LLDPE imports to Russia decreased by 6% in Q1 2014

MOSCOW (MRC) - Despite a significant increase in the imports of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) in March, total LLDPE imports to Russia decreased by 6% in Q1 2014, according to MRC DataScope.

Following sluggish demand in January and February Russian companies increased their LLDPE purchases in foreign markets in March. Russia's LLDPE imports increased to 20,300 tonnes in March, from 12,800 tonnes in February. However, despite such a significant increase in March deliveries, total LLDPE imports the first quarter of this year decreased to 44,900 tonnes, compared with 47,700 tonnes year on year.

Consumption structure of LLDPE imports over the reported period was as follows. Russia's imports of LLDPE for films production rose to 18,300 tonnes in March, compared with 11,300 tonnes in February. Total imports of film LLDPE to Russia fell to 40,500 tonnes in Q1 2014, from 43,500 tonnes in the same period a year earlier on the back of weaker demand (devaluation and rising prices for finished products). Besides, Nizhnekamskneftekhim switched to the production of film LLDPE in March.

March imports of LLDPE for rotational moulding to Russia exceeded 1,000 tonnes. Russia's imports of LLDPE for rotational moulding were about 2,000 tonnes in Q1 20014, up 17% year on year.

March imports of LLDPE for other consumption sectors to Russia were about 1,000 tonnes. Total imports of LLDPE for other consumption sectors to Russia were about 2,500 tonnes in Q1 20014, compared with 2,600 tonnes year on year.


MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Eastman Chemical Company, a global specialty chemical company, is increasing prices on the following products from 1 May 2014, or as contracts allow, reported the company.

Thus, acetic anhydride (all grades): off-list prices will increase by USDUSD 0.03/lb (USDUSD 0.07/kg) and EUR0.05/kg in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

As MRC informed previously, from 1 April, Eastman Chemical increased prices of Santoflex 6PPD (para-phenylenediamines). The offlist price rose by USDUSD0.05/lb (USDUSD 0.10/kg) globally. These increases were due to elevated operating costs, especially in raw materials.

Besides, responding to a market need for a suitable material to use in hand-held and other electronic medical device housings that is tough and resistant to aggressive cleansers and disinfectants, Eastman Chemical Company is expanding its Eastman Tritan copolyester portfolio for the medical market with the introduction of Tritan copolyester MXF121. Tritan MXF121 is a bisphenol A (BPA)-free alternative to polycarbonate (PC) and PC/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) that can stand up to today’s aggressive disinfectants and withstand the stresses of daily use and handling.

Eastman (headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA) is a global specialty chemical company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With a portfolio of specialty businesses, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. Its market-driven approaches take advantage of world-class technology platforms and leading positions in attractive end-markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Specialty chemicals company LANXESS AG is to raise its prices for ethylene-vinyl acetate synthetic rubber grades (EVM), according to the companie's press release.

The increase will take effect in the EMEA, LATAM, APAC and GC regions on April 15, 2014, and in the NAFTA region on April 21.

The High Performance Elastomers business unit has announced that the price for grades in the Levapren/Levamelt and Baymod L (EVM) product lines will increase by up to EUR 250 or USD 350 per metric ton.

The reason for this price adjustment is the general rise in production costs.

For decades, Levapren has proved its mettle as an optimal solution for an extremely wide variety of applications. The oil, ozone and aging-resistant Levapren grades are used, for instance, in vehicle engine compartments. Here, the water and oxygen-proof and UV-resistant rubber Levapren ensures that cable insulation, hoses, seals, and other rubber components remain tight in spite of heat and aggressive fluids. Levapren is to be found in ultralight and nonetheless highly elastic shoe soles and in transparent bellows and robust profiles. In addition, low-flammability floor coverings and cable sheathing made of EVM can save lives if a fire breaks out. The state-of-the-art material from LANXESS is an advantage in all areas where quality, an extremely long service life and safety are critical factors.

As MRC wrote previously, last July, Lanxess celebrated the opening of its first production facility in Russia. In the new plant at the Lipetsk site, Lanxess subsidiary Rhein Chemie manufactures polymer-bound rubber additives for the markets in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), primarily for the automotive and tire industries. A production facility for the bladders used in tire production is to be added in 2016. The overall investment volume in euros amounts to a seven-digit figure.

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 8.3 billion in 2013 and roughly 17,300 employees in 31 countries. The company is currently represented at 52 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Total, Europe’s third-largest oil company, in cooperation with IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN) and its affiliate Axens, has developed Atol, a technology for the most profitable production of polymer grade bio-ethylene by dehydration of 1G and 2G-renewable ethanol, as per Plastemart.

Within this cooperation, Total developed a high performance catalyst formulation at its research Center in Feluy, Belgium, IFPEN scaled up catalyst performance within a heat recovery innovative process while Axens industrialized the catalyst formulation and finalized the process scheme with particular focus on energy-efficiency. Total and IFPEN are the co-owners of the technology and Axens is now in charge of commercializing Atol by providing all process licensing related services and catalyst manufacturing.

Atol is believed to be the most advanced dehydration technology and features the highest profitability as a result of:
Lower Capex by simplified product purification brought on by the outstanding performances of the ATO 201 catalyst which exhibits a high activity and selectivity towards ethylene.

The bio-ethylene produced can be integrated in existing downstream polymerization installations such as polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polyethyleneteraphthalate (PET), polyvinylchloride (PVC) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) without need for modifications.

Atol is the first of a series of technologies, for the production of other olefinic monomers by processing bio-derived higher alcohols, to be developed in parallel based on Atol’s technology platform.

"We are very excited about this efficient and competitive technology that will be able to meet a growing demand for plastics based on renewable raw-materials. This offer is in line with our strategy to become a leading company in the field of technology for bio-based production of Motor Fuels and Chemicals", said Christian Dupraz, Axens Senior Executive Vice-President Process Licensing.

As MRC informed earlier, Total intends to invest EUR160m before 2016 to adapt its petrochemical platform in Carling, in the Lorraine region of eastern France, and to restore its competitiveness. Total plans indeed to develop new activities on the platform in the growing markets for hydrocarbon resins (Cray Valley) and for polymers, while shutting down the acutely loss-making steam cracker in the second half of 2015.

Total S.A. is a French multinational oil and gas company and one of the six "Supermajor" oil companies in the world with business in Europe, the United States, the Middle East and Asia. The company's petrochemical products cover two main groups: base chemicals and the consumer polymers (polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene) that are derived from them.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Qatofin is in plans to shut a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) plant for maintenance turnaround, as per Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in Qatar informed that the plant is planned to be shut in mid-April 2014. It is likely to remain off-stream for around one month.

Located at Mesaieed, Qatar, the plant has a production capacity of 450,000 mt/year.

As MRC informed previously, last year, Qatar Chemical and Petrochemical Marketing and Distribution Company (Muntajat) took over the marketing and distribution responsibilities for Qatar’s globally recognised Lotrene brand of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and LLDPE. Muntajat has the mandate to export Qatar’s 10 million tonnes/year of chemicals and petrochemicals to markets worldwide.

In Qatar, LDPE and LLDPE are produced by Qatar Petrochemical Company (Qapco) and Qatofin respectively, and these high-quality products are being sold to more than 4,500 customers worldwide under the brand name Lotrene.

Qatar’s chemical and petrochemical industry’s planned investments will further increase the country’s export portfolio to 23 million tonnes per year by 2020, from 10 million tonnes in 2013, according to Muntajat CEO Abdulrahman Ali Al-Abdulla's statement.
MRC