Huntsman strengthens polyurethanes business in Eastern Europe

(chemanager-online) -- plans to expand manufacturing capacity of specialty amines used as polyurethane catalysts at its manufacturing facilities in Petfurdo, Hungary and in Barcelona, Spain. The expansions extend the Huntsman manufacturing portfolio, further leverage the company's integrated amines capability and increase existing polyurethane catalyst production capacity by 25%. Financial details were not disclosed.

Stu Monteith, President of Huntsman's Performance Products division said: "The capacity expansion leverages our strong manufacturing and technology base and enhances what is already the widest in-house manufacturing capability across the industry. We have consistently improved capability and extended the product range manufactured at our Petfurdo location over the last 10 years.

However, in the last few years demand has begun to fill production capabilities across our two main production sites in Petfurdo and Conroe, Texas. The new capacity and addition of a third manufacturing site shows the commitment that we will build, ahead of the demand curve, to match our customers' growth."
MRC

(hydrocarbonprocessing) -- Jacobs has been awarded a contract from SABIC to provide engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) services to support the upgrade of an olefins at SABIC's complex in Geleen, The Netherlands. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2013.

Jacobs Engineering Group has been awarded a contract from Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) to provide engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) services to support the upgrade of an olefins at SABIC's complex in Geleen, The Netherlands.

Officials did not disclose the contract value. They noted that the project is scheduled to be completed in 2013 as part of the scheduled plant turnaround.

Jacobs is executing the work from its office in Meerssen, The Netherlands, which is close to the site, the company said.

The project involves numerous modifications to the existing Olefins 4 naphtha cracker, which are expected to result in a significant increase of energy efficiency as well as increased ethylene production capacity.

"We are extremely pleased to receive this new contract for SABIC at Geleen, said Jacobs vice president Robert Matha.
MRC

(polyestertime) -- Turkish players report that sentiment has improved in the PET market over the last week. Sellers started to receive an increasing number of inquiries from buyers in line with the opening high season for PET bottle applications amidst warmer weather conditions.

Most sellers reported achieving better sales compared to March, although, firmer sentiment has yet to affect import prices. This is mainly because spot feedstock markets followed a steady to slightly softer path recently.

In Asia, where spot feedstock costs recorded gradual drops during March, MEG and PTA prices gained some ground during last week, while PX prices softened further.

Import PET offers into Turkey saw stable prices or relatively smaller decreases compared to the previous weeks when there were persistent price cuts during the the second half of March, owing to cautious purchases of buyers amidst their sufficient stocks as well as bearish feedstock markets.

In the light of better sentiment, domestic PET producers have been following flat pricing strategies since the
start of April after issuing price cuts late last month. A source from a PET producer reported that their sales
performance improved. ⌠

MRC

(hydrocarbonprocessing) -- Cabot and joint venture partner Risun Chemicals broke ground on a new carbon black manufacturing facility in Xingtai, China. The new plant will have a Phase I manufacturing capacity of 130,000 tpy of carbon black, and will enable Cabot to increase its carbon black output in China by 25%.

Cabot Corp. and joint venture partner Risun Chemicals Co. broke ground Tuesday on a new carbon black manufacturing facility in Xingtai, China.

The project, announced in March 2011, is scheduled to be completed in mid-2013. Cabot and Risun are investing approximately USD140 million in the new facility, they said, with Cabot owning a 60% equity interest.

In the partnership, Cabot says it brings technology advancements and a leadership position in China while Risun provides the feedstock and energy integration capabilities with its current operations.

The new facility, located about 250 miles (400 kilometers) south of Beijing in Heibei Province, will help support tire and automotive growth in China, officials said.

Carbon black is a reinforcing agent essential in the manufacturing of tires. The material is also used in many automotive parts, including adhesives and sealants, battery materials, coatings, and more.

According to IHS Automotive, China's motor vehicle fleet is expected to grow to approximately 315 million vehicles over the next 10 years, up from 102 million vehicles today.

The new Xingtai facility will have a Phase I manufacturing capacity of 130,000 tpy of carbon black, and will enable Cabot to increase its carbon black manufacturing capacity in China by 25%, the company said.
MRC

(polyestertime) -- The world's leading companies have started the construction of Europe's largest pure polymers plant ETANA in Kabardino-Balkaria. One of the world's largest industrial companies ThyssenKrupp AG has given permission for the construction of a new plant of its subsidiary Uhde Inventa-Fischer AG, acting as the general contractor and working in technological conjunction with Buhler AG (Switzerland), told ETANA plant's Director General Sergei Ashin.

According to him, the deal became possible after the adoption at the federal and regional levels of mechanisms for a significant reduction of overall risk. The Russian government and the leadership of the Kabardino-Balkaria Republic took unprecedented steps to support investment projects implemented in the South of Russia.

In addition, the ⌠absolute investment attractiveness of the republic with ⌠perfect investment laws and a growing economy promotes this, and its extensive transport infrastructure, proximity to the Black Sea ports and the maximum demand for the products in the regional economy create high competitive advantages, Ashin said quoting the foreign artners.

MRC