In March imports of PS to Russia exceeded 16,000 tonnes

MOSCOW (MRC) - In March, the imports of polystyrene (PS) to the Russian market exceeded 16,000 tonnes, according to MRC analysts.

Last month, the imports of PS to the Russian market increased by 3.9%, compared to February 2012.


The imports volume of expandable polystyrene (EPS) approached 6,500 tonnes, while in February the imports made more than 7,000 tonnes. Since the beginning of the year the supplies of EPS to the Russian market made 17,800 tonnes, which was 14% up year on year.

The largest increase was recorded in the supply of general purpose polystyrene (GPPS). In March, the imports of GPPS increased by 58% compared to February and made 4,300 tonnes. In Q1, the volume of GPPS imports made 8,800 tonnes.

The increased demand for ABS led to growing imports volume of the material. In March, Russian companies imported 3,200 tonnes of material, up 23% compared with the supply in February 2012. In Q1, the imports of ABS made 7,500 tonnes, up 17% year on year.


The imports of EPS are expected to grow in the near future on the back of a seasonal increase in demand. The imports of ABS are also likely to increase and market players suppose that this trend will continue in the coming months.


MRC

Import of pipe HDPE to Russia decreased by 9%

MOSCOW (MRC) - Due to the bad weather in the beginning of the year, Russian companies reduced the imports of pipe polyethylene. In Q1, the imports of pipe HDPE to Russia made about 16,800 tonnes, down 9% year on year, according to MRC analysts.

In March, the imports of pipe HDPE to the Russian market were reduced to 5,600 tonnes, a month earlier this figure was about 6,100 tonnes. The reduction of imports resulted from unfavourable weather (cold February and March), and as a consequence, poor sales of the finished product. Also, insufficient funding from the State contributed to the situation.

In general, over the three months, the total imports of pipe HDPE to Russia made about 16,800 tonnes, 9% down year on year. Russian companies prefer to purchase Asian and Middle Eastern PE (Korea Petrochemical, SCG Chemicals and Sabic).

In mid-March, Kazanorgsintez due to technical problems temporarily halted its production of black PE100. The production of pipe material was resumed only in the beginning of this week. Since December Stavrolen has closed down the operations. Until that time this plant supplied to the domestic market large volumes of PE80. Other Russian producer - Gazprom neftekhim Salavat also had technical problems with production. However, the decline in the supplies of pipe HDPE from domestic and foreign producers did not affect the market.


The price quotation of the Russian black PE100 was at Rb69,200-69,700/tonne, including VAT, CPT Moscow. Coloured PE80 was offered on average for Rb67,000-68,000/tonne, including VAT, CPT Moscow. Uncoloured Russian PE100 this week was offered on average for Rb64,500-65,500/tonne, including VAT, CPT Moscow. Purchasing activity over the two weeks was low, due to bad March, many local pipe producers do not hurry to replenish their inventories.

MRC

FIAT Panda sports a high-quality edge with Borealis and Borouge PP innovations

(borealis) -- FIAT has once again turned to lightweight, cost-competitive materials from Borealis and Borouge, leading providers of innovative, value creating plastics solutions, to achieve top-level aesthetics and performance for interior and exterior components on its new Fiat Panda.

Borealis and Borouge's polypropylene (PP) automotive innovations combine a host of high-performance mechanical properties and processing advantages designed to ease production, and enhance the quality and surface finish of vehicle interiors and exteriors. In addition, the lightweight polyolefins offer vehicle weight savings when used to replace traditional parts materials, contributing to a reduction in fuel consumption. Borealis has assisted the company's enhancement of performance and aesthetics of interior and exterior vehicle parts on models recognised for their safety and cutting-edge designs such as the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and Fiat 500.

For the new Fiat Panda, Tier One supplier Magneti Marelli successfully used high-performance Daplen thermoplastic olefin (TPO) compounds from Borealis to achieve consistent parts with the visual appeal and safety-related performance to meet FIAT's stringent quality requirements and technical specifications.

MRC

BASF to invest in new chemical production site in Dahej, India

(basf) -- BASF India Limited will invest ┬150 million to set up a new chemical production site at the Dahej Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR), located on the west coast of India in Gujarat.

The new site will be an integrated hub for polyurethane manufacturing and will also house production facilities for care chemicals and polymer dispersions for coatings and paper. With this new production site, BASF aims to ensure local supply for growing markets and industries such as appliances, footwear, automotive, construction, adhesives, architectural coatings, paper and personal care. The start of production is planned for 2014.

MRC

Jacobs wins refinery expansion contract in Russia

(refiningandpetrochemicals) -- Jacobs Engineering Group has secured a contract from Afipsky Refinery for an undisclosed sum in Russia.

The firm will be responsible to develop a basic engineering package for an amine regenerator unit, a sour water stripper and an expected 55 tonnes per day sulfur recovery unit (SRU).

All three units are part of a refinery extension project which includes a hydrotreater unit and a visbreaker unit.

The SRU design is based on Jacobs proprietary EUROCLAUS process and is being executed from Jacobs office in Leiden, Netherlands.

Currently, Jacobs is working closely with the Moscow-based EPC contractor and engineer of gas treating units and SRU's Giprogazoochistka.

MRC