Russian production of large volume polymers in April decreased

MOSCOW (MRC) -- In April, Russian producers reduced production of large volume polymers to 262,300 tonnes. The decline was seen in the production of all polymers, the only exception made polypropylene, as per MRC analysts.

Last month, the total production of large volume polymers (polyethylene, polypropylene, unmixed polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene and PET) in Russia declined by 10% compared to March and reached 262,300 tonnes. The output of all polymers decreased, the exception made only polypropylene.

The production of polyethylene in Russia fell in April to 102,300 tonnes. The decline in production resulted from the shutdown of Kazanorgsintez capacities for LDPE production. Also worth mention the temporary suspension of Stavrolen and the reduced capacities utilization of Angara ZP.

Russian producers managed to increase the output of PP to 53,000 tonnes. In April, Stavrolen’s output made more than 8,000 tonnes, while other Russian producers, by contrast, reduced the production volumes. In general, the total production over four months reached 203,000 tonnes.

In April, three Russian producers of PVC stopped their capacities on the turnaround (Caustic/Volgograd, Khimprom and Sibur-neftekhim). As a consequence, the total production of unmixed PVC in Russia fell to 49,800 tonnes. In January-April, the production of PVC made about 192,000 tonnes.

The total volume of polystyrene production last month amounted to little more than 23,000 tonnes. Angarsk polymer plant showed a serious decline in production.

The total volume of PET in April fell to 33,800 tonnes. The decline in production resulted from several reasons. Sibur-PETF stopped at the scheduled turnaround, other Russian producers on the back of low seasonal demand also reduced their level of capacity utilization.

MRC

(Reuters) - Shaw Group Inc took another step toward sharpening up the U.S. engineering company's focus by selling its energy and chemical (E&C) division to French oilfield services group Technip for USD300 million.

Shaw Chief Executive Jim Bernhard said exiting the business, which only moved back into profit this year, would allow the Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based company to pursue more opportunities in the primary industries it serves.

"Shaw will continue to focus our efforts on growing our leadership positions in our core business lines," Bernhard said in a statement.

Shaw said it would retain E&C staff in its Baton Rouge office as well as a consulting unit, and both would be moved into other divisions. Shaw will also retain its Toronto office, which was now under review, as well as obligations related to a nearly complete ethylene plant in southeast Asia.

Technip said Shaw would also retain all legacy engineering, procurement and construction contracts.

MRC

(hydrocarbonprocessing) -- Georgia Gulf said Monday that it has agreed to collaborate with Segetis to offer a new flexible vinyl compound based on Javelin technology bio-plasticizers from Segetis.

This is an exciting collaboration that combines Segetis' proprietary technology with Georgia Gulf's vinyl compounding expertise to customize formulations that deliver unique performance profiles, said William H. Doherty, vice president of vinyl compounds at Georgia Gulf.

This is the second collaboration to develop bio-based flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compounds announced in 2012 by Georgia Gulf, the US-based company noted.

The Segetis bio-based plasticizers are built on a new platform of cellulosic-based levulinic ketals, which Segetis has branded as Javelin technology.

The plasticizers are compatible across a wide-loading range, are highly efficient with excellent permanence and bring faster processing speeds and elevated temperature performance, the companies say.

Coupled with their ability to be 100% bio-based, all Segetis plasticizers bring low vapor pressure and low extractables, and they are broadly miscible with many resin families.
MRC

(lgchem) -- LG Chem has chosen Burckhardt Compression to deliver one hyper compressor as a secondary compressor and one process gas compressor as a booster/primary compressor for its low-density polyethylene (LDPE) ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) plant in Daesan, Korea.

After a thorough evaluation phase, LG Chem selected Burckhardt Compression, thanks to the proven technology and numerous references to LDPE plants with similar or larger capacities. For LG Chem, it is essential to have a single point of contact for both compressors since both compressors are installed in the main production line and are interdependent. Burckhardt Compression bears the overall responsibility for the package, that is, for compressing ethylene gas over the whole compression range.

The compressors are scheduled for delivery in December 2012.

MRC

(hydracarbonprocessing) -- The Linde Group is set to build and operate a new hydrogen plant in the Jilin Chemical Industrial Park (JCIP) in northeast China. The company will be investing around EUR42 million in the first phase of this new project.

The hydrogen plant is expected onstream by the end of 2013, supplying several companies in the Jilin chemical complex with high-purity hydrogen. This park is home to production facilities run by Evonik Industries and Jishen, a joint venture between the PetroChina Jilin Beifang Chemical Group and the Jilin Shenhua Group.

The new hydrogen plant will use steam methane reforming (SMR) to produce 25,000 Nm3h of hydrogen. It will be built by Linde's Engineering Division and operated by its Gases Division. In addition, Linde will set up a subsidiary, Linde Gases Jilin, to focus on further expanding the gas supply infrastructure in and around the JCIP chemical complex.

Jishen, Evonik Industries and Huntsman are investing around EUR390 million in total to construct a chemical hub in Jilin that will produce high-pressure propylene oxide (HPPO). Evonik is building a 230-kiloton/yr hydrogen peroxide plant to supply Jishen's 300-kiloton/yr HPPO plant. Jishen will then supply the HPPO to Huntsman for its polyol plant.

MRC