New LDPE capacities to come onstream in the Middle East

(plastemart) -- Two new LDPE plants are slated to come onstream in the Middle East in June, according to market sources.

As the scheduled start-up dates draw near, some players have started to voice their opinion about the prospect of the LDPE market, arguing "The extra availability may put pressure on LDPE prices as these plants are coming online at a time when prices have already turned down."

Qatar Petrochemical Company is planning to start up its new 300,000 tpa LDPE plant at Mesaieed by the end of June while Saudi Kayan is set to commission its new LDPE plant with the same capacity in June as well.
MRC

(plasticstoday) -- OPP Film SA, headquartered in Lima, Peru, will begin offering biaxial oriented polyester (BOPET) film starting in early 2013, according to an announcement. Part of the Oben Holding Group, OPP Film has purchased a new Bruckner Maschinenbau line with a nameplate capacity of 35,000 MTPA. OPP Film is adding BOPET capabilities in response to customer demand.

The high-speed, 8.7m-wide BOPET line adds to OPP Film's current product offering of biaxial oriented polypropylene (BOPP) and case polypropylene (CPP) films. The company also recently started two new BOPP lines and started up its newest cast film line in July of this year.

"We are proud of these continuing advancements in our production capabilities," said Alfredo Barreda, VP, OPP Film SA. "The superior technology of this new BOPET unit will provide our customers with a highly desirable product, enabling them to gain more market share. Our BOPET films will be available with special treatments, metalized and favorable heat-sealing characteristics."

MRC

(ineoschlor) -- List prices for INEOS ChlorVinyls Suspension PVC grades have been increased by Euro 50 per metric tonne with immediate effect and as contracts allow.

INEOS ChlorVinyls is one of the major chlor-alkali producers in Europe, a global leader in chlorine derivatives and Europe's largest PVC manufacturer.

INEOS ChlorVinyls principal operations at Runcorn Site, Cheshire, are vital to the UK economy. The site supports an estimated 133,000 jobs directly and indirectly, making it of strategic national importance.
MRC

(chemicals-technology) -- Nation Ford Chemical, a manufacturer of specialty organic chemicals, is investing USD5.5m to expand its current operations in York County, South Carolina, US.

Nation Ford Chemical president Jay Dickson was quoted by WBTV as saying that the expansion will give the company the opportunity to add its product range and increase market share. "We appreciate the support we've received from state and local officials," Dickson added.

As part of the expansion, the company will produce a new antioxidant product to manufacture lubricants.
The expansion is scheduled to be completed by November.

Nation Ford Chemical is also planning to construct a new chemical production area on its current campus in Fort Mill, South Carolina, US.

Headquartered in US, Nation Ford Chemical produces various polymers, colorants, organic intermediates and specialty organic chemicals including pigments and solvent dyes.

MRC

(chemicals-technology) -- Rhodia, a subsidiary of Solvay, and Brazil's National Bioethanol Science and Technology Laboratory (CTBE) have joined forces to develop chemical routes and processes to acquire molecules of a high added value from sugarcane biomass.

The research, which will be carried out at CTBE, will focus on the development of chemical blocks now used in various applications and markets that the Solvay Group operates in, to replace non-renewable sources with biomass for the production of these substances.

CTBE research head Maria Teresa Barbosa said that the technologies will be developed on a laboratorial scale for the first two years, followed by improvements at CTBE's process development pilot plant.
Barbosa further said that the project in bio-based chemistry will also comprise computational simulations at the virtual sugarcane bio-refinery (BVC).

Rhodia will offer its proficiency in the chemical sector to develop new routes to high added-value molecules.
The Banco Nacional do Desenvolvimento Economico e Social (BNDES), Brazil's state-owned development bank, will provide USD3.7mln over three years for the project.

MRC