Plasticizer DEHP remains legal for use in REACH-land

(Plastics Today) -- One of the world's most commonly used plasticizers to soften PVC has been registered under the European Union's REACH legislation.

The plasticizer, DEHP [Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate], accounts for about 17% of all plasticizer usage in Western Europe and approximately one-third of plasticizer use worldwide, mainly for making PVC soft and pliable.

For DEHP, the registration was driven by a consortium of European suppliers of the chemical. The members of the DEHP consortium include Arkema (lead registrant), Oxea, Perstorp, Polynt SPA, Zak S.A., Deza a.s., Oltchim S.A. and Boryszew S.A.

With the registration complete, DEHP has been registered for all current uses including medical devices. However, because DEHP is classified in Europe as a Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC), its uses beyond January 2015 will eventually need to be authorized.

REACH, the regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals, entered into force on June 1, 2007 and was supposed to streamline and improve the former legislative framework on chemicals used in the EU.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Today in Moscow, Marriott Grand Hotel, Russian Polymers Summit 2010 is held. It is organized by ICIS and MRC.

One day Summit is for senior managers of leading Russian and international companies involved in the production and processing of polymers.

Among the participants of the summit there are heads and representatives of the following leading petrochemical companies: Nizhnekamskneftechim, Kazanorgsintez, JSC LUKOIL, SIBUR, Salavatnefteorgsintez, BASHCHIM, Sajanskchimplast and biggest polymers converters.

The Summit participants are also the representatives of world leading producers: Dow, Borealis, ExxonMobil Chemical, LG Chem, LyondellBasell, SABIC, Total Petrochemicals, Petkim.

The production facilities of these companies provide 80% of the Russian polystyrene market, 75% - PE market, 50% - PVC market and 40% - PP market.

45 % summit participants are the heads of the companies. Russian Polymers Summit is covered by informational agencies Interfax, Bloomberg, Vedomosti, Reuters, Prime-Tass and others.

MRC

SINGAPORE (ICIS) -- South Korea's LG Chem plans to shut its 760,000 tonne/year naphtha cracker in Daesan for turnaround and expansion works in the middle of March 2011, a company source said on Thursday.

The cracker is expected to be taken off line for a month, said the source, who added that the ethylene capacity would be increased to around 900,000 tonnes/year after the debottlenecking work.

LG Chem also runs a 1m tonne/year naphtha cracker in Yeosu, which is not slated for maintenance next year, he added.

MRC

(Plastemart) -- Majority of French refineries and two major oil ports have decided to carry on with a strike against government plans to overhaul pensions. These strikes have hampered the export of polyethylene, as per Platts.

An impact currently seen in the low density polyethylene market which is getting tighter now, as deliveries out of LyondellBasell's Aubette unit have been affected because polymer transportation has been affected by the strike. The 320,000 tpa Aubette plant continues to run normally. Meanwhile LyondellBasell's refinery Berre L'Etang and Ineos' Lavera were reported to have extended the strike.


ExxonMobil's second refinery in France, Port-Jerome Gravenchon, did not join the strike and has continued operations and fuel supplies.

Ethylene vessels are not moving appropriately out of France, resulting in delays affecting the Tarragona region.

MRC

SHANGHAI (ICIS) -- China's Xinjiang Tianye Group Co achieved on-spec production at its new 400,000 tonne/year carbide-based polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plant in China's northwestern Xinjiang province on 6 October, a company source said on Thursday.

With the start-up of the new plant, Xinjiang Tianye's PVC production capacity has increased from 700,000 tonnes/year to 1.1m tonnes/year, making it the largest PVC producer in China, according to the source.

Meanwhile, the company also achieved on-spec production at its new 300,000 tonne/year caustic soda unit in late September, said the source.

The new plant, which is also located at the same site in Xinjiang, has increased the company's caustic soda capacity from 600,000 tonnes/year to 900,000 tonnes/year, the source added.

MRC