Prices of Russian DOP remained intact in October

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The prices of Russian DOP for October shipments remained at September level. Some market participants do not exclude that the price level of Russian DOP will remain without significant changes till the end of the year, report MRC analysts.

Russian makers of plasticizing agent DOP kept their prices for October shipments without any significant changes from September. In the spot market, deals for Russian DOP are concluded in the range of Rb76,000-82,000/tonne, FCA , including VAT.

Some market players report that the decline in prices of Russian plasticizing agent are unlikely to take place till the end of the year despite a seasonal decrease in demand. As per unofficial information, one of the major Russian DOP producers is going to reduce by one-third its production volumes in November-December in order to avoid excess supply of DOP in the market and to preserve the current price level.
MRC

Polief to expand the capacity utilisation of PET output

MOSCOW (MRC) -- In the framework of the expansion project "PET-210" Polief delivered to the plant on 5th of October to Blagoveshchensk the solid state polycondensation reactor SSP, according to the press release of the maker.

According to the sources of the company, the reactor was delivered by sea from Turkey to Rostov-on-Don, where it was transported to Blagoveshchensk. The contract for the supply of the equipment and technical services was awarded to Italian firm CHEMTEX. Currently the housing for the installation of the reactor SSP is being prepared.
To date, the capacity of Polief plant producing PET bottle makes 120,000 tonnes. After the commissioning of the new reactor total capacity of the plant will be around 210,000 tonnes of PET granulate.

As per MRC ScanPlast, in January-August this year, the total volumes of PET production of Polief made 85,000 tonnes of bottled granulate. For the same period last year, this figure was 93,700 tonnes.


Decline in output in 2012 resulted from the long scheduled turnarounds of the plant, due to the preparatory work of the expansion project. In August, capacity utilization of the maker made 55%, with the production volume - 9,300 tonnes of granulate.


MRC

Petrochemical market to see dramatical changes till 2022

(plastemart) -- The petrochemicals market is expected to undergo a period of significant change over the forecast period 2012-2022, as per Visiongain.

The emerging markets are expected to embark on a period of significant expansions, while Middle Eastern competition will create irrevocable changes to the competitive landscape of the global petrochemicals market over forecast period.

The damaging effects of the Euro crisis are expected to continue for a significant portion of the forecast period and this is expected to have an impact on growth in the developed regions. Nonetheless, Visiongain expects the petrochemicals market will reach a global value of USD609.30 bln in 2012.

The developing economies will play a crucial role in the development of petrochemicals over 2012-2022. The value of these markets will increase dramatically and suppliers are expected to shift their focus from the developed economies to the developing economies.

Innovation is expected to be more prevalent in the more mature regions. This is due to a global need to increase competitiveness and the mature regions will seek this through reduced costs and increased efficiency. Innovation constitutes one of the most effective ways in which these goals can be achieved.
MRC

Sibur invites Ukrainian converters to a long-term cooperation

MOSCOW (MRC) – On the back of the project of the PP production in Tobolsk, Sibur invites converters of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene of low density (LDPE) in Ukraine to discuss the drivers of polymer market and offers a long-term cooperation and business development in the polyolefins sectors.

Sibur’s top executives of the Directorate of basic polymers will discuss the prospects of development of the regional sales network. One of the strategic goals of the company is to develop a system of long-term relationships with partners, using modern methods of technical support services to ensure maximum customer satisfaction.

Linda Naylor, a leading analyst of ICIS pricing in the European market of polyethylene and polypropylene will take part in the meeting.

Organizer of the event is the company MRC. The discussion will be held on the 30th of October 30 in Kiev, in Hotel Hyatt Regency.

MRC

Valero Meraux Oil Refinery Restarts Crude Unit After July Fire

(bloomberg) -- Valero Energy Corp. (VLO)’s Meraux oil refinery in Louisiana has restarted its crude unit, which has been shut since a July 22 fire.

It will take "several days" for the unit to run at full rates, according to a company source.

The company shut the entire 135,000-barrel-a-day refinery, 10 miles (16 kilometers) east of New Orleans, after the fire. It restarted downstream production units at the plant Aug. 6 and ran them at reduced rates.

However, Hurricane Isaac, which hit Louisiana in late August, as MRC reported earlier, delayed Valero’s plans to restart the crude unit in the first week of September.

Valero restarted the downstream units Sept. 4 and has been running them at reduced rates. The downstream units will advance to full rates with the crude unit, said a source.
MRC