New Polypropylene was introduced by Suzuki Motor Corporation

(Suzuki) -- Suzuki Motor Corporation has developed polypropylene (PP) resin material called the Suzuki Super Polypropylene (SSPP)1, and has adopted them on the front bumper under garnish of the Escudo which was launched in Japan on 11 July, 2012.

SSPP is a polypropylene (PP) material which is approximately 10% lighter than the current PP and excellent in material coloring.

Compared to the current PP, flexural rigidity is at the same level while keeping weight due to talc-free base PP resin. When compared with the parts of the same size, it can be lighter by approximately 10%. And by the heightening of material transparency, it can have excellent material coloring.

In the recent years, the need for weight reduction of automobile’s resin part is increasing, and there is a high demand for reduction of environmental load substance. For these reasons, material coloring of parts is carried forward, in which the colored resin, pre-mixed with colorant and bright coloring before molding, is used without painting.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - By mid-July export prices of European polypropylene (PP) delivered to the CIS countries had stopped falling. At the same time despite rising demand in the domestic market and growing exports to other regions the export quotas for CIS markets were significantly cut, according to MRC analysts.

In early May on the back of falling global oil quotations European prices of PP were downward adjusted, including export prices. In May-June, export quotations of European polypropylene for the CIS countries were cut by more than EUR200/tonne, though the contract price of propylene during these two months was reduced by EUR140/tonne.

The contract price of propylene in Europe for July was reduced by EUR170/tonne, from June. But due to a serious drop in prices of polypropylene in May-June, European makers have reduced the prices for July only by EUR50-90/tonne, from June.

By mid-July export prices of European PP for the CIS markets were set at EUR1,000-1,080/tonne, FCA, for PP-homo. Export quotas were significantly limited, and some producers even refused from supplying PP in July.

The limited export quotas of European polypropylene resulted from increased buying activity in the domestic market, growing exports to other regions, and scheduled stops on turnaround of some productions.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) – After a July fall of export quotations of North-American PVC, suppliers announced a new increase of prices for August deliveries, report MRC analysts.

June was a rather complicated month for North-American PVC exporters. Low demand in the key export markets made them reduce their prices dramatically, including Russian market. If in early May price offers for PVC supplies from USA to Russia had been voiced in the range of USD1,050-1,090/tonne, CFR St.-Petersburg, then by mid-June they had been reduced to the level of USD860-880/tonne, CFR St.-Petersburg.

In June, Asian traders, including Chinese ones, began actively purchasing PVC from the USA on low prices and a seasonal factor. The purchasing volumes of North-American resin by Russian traders remained at May level. As a result, many North-American PVC suppliers virtually sold out July quotas already in June. Export quotations for July shipments increased up to USD880-900, CFR St.-Petersburg.

According to many market participants, there are no offers yet (by mid-July) for this month’s deliveries from the USA. The bid-offers regarding August PVC deliveries to the Russian market are made on average USD900-950/tonne, CFR St.-Petersburg.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) – The major Russian polymer maker Tomskneftekhim has increased its PP production capacity up to 70 thousand tonnes year-to-date. By 2016 the plant is going to increase PP and PE output by 13,9% (compared to 2011) up to 410 thousand tonnes, report MRC analysts.

Tomskneftekhim (Sibur group) continues increasing polymer production capacity, in particularly, PP output. The total year-to-date output of polymers of propylene almost reached the level of 70,000 tonnes, up 3% year-on-year. In 2010 the plant produced about 119,000 tonnes of PP and in 2011 this index grew up to 129,000 tonnes.

In late June the General Director of Tomskneftekhim announced the plans regarding the future of the enterprise. By 2016 Tomsk plant is going to increase its LDPE and PP output up to 410 thousand tonnes. That will make a 13,9% growth of polyolefin output compared to 2011.

Note: last year Tomskneftekhim made about 245,000 tonnes of LDPE and 129,000 tonnes of polypropylene.

The plant is also considering the possibility of raising its production volumes up to 500,000 tonnes. At present company management is engaged in a feasibility study of a project on increase of production capacity.
MRC

(Plastemart) -- After a sharp monthly fall in prices of the ethylene and propylene contracts in Europe, sellers lowered their prices considerably in Italy’s PP and PE markets in the first week of July. Nevertheless, the sentiment has firmed up recently, particularly on the sellers’ side, buoyed by the bullish developments in the energy markets along with the rising prices in Asia.

Now, many sellers are voicing bullish expectations for the near term, arguing that the bottom has been reached in the PP and PE markets. Sellers, meanwhile, reported good demand for last week as many buyers engaged in purchases at competitive prices.

This week, those competitive offers are not widely available as sellers preferred to withdraw their offers in anticipation of a reversal in the market trend.

A West European producer noted, “We are seeing very good demand as most of our customers have run out of stocks. The PE market will turn up in the near term as feedstock costs are higher and demand is performing much better. Buyers are also convinced that prices have hit the bottom and therefore, they are searching for material to replenish stocks.”

In the PP market, price hike intentions have already emerged.
MRC