resources Defense Council's petition to prohibit the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in food-contact products manufactured in America.

FDA officials said they did not have enough scientific evidence to warrant such a ban.

In 2008, the National Resources Defense Council submitted a petition asking the FDA to regulate the use of BPA in human food and food packaging. When the FDA didn't reply, the Council sued the administration to get some form of action. This recent announcement is a response to that suit.

However, the federal agency stressed the announcement is not a final safety determination and it continues to support research examining the safety of BPA.

BPA is a chemical used in many consumer products, including clear and hard plastics called polycarbonate used in water and soda bottles, as well as in the resin linings of food and beverage cans and containers of infant formula.

While panned by a variety of consumer advocacy groups, the decision has been praised by plastics industry representatives. ⌠FDA's decision, which has taken into consideration the best available science, again confirms that BPA is safe for use in food-contact materials, as it has been approved and used safely for four decades, said Steve Hentges, of the Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group of the American Chemistry Council. ⌠Consumers should understand from this announcement that the position of the independent, scientific experts at FDA is that BPA continues to be safe for use in food-contact materials.
MRC

(interaksyon) -- Petron Corp. announced on Monday that its oil and gas affiliate completed the acquisition of the downstream oil unit of ExxonMobil in Malaysia.

The Philippines' biggest oil refiner and retailer told the Philippine Stock Exchange that Petron Oil and Gas International (POGI) Shd Bhd. completed the purchase of a 65 percent stake in Esso Malaysia Berhad (EMB), 100 percent of ExxonMobil Malaysia Sdn Bhd, and 100 percent of ExxonMobil Borneo Sdn Bhd for USD577.3 million.

POGI bought 175 million common shares of EMB from ExxonMobil International Holdings Inc. for USD195.12 million. The Petron unit also has to undertake an unconditional mandatory takover for the remaining EMB shares that it does not yet own. For this exercise, POGI is offering 3.59 ringgit for each ofer share as set out in the offer on March 16.

"The final vendor price is also the highest price per EMB share paid by POGI within six months prior 16 March 2012, being the date of notice," Maybank Investment Bank Berhad, the transaction's arranger, disclosed.
MRC

(finanznachrichten) -- Bayer MaterialScience announced that Effective March 31, it will acquire the remaining shares in the 50:50 systems house joint venture Baule SAS from EXIMIUM SAS and other shareholders.

The joint venture was established in 2008 by the Leverkusen-based company and Michel Baule SA, which later was renamed EXIMIUM SAS.

The company said that Baule SAS is a global leader in the development, formulation and processing of polyurethane cast elastomers. Based in Romans, France, the company has subsidiaries in the United States, the United Kingdom, France and China.

The company noted that the transaction affects 139 employees, all of whom will be retained. Financial details have not been disclosed.

MRC