Xinjiang Zhongtai launches new PVC production

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Chinese company Xinjiang Zhongtai began a trial run of the third plant for suspension PVC production with the capacity of 900,000 tonnes per year. The Chinese maker is planning to reach the rated capacity by the end of the year, report MRC analysts.

The traditional supplier of acetylene PVC to the Russian market, Chinese company Xinjiang Zhongtai, has announced a trial run of the first line of its third plant in Fukang. According to company representatives, the test run of the first line of the new plant with the capacity of 450,000 tonnes took place on September 16. The company is going to fully reach the industrial volumes of PVC production by the end of September.

The launch of the second line of the plant is scheduled for November. The third plant of Xinjiang Zhongtai in Fukang has a total capacity of 900,000 tonnes of PVC and its production will be aimed at meeting the requirements of the domestic market. In its turn, it will allow to reduce the load on the primary production in Michuan with the capacity of 700,000 tpa.

The launch of the third unit of Xinjiang Zhongtai will allow to increase the total production capacity of acetylene PVC up to 1,600 thous. tonnes and, thus, become a major producer in Northern China and surpass the company Xinjiang Tianye, the total annual capacity of which makes 1,300 thous. tonnes.

Over the past eight months the total import volumes of acetylene PVC of the Chinese company Xinjiang Zhongtai to Russia made slightly more than 29,000 tonnes. In 2011, import of the resin by this company to the Russian market made about 48,400 tonnes.
MRC

Etilen-Polietilen plans to resume LDPE production from September 25

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Azerbaijani PE producer Etilen-polietilen once again postponed the resumption of production after a scheduled outage for maintenance. The plant is going to resume LDPE production starting from September 25, report MRC analysts.

Azerbaijani LDPE producer Etilen-polietilen (Socar group) once again shifted the dates of return to production after a scheduled turnaround. The shutdown for a routine 30-days’ maintenance was carried out on August 1. Yet, the restart of the production did not take place in early September.

On September 4, an unpleasant incident occurred at the plant. KAMAZ, the tank of which holds 20 cubic meters of gas, exploded at E-12 section while ethylene was injecting in the storage. There were no injuries, nor was there a fire or serious damage.

According to plant representative, the resumption of LDPE production is scheduled for September 25.
MRC

Russian PET prices have remained stable by mid-September

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Starting from August, Russian producers’ PET price-offers have remained unchanged despite a major rise in PTA and PET granulate prices in the Asian markets, report MRC analysts.
In September, Russian producers preferred to keep their PET prices at the level of Rb60,000-61,000/tonne, CPT Moscow, including VAT. Despite the stability of prices in the Russian domestic market, price-offers of Asian bottle PET have increased by USD50-80/tonne since September 17 and made USD1,500-1,540/tonne, DAP Moscow.

The existing demand does not allow the plants to raise prices in the domestic market. The season is almost over and granulate sales are decreasing in the spot market due to the reduction of the bottlers’ buying activity.

Revaluation of the national currency is also an important factor. This completely eliminates the growth of import prices.
The tendency of the strengthening of the Russian rouble will only aggravate the situation as regards the domestic makers’ prices. Given the current exchange rate (USD1= RUB30.57) and the established prices of imported PET, the cost of the Asian material for Russian converters will make Rb56,800-58,300 руб/tonne, СРТ Moscow, including VAT (excluding the cost of borrowing monetary resources).

MRC

Indian Oil reduces PP and PE prices

(plastemart) -- Indian Oil Corp has announced discount valid from despatches from 16th Sept 2012 to 30th Sept 2012. Discount of Rs 1000/mt has been announced on the following grades:

PP Injection Molding, Grade 1110MAS & 1110MG
PP TQ, Grade 1100FS
HMHDPE, Grade 002DF50.

Indian Oil Corporation Limited, or IndianOil, is an Indian state-owned oil and gas corporation with its headquarters in New Delhi, India. IndianOil and its subsidiaries account for a 49% share in the petroleum products market, 31% share in refining capacity and 67% downstream sector pipelines capacity in India. The IndianOil Group of Companies owns and operates 10 of India's 22 refineries with a combined refining capacity of 65.7 million metric tonnes per year. In petrochemical range of products the company produces ethylene, propylene, polypropyelene (PP), homopolymer PP, block copolymers and random copolymers; polyethylene (LLDPE and HDPE).
MRC

Petrochemical sector grows in Iran

(FNA)- Iran's petrochemical production capacity has risen by 28 million tonnes in recent years, an official at the National Petrochemical Company (NPC) announced.

31 petrochemical projects had become operational since 2005 that raised the country's petrochemical capacity by 28 million tonnes.

Kermanshah polymer plan, the first phase of West Ethylene Pipeline and Kavian petrochemical plant will come online in near future, NPC Production Manager Ali Mohammad Bossaqzadeh said. He noted that Mahabad and Kordestan petrochemical plants' progress was satisfactory as well, adding that "these national plans have experiencing a high jump in their construction".

17 Mehre Mandegar projects are underway in the petrochemical sector of which six projects have made progress between 90 to 99 percent while the other 11 projects' progress stand at 50 to 80 percent.

The National Iranian Petrochemical Company (NPC), a subsidiary to the Iranian Petroleum Ministry, is owned by the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It is responsible for the development and operation of the country's petrochemical sector. Today, NIPC is the second largest producer and exporter of petrochemicals in the Middle East. Iran has a diversified basket with more than 70 products. The main exports are polyethylene (PE), methanol, benzene, ammonia, sulphur, PVC and propylene.
MRC