Duty on VFY import to hit India's textile hub

(fibre2fashion) -- The recent decision of the Government of India to impose an anti-dumping duty of 16.90 percent on the import of viscose filament yarn (VFY) originating in, or exported from, China for a further period of five years, is likely to affect powerloom weavers in India?s textile hub of Surat.

Viscose filament yarn is the main raw material for about 150,000 of around 600,000 weaving machines in Surat, known for man-made fabrics production.

Federation of Gujarat Weavers Association (FOGWA) Chairman, Mr. Ashok Jirawala, told fibre2fashion, "Powerloom weavers and yarn importers in Surat would be greatly affected due to the levy of anti-dumping duty on the import of viscose filament yarn from China. The small-scale industries would especially feel the blow."

FOGWA has submitted a memorandum to two Union Ministers during the past few days urging them to remove the duty on import of VFY. "The Ministers have promised to arrange our meeting with the Textiles Minister and work to solve the issue," informs Mr. Jirawala.
MRC

(dsm) -- DSM Composite Resins announced a price increase of its complete portfolio of resins in Europe, to be effective of June 1st, 2012.

Due to continuing increases of raw material costs, the prices of its Unsaturated Polyester Resins & Vinyl Ester Resins will be raised by EUR90 per ton.

Fons Harbers, Business Manager Composite Resins Europe, explains: "In order to continue our commitment to innovation and sustainable solutions, we have no choice but to pass these increases on to our customers".

DSM Composite Resins is a business unit of DSM headquartered in Schaffhausen Switzerland.

MRC

(plasteurope) -- While announcing its Q1 2012 results, which were down amid rising feedstock costs, especially naphtha, Brazilian petrochemical giant Braskem said it was looking into switching its US polypropylene plants to shale gas feedstock. CEO Carlos Fadigas said Braskem was close to reaching a decision on whether to build its own plant to process propane from natural gas or form a joint venture.

Fadigas reportedly said the decision on whether to build such a facility and in what constellation would be made this year. Braskem had bought Dow Chemical?s (Midland, Michigan / USA) polypropylene business in the US last year.
MRC

(plasteurope) -- Extending its market reach to India, Swiss colorants, dispersed pigments and speciality compounds producer Colorant Chromatics Group (Zug) recently entered into a cooperation with Nishigandha Polymers (Mumbai / India) under the terms of which the latter will distribute the Swiss group?s entire production portfolio.

The range includes colour concentrates, specialty compounds, pigment dispersions and additives as well as high performance plastics and fluoropolymers, including PEEK and PTFE, for instance.

The Swiss group operates plants in Aland / Finland, Shanghai / China as well as Bethel, Connecticut / USA. In addition, Colorant Chromatics runs a distribution centre in Germany and works with sales agents in Spain, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Turkey and India.

The Swiss group in 2007 became part of US liquid colourant, additive and fluoropolymer producer ColorMatrix (Berea, Ohio), which was acquired by PolyOne (Cleveland, Ohio / USA) earlier this year.
MRC

(Reuters) - Valero Energy Corp's 142,000 barrel per day (bpd) Corpus Christi, Texas, refinery reported flaring in its West Plant on Friday because a third party facility was starting up, according to a notice the refinery filed with the U.S. National Response Center.

The Markwest Javelina Co in Corpus Christi, which processes exhaust gases from the area refineries to extract chemicals such as ethane, ethylene and hydrogen for further industrial use, has been performing maintenance has been performing maintenance on its plant.

Valero Energy Corp said work underway Wednesday on a butanizer in the west plant of its 142,000 barrel per day (bpd) Corpus Christi, Texas, refinery would have no material impact on production at the refinery.

The work triggered flaring at the refinery, according to the Corpus Christi Local Emergency Planning Committee.
MRC