LyondellBasell to end business in Iran

(Reuters) -- Specialty chemicals giant LyondellBasell Industries NV (LALLF.PK) will end its operations in Iran to avoid penalties the U.S. could soon impose on companies for violating trade sanctions, the Wall Street Journal said.

Lyondell's board approved the decision to end its Iranian operations early this month after months of deliberation, David Harpole, a spokesman for LyondellBasell, told the Journal.

The Dutch-based company's move will end licensing of its proprietary technology and services to Iranian petrochemical companies, the paper said.

MRCMRC Reference

LyondellBasell. The share in the Russian market in 2008:
PE - 1.4% (including HDPE - 2.5%, LDPE - 0.3%);
PP - 4.1% (including block-copolymers - 9.5%).

Annual sales growth in Russia, during the recent 5 years:
PE - 27%;
PP - 88%.

The leader in the following polymers processing technologies:

pipe extrusion;

film extrusion;

injection molding

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- In the second quarter of 2010, NOVA Chemicals generated net income of $51 million compared to a net loss of $83 million for the second quarter of 2009. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, we generated net income of $145 million versus a net loss of $206 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009. The year-over-year improvement during these three month and six month periods was primarily due to higher margins and demand for our products.

The Olefins/Polyolefins business unit generated $251 million of operating income in the second quarter of 2010 compared to operating income of $81 million during the second quarter of 2009. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the business unit generated operating income of $437 million compared to operating income of $43 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009. The improvement in both comparisons was due to selling prices increasing more than feedstock costs, and improved demand.

MRC

(prw) -- Munich-based Baerlocher said it will install further capacity for the production of PVC heat stabilisers at its plant in Dewas, India to serve the growing domestic market.

The company will add 7,000 tonnes of capacity, which will double the plant's capacity for production of one-pack stabilisers. These will be low dusting flake stabilisers, used primarily by PVC pipe producers.

The new capacity will become operational in two stages beginning in December 2010. Baerlocher said the investment is worth nearly ┬1m.

It said the expansion will help support the continued growth of irrigation and water management projects throughout India.

MRC

(prw) -- Sibur and Tatneft are to merge their tyre activities. The combination of Sibur Russian Tyres and Nizhnekamskshina would be a formidable force in the Russian tyre sector, given that Sibur is now the largest creditor of Amtel, and hence has nominal control over Amtel's tyre building assets.

The story was first broken by the Vedomosti business daily on Monday of this week, quoting Sibur head Vadim Gurinov and confirmed by a Tatneft official. Neither Sibur nor Tatneft have responded to ERJ requests for clarification.

The move is being seen as a bid to resist inroads by international companies who are building or have built tyre factories in and around the region.

MRCMRC Reference

Sibur Holding is the largest Russian petrochemical group.

Shareholders:
Gazprombank (70% minus 1 share);
Gazfond (25% plus 1 share);
5% reserved for option program.

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of rigid compounds from Russia in 2009 amounted to less than half of 2008 volumes (29,6 kt) - according to MRC "PVC in Russia - 2010" Annual report.

Before 2008, growing imports of stable dryblend had been observed; in 2008 the volumes reached 61 kt. During the pre-crisis decade compound imports in the Russian market went up 23 times. The last year was a turning-point: Imports barely exceeded 29,6 kt, in H1 2010 - 13 kt.

MRC analysts consider that the market of imported compound is not going to recover to the level of of 2008. In 2008-2009, big converters were increasing their blending capacities (Profine Rus, PK Proplex, DKS etc.). In 2009, Deceunink Rus and Gealan Rus, being the biggest dry blend consumers from their European divisions, also installed their own PVC blenders.

MRC

More detailed analysis of processing capacities and PVC consumption by sectors, markets, finished goods and converters is available in "PVC in Russia - 2010" Annual report.