Idemitsu SM to restart its SM plant in Malaysia

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Idemitsu SM Malaysia, an affiliate of Idemitsu Kosan, is in plans to restart its styrene monomer (SM) plan, reported Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in Malaysia informed that the plant is planned to be restarted on September 15, 2014. It was shut for maintenance turnaround.

Located at Pasir Gudang in Malaysia, the plant has a production capacity of 240,000 mt/year.

As MRC wrote previously, Idemitsu SM (Malaysia) shut down its SM plant for maintenance in August 2014. It is likely to remain shut for around one month. Located at Pasir Gudang in Malaysia, the SM plant has a production capacity of 600,000 mt/year.

Idemitsu Kosan is a Japanese petroleum company. It owns and operates oil platforms, refineries and produces and sells petroleum, oils and petrochemical products. The company runs two petrochemical plants in Chiba and Tokuyama. The two naphtha crackers can produce up to 997,000 tonnes of ethylene per year.
MRC

Russian HDPE market anticipates price rise following maintenances at Kazanorgsintez

MOSCOW (MRC) - Kazanorgsintez plans to shut its high density polyethylene (HDPE) capacities for scheduled maintenance works from 15, September. Traditionally HDPE prices increased after the producer shut its capacities for a turnaround, the current year is no exception, according to ICIS-MRC Price Report.

Kazanorgsintez, the largest Russian HDPE producer, intends to finish its maintenance works in the first decade of October. Scheduled maintenance works at the producer's HDPE production usually led to a shortage of the material in the market, resulting in a price rise.

The current year will be no exception, as the situation worsens by the shutdown of Stavrolen. The shutdown of the second largest HDPE producer in Russia - Stavrolen has already led to a serious increase in the price of all PE grades in the market.

The biggest shortage is felt in the market of blow moulding and injection moulding HDPE. Price offers for above said PE grades are practically absent in the market, with small volumes of stocks left reaching Rb95,000/tonne FCA, FCA, including VAT.

Traders have offered imported blow moulding and injection moulding HDPE in the spot market, in particular Middle Eastern material. Price offers for Middle Eastern blow moulding and injection moulding HDPE were heard in the range Rb86,000-88,000/tonne FCA, including VAT.

At the same time, in spite of such a serious difference in price with the Russian polyethylene, many local converters do not rush to buy imported HDPE. The market of film HDPE is excessive at the moment due to to a steady supply of material from the Kazanorgsintez and Nizhnekamskneftekhim. The low end of the price in the beginning of the month was at Rb82,500/tonne FCA, including VAT.

But in the next two weeks, the situation can radically change. Kazanorgsintez is to shut its HDPE capacities; Nizhnekamskneftekhim will reduce production rates at its HDPE capacities because of the scheduled maintenances at the production of ethylene, moreover the producer switches to linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) production from October for a month.

In general, taking into account the plans of Russian producers over the next two months, he market faces inevitable shortage of injection moulding HDPE. Both producers are not going to produce it until November.

Supply of blow moulding HDPE will be also tight to mid October because of the turnaround at Kazanorgsintez. There can be some shortage felt in film HDPE market; however, demand for it seasonally decreases, besides some traders plan to deliver significant volumes of Middle Eastern material in October.
MRC

Eastman and Helian Polymers teamed to launch colorFabb XT-Copolyester

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Eastman Chemical Company, a specialty chemical company, and Helian Polymers, a leader in the masterbatch and biopolymer industry, have teamed to launch colorFabb XT-Copolyester made with Eastman Amphora 3D polymer, reported Eastman on its site.

The new low-odor, styrene-free polymer is uniquely suited for the 3D market with benefits in air quality, dimensional stability and regulatory compliance.

The collaboration between Eastman and Helian, brand owner of colorFabb, began in 2013 with the goal of developing a solution for functional 3D products printed using extrusion-based 3D printing. The companies worked to test materials and formulations, utilizing their expertise in high-performance polymers and 3D printing filaments. Eastman’s history with a broad portfolio of solutions and technical expertise complemented Helian’s innovative work with 3D printers and filaments. The resulting colorFabb XT-Copolyester made with Eastman Amphora 3D polymer focuses on functionality and features strength, workability, processing, aesthetics and low odor for 3D printed products.

Eastman Amphora 3D polymers will provide makers of 3D filaments with a consistent, high-quality product. It will empower consumers to create strong, functional 3D products through desktop printing, while ensuring good air quality and dimensional stability with a material that complies with FDA regulations. Looking to the future, Eastman is considering tailoring options - like color and texture - for additional solutions.

As MRC wrote previously, earlier this year, Eastman Chemical Company, enhanced its medical packaging portfolio with Eastalite copolyester, the company’s first opaque offering, which is styrene-free and can be a sustainable alternative to high-impact polystyrene (HIPS).

Headquartered in Venlo, the Netherlands, Helian Polymers has years of experience in the masterbatch and biopolymer industry. Its goal is to provide the plastic processing market with the best possible solutions with respect to customer needs.

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

Russia mulls USD40bn Rosneft aid

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Rosneft could be in line for a $40 billion-plus boost from the Russian state as the oil behemoth looks to fight off the effect of international sanctions against it and the country, according to Upstreamonline.

The Russian government is considering "types of support" for the Moscow-based giant following a request last month from company president Igor Sechin for 1.5 trillion rubles (USD40.45 million today) in a letter sent to the Ministry of Economic Development.

On Monday local newspaper Vedomosti quoted Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev as saying that help could be on the way for Rosneft. "This figure (of 1.5 trillion rubles) only looks imposing, but everything doesn't have to be done in one year," Medvedev told Vedomosti.

"I recently held a meeting on Rosneft’s investment programme. The company needs to maintain its production levels, because Rosneft is a major source of tax revenue," he said. "As such, we should help it maintain its level of investment. We are now considering specific variables and types of support.

"I have no doubts about the company's performance in the medium to long term. The investment will certainly pay off," Medvedev continued.

Sechin in mid-August was reported to have laid out five suggestions for support from the federal government, with help from the National Welfare Fund one possibility. Vedomosti reported at that time that Sechin suggested the fund spend 1.5 trillion rubles on Rosneft bonds.

Net debt at the Moscow-based player stood at 1.5 trillion rubles at the end of June.

Rosneft and Sechin himself have found themselves on the end of sanctions imposed by Western governments over the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine earlier this year. Sanctions were stepped up further in the wake of the downing of a Malaysia Airlines flight over eastern Ukraine in July, killing almost 300 people.

Rosneft became Russia"s largest publicly traded oil company in March 2013 after the USD55 billion takeover of TNK-BP, which was RussiaпїЅs third-largest oil producer at the time.

MRC

PC exports from Russia slumped by 51% from January to August 2014

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Exports of polycarbonate (PC) from Russia to foreign markets totalled 4,800 tonnes from January to August 2014, down by 51% year on year, according to MRC DataScope report.

Kazanorgsintez, Russia's only PC producer and a major PC exporter, has announced a reduction of exports and growth of supplies to the domestic market. The plant started to reduce exports in April, and it did not do any shipments to foreign markets in July and August.

No other producer export PC from Russia, except for Kazanorgsintez. The exceptions are made only in cases of resale of PC stocks from converters' warehouses.
Earlier, Kazanorgsintez's injection molding grades accounted for more than 80% in the structure of exports. Shipments were mainly done to the Chinese market. At present, the producer intends to reduce production of injection moulding PC to meet the needs of the Russian market and to increase its production of PC for sheet extrusion.

mrpclast.com