Idemitsu's Tokuyama SM units running normally after restart

SINGAPORE (ICIS) -- Japan's Idemitsu Kosan Co has achieved high operating rates at its styrene monomer (SM) units in Tokuyama, after successfully restarting them in early October, a company source said on Wednesday.

The 120,000 tonne/year and 220,000 tonne/year units were shut in early September for scheduled maintenance, said the source, adding that the turnaround lasted for around a month.

The company also operates a 210,000 tonne/year unit in Chiba, which is ⌠operating normally at present, the source added.

Other SM producers in Japan include Asahi Kasei Corp, Denki Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Denka), Nippon Steel Chemical Group, Mitsubishi Chemicals Corp and Nihon Oxirane Co.

MRC

SINGAPORE (ICIS) -- South Korea's SK Energy has started the maintenance shutdown at its polyolefin facilities in Ulsan, with the restart date set on 2 November, a company source said on Wednesday.

The company's 218,000 tonne/year linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) plant at the site was taken off line on Tuesday, the source said.

Meanwhile, SK Energy's 183,000 tonne/year high density PE (HDPE) plant and its two polypropylene (PP) plants with a combined capacity of 376,000 tonnes/year in Ulsan were scheduled to be taken off line on 17 October, the source said.

Other major PE producers in South Korea include Honam Petrochemical and Hanwha Chemical.

MRC

SINGAPORE (Business Times) -- Petronas Chemicals Group is looking to raise as much as US$4 billion in a Malaysian initial public offering, exceeding earlier estimates of over US$2 billion as it hopes to tap strong global investor demand for Asian stocks.

Petronas Chemicals, which manufactures olefins and polyolefins, fertilisers, industrial and specialty chemicals, will have started "pre-marketing" its IPO yesterday with formal investor roadshows slated to begin on October 27.

The deal is expected to be priced on November 12, according to an e-mail sent to investors by one of the advisers.

Petronas Chemicals has an annual production capacity of more than 10 million tonnes. It posted operating profit of US$2.3 billion in fiscal 2009, according to its prospectus.

MRC

MOSCOW (ICIS) -- Sibur has completed a rouble (Rb) 1.6bn ($53.4m, ┬38.5m) project to increase a plant's capacity of light-hydrocarbon gases to service downstream facilities, the Russian petrochemical major said on Tuesday.

Sibur increased the capacity of its Gubkinsky plant from 284,000 tonnes/year to 434,000 tonnes/year, it said.

In July, Sibur started building a new pipeline to transport light-hydrocarbon gases to the Tobolsk-Neftekhim petrochemical plant, which is operated by its subsidiary.

The 400-kilometre pipeline, which has a capacity of 7m tonnes/year, would be used for Sibur's project to build a new 500,000 tonne/year polypropylene (PP) facility at the premises of the Tobolsk-Neftekhim subsidiary.

The PP facility is expected on stream in 2012.

MRC

(Plastics News) -- Chinese chemical manufacturer Tianjin Daju Chemical Co. Ltd. has signed an agreement with German supplier Bruckmann & Kreyenborg Granuliertechnik GmbH for pelletizing systems to produce ABS resin.

The Chinese firm, which also makes PVC resin and plastic parts for doors and windows, plans to purchase underwater pelletizing systems to manufacture 200,000 metric tons of ABS a year.

BKG said it was its largest order ever in China.

Tianjin Dagu, based in Tianjin City, employs 6,000 and also makes hydrochloric acid, caustic soda and other materials. Tianjin Dagu declined further comment.

MRC