PE output fell by 12% since early 2012

MOSCOW (MRC) -- In November, Russian makers increased the production volumes of PE up to 147,000 tonnes. Over the past eleven months, PE output in Russia made about 1,240 thousand tonnes, according to MRC ScanPlast.

In November, the total PE output by Russian producers grew by 13% from October and made 147,000 tonnes. HDPE producers raised the output of the material, while the production volume of LDPE dropped by 4%.

Last month, the total HDPE production volumes made 74,600 tonnes in Russia. Kazanorgsintez, Stavrolen and Gazprom neftekhim Salavat increased their output. In November, Nizhnekamskneftekhim focused on linear PE production.

PE output by Russian makers made 57,500 tonnes in November. Last month, Tomskneftekhim, Ufaorgsintez and Gazprom neftekhim Salavat preserved October level of capacity utilization. LDPE output by these plants made 22,200 tonnes, 7,500 tonnes and 3,500 tonnes, respectively. Kazanorgsintez and Angarsk Polymer Plant, conversely, slashed their production volumes.

In general, over the past eleven months, the total PE output in Russia made about 1,240 tonnes, down 12% year-on-year. The largest decline accounts for HDPE output (due to a long-term outage at Stavrolen). LDPE output dropped by 3% due to the termination of production by Neftekhimsevilen and technical issues at Angarsk Polymer Plant.

MRC

(fibre2fashion) -- Braskem Idesa has announced the successful signing of key documents for securing USD 3.2 billion financing for developing the Ethylene XXI project, a petrochemical complex for the production of ethylene and polyethylene in the state of Veracruz, in Mexico.

The latest deal is largest project finance in the history of petrochemical sector in the Americas. The financing was structured with seven government agencies, including two agencies Export Credit (Canada and Italy), two multilateral agencies (IDB and IFC), and three Development Banks (Brazil and Mexico).

As MRC reported earlier, the project includes the construction of an integrated cracker and polyethylene (PE) facilities. French engineering company Technip will provide its technology for the construction of the cracker with the capacity of 1.05 million tpa. The first phase of construction of the project, which began in October 2011, has been completed. The second phase of the project, consisting of detailed engineering, equipment procurement, construction and electromechanical works, began last month.

Founded in 2010, Braskem Idesa SAPI is a joint venture, formed by Brazil’s Braskem SA, the largest producer of thermoplastic resins on the continent, and Idesa Group, a leading Mexican company in the petrochemical sector. The Ethylene XXI project being developed by Braskem Idesa requires a fixed investment of USD 3.2 billion (CAPEX) and a total investment of approximately USD 4.5 billion.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - In November, the Russian producers increased production of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) to 74,600 tonnes, according to MRC ScanPlast.

In November, the Russian producers increased HDPE production by 7% compared with the October to 74,600 tonnes. Although Nizhnekamskneftekhim shifted production in November on linear polyethylene, the other three makers – Kazanorgsintez, Stavrolen and Gazprom neftekhim Salavat increased their capacity utilisation.

Last month Stavrolen loaded its capacity utilization by 100% and produced 26,200 tonnes. Kazanorgsintez’ November production was quite big - more than 42,000 tonnes. Gazprom neftekhim Salavat also showed stable output.

The structure of HDPE consumption did not change in November, the only exception made the sector of pipe polyethylene consumption. Due to Nizhnekamskneftekhim’s shifiting to the production of linear polyethylene the production of natural PE100 was reduced last month.

In general, the eleven months’ total production of HDPE in Russia amounted to 647,000 tonnes, down 16% year on year. Despite the significant growth of PE production by Kazanorgsintez and Nizhnekamskneftekhim this year (up 25% and 28%, respectively), Russian producers are still unable to compensate the long-time stoppage of Stavrolen.



MRC

(hydrocarbonprocessing) -- BASF has awarded a lump sum turnkey engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the expansion of a German chlorine plant (chlor-alkali) to a consortium of Technip and Japan's Asahi Kasei Chemicals.

The plant is located in Ludwigshafen, Germany, BASF’s largest production site worldwide. The work will include a membrane chlorine plant expansion as well as the integration and implementation of existing equipment and facilities.

Technip will be responsible for the complete EPC execution of the project, using Asahi Kasei Chemicals' technology and proprietary equipment. The project is scheduled to start up in the second semester of 2014.

As MRC wrote earlier, ZapSibNeftekhim LLC, an affiliate of JSC Sibur Holding, awarded two front-end engineering and design (FEED) contracts to Technip for polyethylene plants located in Tobolsk, in the Tyumen region of Russia.
The first contract concerns a linear-low/high-density gas phase polyethylene plant. Besides, Technip was awarded by the petrochemical company Al-Jubail Petrochemical Company (KEMYA)(1) - a joint venture between Sabic and Exxon Chemical Arabia, an affiliate of ExxonMobil Chemical Company - a contract for the engineering, procurement and construction of an Halobutyl(2) facility, located in Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia.
mrcplat.com

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Starting from 29 December, 2012, a termless strike of dockers will start on the Eastern coast of the USA. Traders warn their clients about serious disruptions in delivery dates of large polymers from the USA, report MRC analysts.

Appointed to 28 December, negotiations between International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and Employers’ Trade Union, representing the U.S. Marine Alliance, have been cancelled. International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) decided to start a termless strike starting from 30 December, 12.00 a.m., local time.

As a result, traders that ship North American large polymers announced to all their clients that starting from 28-29 December, there might be serious disruptions in cargoes shipments from the ports of the whole Eastern coast of the USA (from Maine to Taxes). There is no definite answer when the strike will be over.

PVC converters in the CIS countries are most vulnerable from large polymers supplies from the USA. On average about 16,000 and 3,000 tonnes of large polymers are supplied monthly to the Russian and Ukrainian markets, respectively. Also, lately quite large volumes of North American HDPE and PP have began to appear in these markets.
MRC