Imports of polyolefins to Belarus dropped by 13% in August

MOSCOW (MRC) -- August imports of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) fell by 13% from July. PP accounted for the main decrease in shipments, reported MRC analysts.

The August PE and PP imports to Belarus dropped to 14,900 tonnes from 17,100 tonnes in July. PP accounted for the largest decline in supplies on higher prices in Europe and limited export quotas from Russian producers.

High density polyethylene (HDPE) is the only polyolefin, imports of which to Belarus rose in August. The overall imports grew up to 5,400 tonnes from 5,300 tonnes in July. The key HDPE suppliers are still Russian producers with a share of about 56%.

The overall HDPE imports to Belarus increased by a quarter to 42,200 tonnes in the first eight months of 2013. Imports of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) dropped by 21% in August from July and totalled about 3,000 tonnes. Saudi Arabian PE accounted for about half of the total imports.

The overall imports of LDPE and LLDPE fell to 29,400 tonnes in January-August 2013 from 38,700 tonnes a year earlier.

Imports of homopolymer of propylene (homopolymer PP) and copolymers of propylene decreased by 12% and 31%, respectively, from July and amounted to 4,700 tonnes and 1,800 tonnes, respectively. The main reasons for the reduction are limited export quotas from Russian producers (for homopolymer PP) and higher prices in Europe (for copolymers of propylene).

The overall import of homopolymer PP and copolymers of propylene to Belarus in the first eight months of the year totalled 39,100 tonnes and 14,300 tonnes, respectively, while in the same period of 2012 it was 40,700 tonnes and 14,400 tonnes, respectively.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Polyplastics Co., Ltd. has announced the launch of a wholly owned sales subsidiary in Mexico City, Mexico, according to the company's press release.

The subsidiary commenced business on October 1.

The new company was created to expand the reach of Polyplastics' sales in the North American market, focusing on the local sales and development needs of existing and new Japanese-affiliated customer companies in this quickly developing region.

In addition, Polyplastics USA, Inc. is expanding its warehouse network, local inventory and order fulfillment functions in North America to quickly and efficiently process orders for our existing and new customers in the region. Its broad product offering includes DURACON(R) POM, DURANEX(R) PBT and DURAFIDE(R) PPS accompanied by our technical solutions network to the market.

As MRC reported earlier, last year Polyplastics Co., Ltd. completed the acquisition of 100% ownership of LCP Leuna Carboxylation Plant GmbH, a German supplier of p-HBA (p-hydroxybenzoate, a key monomer for liquid crystal polymer), from Infatrade (UK) Ltd., London. The liquid crystal polymer is one of the super engineering plastics and has excellent properties such as heat resistance, dimensional stability, flowability and moldability. In recent years, LCP is mainly applied to key electronic parts of cutting-edge IT devices such as smart phones and tablet computers.

Polyplastics is a joint venture between Tokyo-headquartered Daicel and engineering plastics firm Ticona. The company produces polyoxymethylene (POM), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), fiberglass reinforced polyethylene terephthalate (GF-PET), liquid crystal polymers (LCP), polyphenylene sulphide (PPS) and transparent resin cyclic olefin copolymer (COC).
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Jiangsu Leasty Chemical is in plans to shut a styrene monomer (SM) plant for maintenance turnaround, reported Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the plant is likely to be taken off-stream in February 2014. It is likely to remain off-stream for around one month.

Locatd in Jiangsu province, China, the plant has a production capacity of 420,000 mt/year.

As MRC informed previously, another Chinese petrochemical producer Xuzhou Hiatian Petrochemical shut down a polypropylene (PP) plant on 26 August. The duration of the closure could not be ascertained. The closure has been attributed to non-availability of feedstock propylene. Located in Jiangsu, China, the plant has a production capacity of 200,000 mt/year.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Thailand's PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) has restarted a low density polyethylene (LDPE) plant, according to Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in Thailand informed that the plant restarted on October 18, 2013. It was shut on July 10, 2013 owing to technical issues.

Located in Map Ta Phut, Thailand, the plant has a production capacity of 300,000 mt/year.

As MRC wrote previously, in June 2013, Indonesian state-owned energy company Pertamina signed an agreement to purchase petrochemical products from Thailand’s PTT Global Chemical. The agreement serves as a pre-marketing strategy for Pertamina and PTT’s joint Indonesian petrochemical business. Under the agreement, PTT will deliver at least 5,000 tonnes of polyethylene and polypropylene products each month to Pertamina for sale in Indonesia.

PTT Global Chemical is a leading player in the petrochemical industry and owns several petrochemical facilities with a combined capacity of 8.45 million tonnes a year. PTTGC is 49% owned by state-controlled parent PTT Pcl, and uses ethane and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from the gas plant as feedstock for its I4-2 olefins plant.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Arkema, has presented its latest significant innovations in its fluoropolymers, high-performance polyamides, polyolefins, organic peroxides, and plastic additives ranges at K2013, reported the company on its site.

Arkema’s R&D in specialty polymers make the company one of most innovative chemicals manufacturers in the world.
Developing lightweight materials to replace metal and reduce oil consumption in transport, producing technical polymers from renewable raw materials, or improving the efficiency of key components to contribute to the development of new energies, are three of R&D Arkema’s five priority areas.

The company's biosourced technical plastics (Rilsan 11, Pebax Rnew, Altuglas Rnew), ultra high performance polymers (Rilsan HT, Kynar, Altuglas Composite, Altuglas ShiedUp), plastic additives (Durastrength, Clearstrength, Plastistrength) as well as tie and sealing layer materials (Evatane, Lotryl, Lotader, Orevac, Evasin) are helping meet these major sustainability challenges.

The пroup has turned eco-technologies into reality with increasingly efficient materials, the key to the competitiveness of its downstream markets.

Arkema offers the plastics industry an extensive range of high performance materials for the oil&gas, automotive, aerospace, packaging and consumer goods applications.

As MRC wrote previously, this summer, Arkema announced a comprehensive range of PEKK (Poly Ether Ketone Ketone) ultra high performance polymers comprised of three families of products whose properties meet the requirements of aerospace, oil exploration and electronics applications. These new materials significantly expand Arkema’s high performance materials offerings to high added value markets.

Arkema is a leading European supplier of chlorochemicals and PVC. Kynar and Kynar Flex are registered trademarks of Arkema Inc.
MRC