PP-homo imports exceeded 15 KT in Russia in September

During the nine months of 2010, PP-homo imports to the Russian market made up 75 KT, which was 34% more compared to the same period last year. In September, PP-homo imports exceeded 15,8 KT, which was a record figure for the Russian market.

Traditional suppliers of PP-homo to Russia are Turkmenbashinskiy Refinery (Turkmenistan) and Lisichansknefteorgsintez (Ukraine): they supplied 64% of the overall volume in 2010. In September, PP supplies from Turkmenbashinskiy Refinery for the first time exceeded 8 KT, which was 36,3% more compared to the previous month. Ukrainian PP-homo supplies to the Russian market moved at 3,4 KT, having demonstrated 49,9% increase compared to August.

For more detailed information on the Russian polypropylene market, see DataScope Report.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- PP output has moved at 465.4 KT over the nine months of the current year, according to the MRC's Monthly Report.

Following the nine months' results the Russian PP producers have increased PP production volumes to 465.4 KT, which was 8% more compared to the same period last year. Increase in output is the result of resumed operations at Stavrolen PP production unit.

At the same time, extremely hot weather and technical problems limited capacity utilization at different production lines in Q2 and Q3. Technical problems and breaks in production have still been observed this month.

The Russian PP market has been demonstrating stable growth dynamics this year. By September, Russian PP producers had already concentrated their efforts on supplies to the domestic market. Lacking volumes were compensated by imports: in September, supply of PP-Homo moved at record 15.9 KT.

MRC

(ICIS) -- Qatar Chemicals (Q-Chem) is in the process of starting up its new 350,000 tonne/year high density polyethylene (HDPE) plant at Mesaieed, Qatar, a source close to the company said on Tuesday.

⌠We are now in start-up mode and have begun to produce some on-spec and some off-spec product, but it will take a couple of months before we begin regular exports, the source added.

The market would feel the impact of the new capacity only by end December or early January, he said.

The HDPE plant will produce mostly blow-moulding grade [and] also some HDPE 80 pipe and film grades, a second source said.

Q-Chem, a joint venture between US major Chevron Phillips Chemical and state-owned Qatar Petroleum, currently operates a 450,000 tonne/year HDPE plant at Messaieed.

MRC

(ICIS) -- Petrochemical players in Hainan, China are bracing for the onslaught of super typhoon Megi, which might halt shipping activities in the island province for a few days, industry sources said on Monday.

The typhoon was coursing through the northern part of the Philippines on Monday and was expected to head towards southern China on Tuesday, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC) of China.

⌠We are requiring companies to take some measures to cope with the impending typhoon, but I think the impact on the production will be limited, said an official from Hainan Yangpu Economic Development Zone.

Hainan Refining and Chemical Co (HRCC), which operates an 8m tonne/year refinery in the island at the southern tip of China, was taking some precautionary measures for the typhoon but has no plans to cut production, said a company source.

HRCC, a subsidiary of China's state-owned petrochemical giant Sinopec, also operates a 200,000 tonne/year polypropylene plant and other chemicals plants on the island.

China BlueChemical, which has a 600,000 tonne/year methanol plant in Hainan, was not expecting any operational disruption to production, said a company source, but added the heavy rains from the typhoon may pose logistical problems in shipping out products, said a company source.

MRC

(Plastics Today) -- Total Petrochemicals has shared some details on a new SB 1461 grade of high-density polyethylene that is formulated to run at better than 1700 bottles/cavity/hour rates, on Sidel's stretch blowmolding (SBM) machinery.

According to Total, trials with HDPE SB 1461 on different equipment from Sidel have been performed with positive results. Total says the stretch blowmolded HDPE bottles show a clear increase of rigidity in comparison to extrusion blowmolded ones. This rigidity combines with drop test resistance to allow for further down gauging, so that HDPE dairy bottles produced by SBM can be about 20% lighter than extrusion blowmolded dairy bottles currently in commercial use.

In addition, reports Total, high definition mold engraving even improves the design flexibility and bottle look.

The newly developed grade is compatible with the established HDPE recycling stream. The grade is targeted especially towards dairy and other food/beverage applications but Total says it already is working on a new HDPE grade with the necessary Environmental Stress Crack Resistance (ESCR) for household chemicals and personal care packaging.

MRC