Ukraine may impose duties on PVC imports

(europeanplasticsnews) -- The Ukrainian government may impose anti-dumping duties on the imports of PVC from the US and the EU, due to pressure from to Karpatneftekhim, Ukraine’s only local manufacturer of PVC. Karpatneftekhim is owned by Russian oil giant Lukoil.

According to the Ukrainian media reports, several days ago Karpatneftekhim sent a petition to the Ukrainian State Inter-Ministerial Commission of International Trade, demanding an anti-dumping investigation into imports of PVC from the US.

Karpatneftekhim says PVC imported from the US is sold on the local market at a significantly lower price than in the US market. As a result, during the period from Q3 2011 to Q2 2012 imports of these products from grew by 93.1% and share of US producers on the Ukrainian market has increased by 2.3 times.

Karpatneftehim’s sales decreased 38.4% and its share in the market declined 26.4% during the same period.

The annual capacity of Karpatneftekhim is estimated to be about 300,000 tonnes per year, which is significantly higher than the volume of domestic consumption, which is in the range of of in tyhe on of han the volume of s 100,000-150,000 tonnes.

Karpatneftehim wants imports of PVC from the US to be taxed at a rate of 6.5% to make local production competitive.

The State Commission on International Trade has announced that it received an application from Karpatneftekhim and has already start an anti-dumping investigation. Some Ukrainian analysts have already criticized Karpatneftekhim’s stance.

According to a spokesperson in Eurotrubplast, one of the largest manufacturers of PVC pipes in the former Soviet space, the imposition of a duty will result in a significant increase of prices for final products and may lead to a decline of demand.

MRC

IRPC is studying aromatics project

(apic-online) -- IRPC, the petrochemical subsidiary of Thailand's PTT, is studying the feasibility of building a 1-million-t/y aromatics project in the second phase of its Phoenix investment plan, as per Atikom Terbsiri, president of IRPC.

The first phase of the Phoenix plan, scheduled to be completed in 2016, will raise refining capacity to 250,000 b/d from 180,000 b/d, and includes the production of raw materials for aromatics.

Investment required for the aromatics project, as well as location, will be determined in the study.

The first phase will also include the production of super absorbent polymers (SAP), compounds and nylon. "We are in talks with strategic partners to form a joint venture for the SAP project," Atikom said. “The agreement is expected to be signed within this quarter."

IRPC is a producer of integrated petrochemical products. Its complex consists of an upstream, an oil refinery unit and a downstream petrochemical production (polymers, HDPE, PP, ABS/SAN, PS, EPS). The company's oil refinery unit has the total capacity of 215,000 barrels per day, accounting for 21% of the country's total refining capacity.


MRC

Vietnam government allocates land for Nghi Son refinery

(plastermart) -- The government of Vietnam has made a step forward in construction of the country's second oil refinery by allocating land for the Kuwaiti jointly-owned refinery and petrochemicals plant, as per Menafn.com. The land is now ready for excavation and basic construction.

The Nghi Son Refinery and petrochemical project is a joint venture between four sides, with close to equal shares. As MRC reported earlier, Idemitsu Kosan and Kuwait Petroleum International each hold a 35.1% stake in the planned refinery, while PetroVietnam and Mitsui Chemicals own 25.1% and 4.7%, respectively.

Due to hard currency issues, the execution of the project has been delayed a year, and the Japanese government have stepped in to resolve the matter. Japanese banks have funded 70% of the total costs of the project, in addition to backing from the UN and World Bank. The remaining costs, around KD 360 million (USD one billion), will be shared amongst the three main partners, the governments of Kuwait, Vietnam and Japan.
MRC

Evonik expands high performance polymers production in China

(plastemart) -- Evonik has recently launched its new compounding line at its multi-user-site-China (MUSC) located in Caojing, Shanghai. With this expansion the business line gives continuity to its strategy to localize production of specialty polymer compounds by tripling its existing capacity of high performance polymers production in China.

In order to guarantee global and local customers of the highest quality standards, Evonik high performance polymers decided to use turn-key technology from Germany ensuring similar product quality regardless of the plant location on a global basis. This state of the art compounding line will support the fast growth the business line has been experiencing in Asia and in particular in China over the last years in many different applications such as automotive, sports and electronics.

Evonik has also plans to expand further its polyamide operation in China and will build in Singapore a 20,000 mt Nylon 12 plant by end of 2014.

Evonik is one of the world's leading specialty chemicals companies. Its chemicals business already generates more than 80% of sales in areas in which it ranks among the market leaders.
MRC

In January-September imports of polyethylene to Ukraine increased by 5%

MOSCOW (MRC) -- In September, the imports of polyethylene (PE) to the Ukrainian market decreased to 22,500 tonnes due to the limited supply from the foreign markets. Over the nine months of this year, the imports of PE to Ukraine increased by 5% to 236,000 tonnes, according to MRC ScanPlast.

Last month, the total volume of polyethylene in the Ukrainian market decreased by 27%, from August to 22,500 tonnes. The reduction of external supplies of polyethylene in September was due to the limited export quotas of HDPE in Europe and Russia, as well as large volumes of purchases of LDPE in August.


Imports of high-density polyethylene to Ukraine in September fell to 8,400 tonnes, while in August this figure made about 11,400 tonnes. Over the nine months of this year, the total import volume of the HDPE to Ukraine amounted to 86,600 tonnes, down 11% year on year.

External supply of LDPE in September decreased to 7,200 tonnes, from 13,000 tonnes in August. Last month of summer, Ukrainian companies actively bought polyethylene in Russia on the back of a serious decline in prices from Russian producers. In January - September LDPE imports to Ukraine reached 86,100 tonnes, up 5% year on year.


In general, in January - September the total imports of polyethylene to Ukraine amounted to 236,000 tonnes, up 5% compared to the same period a year ago. The demand for polyethylene is unlikely to increase in the local market before the end of this year due to the difficulties with getting credits from banks.


MRC