Middle East petrochemical producers are not a real threat to Indian companies

(Plastemart) -- Middle East petrochemical producers are not a real threat to Indian companies and they will still be able to compete, as per head of marketing at India's ONGC Petro additions Limited, in Platts. The next two years are expected to be tough for Indian producers.


The impact of cheap ethane gas used as feedstock by the Middle Eastern producers as compared to mainly naphtha-based steam crackers in Asia is expected to lessen over the next two years. He pointed out that while cheap ethane feedstock was the main driver for Middle East capacity in the past, there have been no new ethane allocations for new petrochemical projects in Saudi Arabia, for instance, since 2006.


Ethane in the Middle East is now being diverted more to power generation and water desalination plants, and new petrochemical projects are now based on mixed feeds - ethane and LPG, signaling a shift. In addition, several petrochemical projects in the Middle East had been delayed or were operating at lower rates due to non-availability of ethane feedstock or technical issues. The Middle East's ethane-based capacity will be only 16% of global ethylene capacity. So prices will still be determined by high consumption regions like China, Europe and Southeast Asia.


MRC


Arkema to invest US$110 mln over 3 years in Acrylics chain

(Plastemart) -- Arkema plans to invest US$110 mln over 3 years in its Acrylics sites in Clear Lake and Bayport, Texas. This plan will target acrylic acid and its esters, and will focus on growth opportunities seen for applications in water treatment, super absorbent polymers and enhanced oil & gas recovery.


This investment program is a step toward the company's ambition as the number 3 global supplier of Acrylics to grow its core strategic business while boosting its competitiveness.


The first project will focus on moving the Clear Lake site toward a best-in-class facility by improving the reliability and competitiveness of its Acrylic Acid assets. The combination of Arkema's industrial expertise and know-how in Acrylics, along with the latest advances in technology, will aggressively advance this project to start-up in early 2013, bringing the new rated nameplate capacity to 270,000 tons.


The second project for Clear Lake will be the construction of a 45,000 tons unit for the production of Methyl Acrylate, which will support growth opportunities in water treatment, elastomers and technical polymers. This unit is planned for startup in Q2-2013.


MRC


Finance for Pakistan's first ever BOPET plant

(Plastemart) -- Faysal Bank Ltd and National Bank of Pakistan will provide finance of Rs 1800 million for Pakistan's first ever Bi-axially Oriented Poly Ethylene Terephthelate (BOPET) plant. Total cost of the project is Rs 3.38 billion, out of which Rs 1.8 bln has been arranged through bank financing.


The plant, with machinery from Bruckner of Germany is expected to go into production by March 2012 at Port Qasim. The plant is being set up by Astro Plastics (Pvt) Ltd, an associate company of Ismail Industries Ltd (manufacturers of Candyland, Bisconni, Snackcity and Astropack). The lead advisors and arrangers of the financing agreement are National Bank of Pakistan and Faysal Bank which is also the agent bank and security trustee of the agreement.


MRC


Dow Plastics Additives received prestigious SolVin award

(Dow) -- Dow Plastics Additives, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, was presented the Silver Award from the SolVin Innovations in PVC competition for its exclusive SURECEL foam cell modifier technology.


The technology was chosen out of over 140 submissions and 11 finalists and announced at the K Show on October 28, 2010. It is the only additive technology to have ever received this prestigious recognition.


SURECEL foam cell modifier is a new technology platform that helps manufacturers, retailers and builders better capitalize on the growing demand for cellular PVC board products. SURECEL modifier enables the reduction of board density by up to 15%.


Additionally, SURECEL modifier allows for the production of thicker gauge sheets of up to 1.5 inches and helps to provide excellent paint adhesion.
With so many benefits, cellular PVC is becoming the material of choice in rapidly growing applications such as trim board, signage, deck board, window profile and siding.


MRC


HDPE imports to Ukraine keep on falling

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Starting from September HDPE import supplies to the Ukrainian market have been falling and made up about 9 KT in October, according to MRC DataScope.


Following the results of October, HDPE import supplies had fallen by the level of 9,1 KT, which is 4,2 KT (or 31,6%) less than September supplies. Traditionally the main demand reduction was observed in the sector of pipe HDPE, the imports reduced almost one-half - to the level of 2,3 KT.


Expectedly film HDPE import supplies to the Ukrainian market dropped. In September Karpatneftehim renewed PE production after almost two-year production suspension.


Expecting cheaper domestic PE the Ukrainian companies reduced the volumes of materials purchase in Europe. At the same time supplies of Kalush PE to the domestic market had been renewed only by mid-November.


MRC