Styrene import volumes decreased year on year in March 2012 in China

(chemmonitor) -- The Chinese styrene market witnessed a fall in March. The import mitigated by about 20,679 tonnes month on month.

Imported volumes of the product reached only 324,097 tonnes, if compared with 344,776 tonnes through February 2012.

However, the import volumes in March 2011 were significantly higher than in the existing year. The figure was 342,816 tonnes.
MRC

Russian Polyef to enhance its PET capacity

(chemmonitor) -- Polyef, a Russia-based company, decided to initiate a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) capacity expansion project.

The facility has a rated capacity of 0.12 million tonnes per year. The manufacturer intends to raise its output by 0.09 million tonnes per year.

Polyef Group was founded in 2006. The company produces and sales polyester fiber, clothing, furniture and silicon syntepon.
MRC

Exxon restarts part of Louisiana pipeline after spill

(hydrocarbonprocessing) -- ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. has restarted part of its North Line oil pipeline in Louisiana, which was shut down April 28 because of a leak. The stretch of North Line affected by the leak, northwest of Baton Rouge, remained shut, according to the company.

ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. has restarted part of its North Line oil pipeline in Louisiana, which was shut down April 28 because of a leak.

"Over the weekend, ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. restarted the portion of the North Line crude pipeline which runs from St. James, Louisiana, to Anchorage, Louisiana," Claire Hassett told. The stretch of North Line affected by the leak, northwest of Baton Rouge, remained shut.

ExxonMobile Pipeline is a unit of ExxonMobil.
MRC

Solvay profit forecast tops most estimates as prices gain

(Reuters) -- Belgian chemicals group Solvay SA expects profit to recover in 2012 thanks to cost-cutting initiatives which helped offset weak markets for its plastics unit and beat consensus in the first quarter.

Solvay has suffered as a struggling construction sector buys less of its PVC for use in drainage pipes and window frames while raw material prices have continued to rise.

However, it now expects an efficiency drive and the benefits of its 3.4 billion-euro (USD4.44 billion) purchase of French specialty chemicals group Rhodia to help it reduce costs and give it an overall recurring core profit roughly in line with 2011.
MRC

Eastman finishes retrofit of newly-acquired plasticizer plant in Texas

(hydrocarbonprocessing) -- Eastman Chemical has completed the retrofit and startup of its non-phthalate plasticizer manufacturing facility in Texas City, Texas. Eastman, which purchased the former Sterling Chemicals plant in mid-2011, said further capacity additions were possible with minimal investment.

Eastman Chemical says it has completed the retrofit and startup of its non-phthalate plasticizer manufacturing facility in Texas City, Texas.Eastman acquired the former Sterling Chemicals plant in mid-2011 as part of its USD100 million purchase of the company.

The facility, which will primarily produce Eastman 168 non-phthalate plasticizer, will increase the overall capacity of Eastman 168 by approximately 60%, the company said.

Further capacity increases are possible with minimal investment at the Texas City site as demand for non-phthalate plasticizers continues to grow, Eastman said.

MRC