In May production of polymers in Russia increased to 282,500 tonnes

MOSCOW (MRC) - Last month, Russian producers of large volume polymers were able to increase their output to 282,500 tonnes. Over the first five months, the total production of polymers in Russia amounted to 1,415 thous. tonnes, according to MRC analysts.

Last month, Russian producers of large polymers (polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, styrene plastics, PET) was able to increase the volume of production to 282,500 tonnes, up 4% compared with the April figure. The production of polypropylene, polystyrene and styrene plastics and PET have increased. As for other polymers, their production in May is comparable with the April figure.

In the May production of polyethylene in Russia amounted to little more than 101,000 tonnes, which is comparable with the April figure. The volume of LDPE was reduced to 45,840 tonnes to a greater extent due to the prevention of Kazanorgsintez, the output of HDPE and LLDPE decreased to the index 54,900 tonnes due to reduction capacity utilization of Nizhnekamskneftekhim and Gazprom neftekhim Salavat. In general, in January - May, Russian producers succeeded to produce more than 551,000 tonnes of polyethylene.

Last month, almost all Russian producers increased capacity utilization of polypropylene. The total volume of the polymer in Russia rose to 60,000 tonnes and in January - May production of polypropylene exceeded 262,200 tonnes, down 8% compared to the same period a year ago.

Production of suspension PVC in May amounted to about 48,000 tonnes. Khimprom (Volgograd) in May boosted the production of emulsion PVC to 1,800 tonnes after scheduled turnaround in April. Over the first five months of this year, the total volume of unmixed PVC from Russian producers amounted to about 266,600 tonnes, up 23% compared to the same period a year ago.

In May, the production volume of PET from Russian producers did not change relative to indicators in April and amounted to 42,300 tonnes. In May, Sibur-PETF loaded capacities utilisation fully, in total, the Tver plant produced about 6,500 tonnes against the 4,000 tonnes in April. Capacity utilization of other producers of PET did not change significantly.

The volume of polystyrene and styrene plastics by Russian producers in May rose to 29,310 tonnes. The output of high impact polystyrene and general purpose polystyrene totaled about 21,500 tonnes, while the production of expandable polystyrene has almost doubled in comparison with April and amounted to 7,470 tonnes.

In general, for the first five months of this year, Russian makers produced about 1,415 tonnes of large volume polymers, down 3% year on year.

MRC

(arkema) -- The world leader in PVDF fluoropolymer, an innovative and fast-growing (+7% p.a.) performance material, Arkema announces a major project for the development of its Kynar PVDF business in Europe. Over EUR70m are to be invested into the Pierre-Benite site in France, in particular to increase Kynar PVDF production capacity by 50%, and so support customers in high-growth applications.

This capital expenditure plan of over EUR70m will help increase by 50% fluoropolymer production capacity in Pierre-Benite by 2014. It also entails major technological advances such as the implementation of an innovative high purity process, a new effluent treatment plant, and a contribution to investments for the implementation of the site’s Technological Risk Prevention Plan.

This ambitious program will provide long-term visibility for the fluorochemicals activity as a whole in France, and so consolidate the production chain around the Pierre-Benite site as well as the Saint-Auban site which produces the monomer for some of the fluorogases.
MRC

(plastemart) -- Qatar Petrochemical Company (Qapco) has confirmed that the planned USD 5.5 bln Ras Laffan Mega Petrochemical Complex Project is on schedule in accordance with the original timetable and scope, and that no changes to either are currently under consideration.

Dr. Mohammed Yousef Al-Mulla, Qapco Vice Chairman and CEO, said "We are proceeding with the project as per the announced scope, size, and shareholding pattern, and hopefully our facility will be commissioned on the scheduled date. No changes on the ownership of the project have taken place; Total Exploration and Production is our partner in Qapco ownership, and will have a stake of Qapco share from the project, as per our Joint Venture agreement."

The complex, which will be built at an estimated investment cost of QAR20.1 bln (US5.5 bln) includes a world scale steam cracker, with the feedstock coming from natural gas projects located in the north of Qatar. The project will be carried out on a lump sum turnkey basis and is scheduled for completion in 2018.
MRC

(Reuters) -- Japan's Mitsui Chemicals Inc said it expects to restart its 500,000 tpa Osaka naphtha cracker around July 31 following planned maintenance, delayed slightly from its initial plan of July 26, as per Reuters.

The cracker was shut on Tuesday for scheduled maintenance.

Mitsui Chemicals is a leading manufacturer and supplier of value added specialty chemicals, plastics and materials for the automotive, healthcare, packaging, agricultural, building, and semiconductor and electronics markets.
MRC

(plastemart) -- Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. was awarded a design contract from Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Company, an affiliate of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic), to develop a process design package (PDP) and front end engineering design (FEED) package for the build of an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) plant in the Industrial City of Jubail in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Officials did not disclose the value of the contract that will be executed from Jacobs' Winnersh, UK and Al-Khobar offices.

UHMWPE is used in many industrial applications including batteries and industrial fibers. This plant is to have a production capacity of 35,000 tpa year using ethylene sourced from Kayan's existing olefins plant and is of significant strategic importance as Sabic is to use its own technology.

Jacobs Group Vice President Bob Irvin stated, "We are delighted to have been awarded this high profile project, which we take to be both a statement of our Client's confidence in our ability to deliver strategic projects of this nature and the commencement of what we hope will be a significant and long-term relationship with Sabic that will drive mutual benefits to our businesses and build upon our presence and future capability in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."
MRC