PE imports in Kazakhstan decreased by 9% in January - September 2014

MOSCOW (MRC) - Imports of polyethylene in Kazakhstan decreased by 9% in the first nine months of the year.
Demand for high density polyethylene (HDPE) has weakened over the reported period, while demand for other PE grades increased significantly, according to MRC.

PE imports in Kazakhstan increased to 13,700 tonnes in September, from 11,700 tonnes in August. Total PE imports in the country decreased to 80,300 tonnes in January - September 2014, compared with 88,600 tonnes year on year. Demand for pipe HDPE reduced by 18% over the reported period, while demand for low density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) continued to rise.

Structure of PE supply in the country in the reporting period was as follows. September HDPE imports in Kazakhstan grew to 10,600 tonnes, compared with 9,200 tonnes in August, on the back of increase in pipe PE supply from Russian and Asian producers. Total HDPE imports in Kazakhstan decreased to 61,000 tonnes in the first nine months of this year, compared with 74,400 tonnes year on year.

Market participants said the biggest reduction in demand for HDPE occurred for pipe grades. Reduced investment in infrastructure, currency devaluation and the cancellation of preferential treatment of imports of steel pipe HDPE were the main reasons for the decline in demand in this sector.

September LDPE imports in the country decreased to 1,750 tonnes, compared with 2,100 tonnes in August. September shipments were under the pressure of a seasonal factor. Total imports of LDPE in January - September 2014 in the country were 15,100 tonnes, compared with 11,300 tonnes year on year. Key suppliers of LDPE in the country were Russian producers with a share in total supplies about 95%.

September LLDPE imports in Kazakhstan grew to 1,400 tonnes in September, compared with 400 tonnes in August; some market participants said that HDPE was imported as LLDPE because import duties for HDPE is 6.5% and LLDPE - 0%. Imports of LLDPE in the country were 4,200 tonnes in the first nine months of the year, up 43% year on year. Key suppliers of PE in the country were producers from Asia and Uzbekistan.



MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- SIBUR, Russia's largest expandable polystyrene (EPS) producer, has raised its contract prices for the domestic market for November EPS shipments, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

November offer price of the plant (SIBUR-Khimprom) will be increased by Rb2,000/tonne, including VAT, from October. The price rise was expected by market players and was caused by higher prices of imported EPS on the back of the depreciation of the Russian rouble against the US dollar and the euro.

Buyers of Russian EPS said the plant's export prices in dollars remained the same for November shipments to the foreign markets. At the same time, SIBUR might reduce its export shipments in November because of stronger demand for polymer in the local market.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Kuraray, Japanese manufacturer of performance-based polymer and synthetic chemistry technologies, has reached an agreement to sell its European polyvinyl butyral (PVB) film business, formerly owned by DuPont, to GVC SA for an enterprise value of about EUR12-million, reported the company on its site.

The sale includes a PVB production facility in Uentrop, Germany, and a research and development center in Mechelen, Belgium. Subject to customary regulatory approvals and European Commission (EC) approval, the transaction is expected to close in January 2015.

The transaction was a result of the EC's conditional approval of Kuraray's acquisition of DuPont's Glass Laminating Solutions/Vinyls business.

As MRC wrote before, in June 2013, Kuraray successfully completed its acquisition of DuPont Glass Laminating Solutions/Vinyls, a segment of DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers. The USD543-million acquisition will double the size of Kuraray’s presence in the United States, Central and South America. The companies announced about this deal back in 2013.

DuPont is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802. It is the world's ninth largest chemical company based on revenue in 2012. DuPont developed many polymers such as Vespel, neoprene, nylon, Corian, Teflon, Mylar, Kevlar, Zemdrain, M5 fiber, Nomex, Tyvek, Sorona and Lycra. DuPont developed Freon (chlorofluorocarbons) for the refrigerant industry, and later more environmentally friendly refrigerants. It developed synthetic pigments and paints including ChromaFlair.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, has agreed to divest its Business Line Energy Storage to Johnson Matthey Plc, reported the company in its press release.

The total consideration of the sale amounts to USD 75 million at closing which is expected early 2015.

The Energy Storage business of Clariant is the largest hydrothermal Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) producer in the world. The lithium ion cathode material is used in electric vehicles and stationary battery applications. In 2013 the Energy Storage business generated around CHF 16 million in sales. The business employs around 100 employees predominantly in Canada and Germany.

"The divestment of the Energy Storage business with its LFP technology is part of our focused portfolio management and reallocating capital towards our core areas Care Chemicals, Catalysis and Energy, Natural Resources, and Plastics and Coatings," said Hariolf Kottmann, CEO of Clariant.

Robert MacLeod, Chief Executive of Johnson Matthey said: "This acquisition provides us with a strong position in LFP from which to develop a broad portfolio of battery materials. It further strengthens our battery technologies capability which marks an important step in Johnson Matthey’s long term strategy to establish new business areas."

We remind that, as MRC wrote previously, in September 2014, Clariant announced that it had signed a purchase agreement with VitaPac, a Chinese specialist for healthcare packaging. The owner-led company with 80 employees is based in Hong Kong with a production site in Dongguan, China. It had consolidated sales of about CHF 4.0 million in 2013 (USD4.2 million). The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of the fourth quarter of 2014 and subject to regulatory approvals.

Clariant Chemicals (India) Limited and custom color and additive products with production of more than 10,000 color matches which are completed each year. With more than 50 manufacturing plants around the world, Clariant
Masterbatches products, technology and service deliver competitive advantages that foster long-term customer relationships.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Celanese Corporation, a global technology and specialty materials company and a global leader in vinyl acetate ethylene (EVA) emulsions, has announced the launch of its Clarifoil Anti-fog Film for use in architectural, commercial and high-end optical applications, reported the company on its site.

"The world-renowned Glasstec trade fair is an ideal location to launch our Clarifoil Anti-fog Film which offers exceptional clarity to glass and mirrored surfaces in both extreme cold and high-humidity environments," said Lou Purvis, vice president and general manager of the cellulose derivatives business of Celanese. "Attendees will quickly realize that this high performance film offers excellent fog resistance, superior clarity and durability."

Clarifoil Anti-fog Film can be utilized in a wide array of end uses including: architectural applications such as greenhouses, pool enclosures and skylights; commercial applications such as freezer doors and hotel bathroom mirrors; and optical applications such as visors and goggles.

Clarifoil Anti-fog Film is a solid layer of cellulose diacetate film paired with a remarkably clear adhesive. Resistance to fogging is inherent in the cellulose diacetate material whereby moisture can pass into the film, where it can then dissipate; the result is the longer-lasting anti-fog effect. Most other anti-fog films offer only a coated surface, and once it washes, wears or scratches away, the anti-fog properties are gone.

Clarifoil film also offers resistance to most standard window cleaners and will not be degraded by ultraviolet rays. In addition, the film is easy to apply with the correct tools.

As MRC wrote before, in April 2014, Celanese Corporation announced that it had developed new emulsion products for architectural paints. The company also expanded its product portfolio for the coatings and adhesives industries, including Celansese's solvents, vinyl acetate monomer, EVA polymers and emulsions.

Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production of differentiated chemistry solutions and specialty materials used in most major industries and consumer applications. Based in Dallas, Texas, Celanese employs approximately 7,400 employees worldwide and had 2013 net sales of USD6.5 billion.
MRC