PE import to Russia keeps growing

MOSCOW (MRC) -- PE import to Russia has kept growing steadily since January. In June PE import rose to the record level of 64,700 tonnes. Over the past six months the total PE import has reached the level of 331,000 tonnes, up 16% year-on-year, report MRC analysts.
In June Russian traders dramatically increased import volumes of PE to the domestic market. Following the results of last month import supply surged up to the record level of 64,700 tonnes, up 11% from May. The main increase was in the import of HDPE.

HDPE import exceeded 35,000 tonnes last month, up 15% from May. PE supply for pipe production made 12,000 tonnes and film HDPE made about 8,000 tonnes out of the total amount. Over the past six months HDPE import amounted to about 175,000 tonnes, up 14% year-on-year.

LDPE import totaled to about 11,800 tonnes. As expected, the main growth was in PE supply from Belarus. Total year-to-date import volumes of LDPE rose by 21% and made about 61,100 tonnes.

In June LLDPE import grew by 13% from May and reached the levell of 14,000 tonnes. The share of Middle-East PE makers increased up to 37% in the total volume of LLDPE import. The year-to-date LLDPE import to Russia made about 73,400 tonnes.

In general, total year-to-date import volumes of PE and ethylene copolymers to Russia made about 331,000 tonnes, up 16% year-on-year.

MRC

Polypropylene prices surged by USD20-40%

MOSCOW (MRC) – Last week buying activity grew in the PP market on increase in oil and PP quotations. Polyethylene prices also went up in the Asian market.

Over the past week PP prices surged by USD20-40/tonne, report MRC analysts.

Last week buying activity increased dramatically in the Asian market. Rise in oil and propylene quotations made local traders replenish their PP stock inventories. This resulted in a price rise by USD20-40/tonne by the end of the week.

Despite the price growth market participants doubt that the surge of prices will last long. The Central Bank of China slashed again interest rate on loans which gives rise to many issues regarding the further economical growth of the country. At the same time almost all the market participants are unanimous in their belief that demand for PP will keep growing till September (the peak month in the season).

Last week PP-homo prices increased by USD30-40% and reached the average level of USD1,350/tonne, CFR. Bid-offers for PP copolymer grew by USD20-40/tonne and varied around USD1,370/tonne, CFR.
MRC

Filmtech Corp. expands PA cast-film capacity and facility

(Converting Quarterly) -- Allentown, PA-based Filmtech Corp., a member of the Sigma Plastics Group and a leading maker of multilayer cast films, will expand its PA site by 50,000 sq ft to accommodate increased production brought on by a new Davis-Standard cast-film line and two high-speed winders. The addition and increased capacity is expected to be online by early 2013.

Filmtech also has announced that MJ Quinn & Co. has joined its sales team. Mike Quinn brings 40 years of experience serving the hygienic disposables market to Filmtech and will be an integral part of aligning the new capacity with the market.

Filmtech produces cast agricultural, industrial and hygienic films for the North American market. Sigma Plastics chairman/CEO Alfred Teo said, "This expansion and the hiring of MJ Quinn and Co. is part of our ongoing commitment and desire to grow our specialty film business here in North America."

Filmtech Corporation, Inc. is a flexible packaging supplier to the meat, cheese, seafood, coffee, hotel, restaurant and medical industries
MRC

Rhodia offers a complete Technyl range

(Plastech) -- Rhodia Engineering Plastics, a member of the Solvay group, now offers the automotive industry a new heat performance Technyl range specifically engineered for both injection and blow molded parts for turbocharged engines.

Following on from diesel engines, turbocharging is now considered in Europe a critical technology for powertrain development for today’s downsized petrol engines where performance and power output must be guaranteed. To meet this increasing demand for turbo technology solutions, Rhodia has developed a complete heat performance range of polyamide 6.6 grades for injection and blow-molding.

Technyl B2 is the brand new generation for 2D and 3D blow molding which allows complex tubular parts capable of resisting temperatures of up to 210°C. This complements Rhodia’s Technyl offering for turbo systems which includes the Technyl Heat Performance (HP) range of products for injection molded applications displaying continuous temperature resistance of 200°C.
“In addition to its high temperature resistance, the new generation of Technyl grades for turbo applications offers excellent processability and cost-competitiveness,” comments Manuel Rossi, Innovation to Market Leader for Rhodia Engineering Plastics.

'This undoubtedly makes it the best technical and economic compromise for Tier 1s to meet OEMs’ growing challenges of higher and tougher heat environments.' Ideal for turbo intercoolers and air duct systems, Technyl heat performance range broadens the field for polyamide in automotive under-the-hood applications.

Rhodia Engineering Plastics provides its customers with polyamide-based high performance engineering plastics designed for the automotive, electrical & electronics, sporting and recreational goods industries, it also produces intermediates and polymers based on the polyamide 6.6 value chain. Rodia is the world leader for high-performance silica used in polymer reinforcement. The company also manufactures polyamide-based fibers used in lingerie, clothing and sportswear.
MRC

Evonik invests in Singapore

(Evonik Industries) -- Evonik’s new polyamide 12 line is planned to be built in Singapore by 2014 to increase the availability of this specialty plastic.

Following the initial announcement in 2011, the basic planning for the construction of a 20,000 mt plant for the production of the specialty plastic polyamide 12 (PA12) in Asia is now entering the final phase. Subject to the approval of the relevant bodies, the new plant will be built in Singapore and is scheduled to be completed by 2014.

Adding to the capacity of the existing facility in Europe, this second production plant for PA12 in Singapore is designed to substantially increase the availability of the product and its guaranteed delivery. It will also bring Evonik even closer to its customers in Asia’s fast-growing markets.

PA12 is used in innovative, high-quality products in the automotive sector, electrics and electronics, household equipment, sports equipment as well as in manufacturing industry. Together with some of its customers, Evonik has also developed new PA12-based applications for oil and gas production as well as for the solar industry. Evonik markets PA12 as a construction material under the Vestamid brand name and as a coating powder under the name Vestosint.

The damaged CDT plant in Marl is currently being repaired and, according to current planning, is expected to recommence operations in the fourth quarter of 2012. Afterwards, Evonik’s entire PA12 capacity will be available once more.

Evonik is one of the world's leading specialty chemicals companies. The company's specialty chemicals activities focus on high-growth megatrends — especially health, nutrition, resource efficiency, and globalization — and on entering attractive future-oriented markets.
MRC