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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Tasma, an 80-year-old Russian producer of technical industrial films which supported the USSR war effort during World War II, has assumed a new role as an extruder of barrier food packaging film, as per Plasticsnews.
Following doubts over the financial future of the business, the firm, which previously specialized in making X-ray, defense and aerospace films, invested 6.3 million euros (USD7.9 million) in its latest project to launch new shrinkable multilayer ‘Mealguard’ packaging films at a plant in Kazan, Tatarstan.
The new plant is located in the Khimgrad Technology Park for SME businesses at the heart of the Tatarstan petrochemicals cluster. Partially funded by Russia’s Sberbank banking group, the unit features an Italian supplied GAP 48 linear meters per year triple bubble film extrusion line. Tasma has production space to accommodate up to four similar lines.
Production of the multilayer film for packaging fresh and processed foods, for storage up to 60 days and in some cases, for cook-in pouch application, represents new technology for Russia. During its first year of operation, the Tasma plant will import raw materials from Germany, Italy and Israel. But in the future, the firm expects to receive its polymers directly from the Russian producers Kazanorgsintez and Nisknekamskneftekhim.
Tasma aims to capture a Russian market share of 8% to 1% with its new products worth around 6.8 million euros (USD8.5 million), substituting European and other foreign imports. Replacing packaging imports is significant for Russia today in the face of international trade sanctions over Ukraine.
Today, the market for shrinkable multilayer barrier packaging in Russia is reported to be worth around 76.5 million euros (USD95.9 million) and is expected to rise to almost 102 million euros (USD127.9 million) by 2020.
Tasma employees have been retrained and now represent a proportion of the 35-strong high technology workforce at the new facility, which was officially opened by Rustam Minnikhanov, president of the Tatarstan semi-autonomous republic.
Following the inauguration, Tasma signed a deal to supply its new packaging to the poultry farming business of the Russian bank and holding group AK Bars.
MRC
Russian industrial film maker converting to food packaging film
Ineos to invest GBR640m in UK shale exploration
MOSCOW (MRC) -- Refiner and petrochemical group Ineos will invest around GBR 640m (USD1 billion) in shale gas exploration in the United Kingdom, according to Reuters.
The company plans to use the gas as a raw material for its chemicals plants, including Grangemouth in Stirlingshire. Grangemouth is currently running at a loss, but Ineos believes shale gas will transform the economics of the plant.
Shale gas extraction is promoted as an important potential energy source, but has prompted environmental concerns. In September, the Swiss-based group acquired a stake in a shale oil and gas licence in Scotland, and Britain's energy ministry said it planned to pay a share of revenues from any production to landowners and communities.
As MRC reported earlier, Ineos had announced plans to give 6% of its shale gas revenues to homeowners, landowners & communities who live above its shale gas operations. Ineos anticipates being a major player in the shale gas industry and believes it will give away over GBP2.5 billion over the life of its business.
The group entered the UK fracking industry in August, when it announced it would acquire a majority stake in the shale portion of a licence covering 329 sq km of Scotland’s Midland valley from BG Group.
It extended its interests in the sector last month by buying a majority stake in a neighbouring licence covering 400 sq km across four exploration blocks to the north and west of Glasgow.
Ineos Group Limited is a privately owned multinational chemicals company consisting of 15 standalone business units, headquartered in Rolle, Switzerland and with its registered office in Lyndhurst, United Kingdom. It is the fourth largest chemicals company in the world measured by revenues (after BASF, Dow Chemical and LyondellBasell) and the largest privately owned company in the United Kingdom.
Russian market of extrusion PC continues to grow
Despite a weaker economy in the country and rouble devaluation, the consumption of PC granules for sheet extrusion showed steady growth.
In line with the reduction of imports (down 5% year on year) Russian converters increased the consumption of PC from the national producer Kazanorgsintez (KOS).
The share of the producer PC sheet extrusion sector increased from 63% to 67% in January-October 2014. Kazanorgsintez adopted a strategy of import substitution, and refrained from the deliveries to foreign markets and changed the production structure.
Kazanorgsintez increased the production of extrusion PC grades to 45,300 tonnes in the first ten months of the year, up 7% year on year.
The producer delivered 97% of the extrusion PC grades, made over the reported period.
At the same time, the company decreased the output of injection moulding PC almost two times in the first ten months of the year. Russian PC became more competitive compared to imported products because of the rouble devaluation.
Despite the increase in the delivery costs by Rb4/kg in November the Russian PC prices are significantly lower than the European or Asian material. The producer also gives convenient ways of payment for converters.
Kazanorgsintez recently signed an agreement with German BASF for delivery of stabilizing additives for PC production. With this connection, we can expect an expansion of the range of products and higher quality, which improves the sales.
MRC
HDPE production in Russia fell by 20% from January to October 2014
MOSCOW (MRC) -- Production of high density polyethylene (HDPE) in Russia decreased by 20% over the first ten months of 2014. The forced outage at Stavrolen was the main reason for the lower output, as per MRC ScanPlast report.
October HDPE production in Russia totalled 47,900 tonnes versus 44,300 tonnes in September. Such low production figures in September and October were caused by a scheduled shutdowns for maintenance at Kazanorgsintez and Nizhnekamskneftekhim. Overall, Russian producers reduced their polyethylene (PE) output to 671,400 tonnes from January to October 2014 from 836,200 tonnes a year earlier. The increased production of all plants could not offset the forced February outage at Stavrolen.
The HDPE production structure by plants looks the following way over the stated period.
Kazanorgsintez, Russia's largest PE manufacturer, produced about 20,700 tonnes of HDPE. The plant's overall HDPE production rose over the the first ten months of the year by 6% to about 399,000 tonnes.
Nizhnekamskneftekhim significantly increased its capacity utilisation last month, raising the plant's PE output to 19,400 tonnes. The plant's overall production exceeded 149,000 tonnes over the said period, up by 2% year on year.
Gazprom neftekhim Salavat produced 7,800 tonnes of HDPE in October, the plant's overall output of this PE grade increased by 27% from January to October 2014 and totalled 75,500 tonnes.
As reported earlier, Stavrolen was forced to shut down its PE production because of an accident at the plant's ethylene unit on 26 February 2014. According to recent statements of the company's officials, the resumption of HDPE production is expected in March or April 2015. The plant's annual production capacity is 300,000 tonnes.
MRC
PP imports in Ukraine decreased by 16% in January - October 2014
MOSCOW (MRC) - Imports of polypropylene (PP) in Ukraine decreased by 16% in the first ten months of this year, the decline in deliveries occurred for all PP grades, with the biggest drop for PP block copolymer, according to MRC DataScope.
Ukraine's PP imports have been decreasing since the surge in September. The decrease in PP purchases in foreign markets resulted from a seasonal factor and the problems with the purchase of currency in the country.
October PP imports in the country decreased to 10,000 tonnes, compared with 12,300 tonnes in September. Total PP imports in Ukraine decreased to 94,000 tonnes in January - October of this year, compared with 112,100 tonnes year on year. The largest drop in demand occurred for PP block copolymers because of the shutdown of some plants.
Structure of PP supplies over the reported period looked as follows. October imports of homopolymer PP in Ukraine decreased to 7,600 tonnes, compared with 10,400 tonnes in September. Total imports of homopolymer PP in the country decreased to 73,000 tonnes in the first ten months of this year, down 14% year on year.
The largest drop in demand occurred for the injection moulding sector (down 44% over the reported period), while demand for raffia remained at the last year's level. Key suppliers of homopolymer PP in the local market were producers from Saudi Arabia and Russia.
October imports of figure external supplies of block copolymers of PP did not exceed the level of 1,000 tonnes. Total imports of PP block copolymers in the country fell to 9,700 tonnes in the first ten months of the year, compared with 13,700 tonnes year on year.
Demand for extrusion copolymers for pipe and sheets production reduced more than two times. Demand for PP in the sector of injection moulding declined by more than 25%. The main suppliers were producers from Europe.
October imports of PP random copolymers in the country grew to 1,200 tonnes. Total imports of PP random copolymers in Ukraine were 8,500 tonnes in January - October 2014, compared with 10,100 tonnes year on year.
Demand from producers of PP pipes reduced by 29%; demand in the injection moulding sector fell by 11% over the reported period.
Total imports of other propylene copolymers over the reporting period were 2,700 tonnes, compared with 3,900 tonnes in the same time a year earlier.