Imports of linear polyethylene in Russia rose by 1% in 2014

MOSCOW (MRC) - Imports of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) in Russia grew by 1% in 2014. Key consumers of this type of polyethylene - the producers of the films showed minimal increase in demand, according to MRC DataScope.

December LLDPE imports in the country increased to 19,200 tonnes, compared with 16,900 tonnes in November because of stronger demand from the producers of films. Total LLDPE imports in the country increased to 212,000 tonnes in January - December 2014, compared to 210,400 tonnes year on year. Key consumers and drivers of growth in demand for LLDPE - the producers of the films showed last year minimal 1% increase in demand.
Structure of LLDPE imports over the reported period was as follows. Russia's imports of film LLDPE decreased to 18,000 tonnes in December, compared with 15,200 tonnes in November on the back of an increase in purchases from producers of multi-layer films. Total film LLDPE imports in the country slightly exceeded 189,000 tonnes in 2014, compared with 188,000 tonnes year on year.

December imports of LLDPE for rotational moulding (production of overall products) fell to the lowest level in the last few years to the less than 80 tonnes. Among the main reasons for this decline were rouble devaluation and falling prices in foreign markets. Total imports of LLDPE for rotational moulding in the country grew to 10,700 tonnes in 2014, up 4% year on year. Key LLDPE importers in the Russiain market over the reported period were Lotte Chemical and SCG Chemicals.

According to unofficial information, Nizhnekamskneftekhim plans to begin production of LLDPE for rotational moulding in 2015.
Imports of LLDPE in the other sectors of consumption (lamination, cable extrusion, compounding, extrusion of pipes, etc.) were 12,300 tonnes in 2014, compared with 12,000 tonnes.


MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Solvay Specialty Polymers has introduced Xydar MG-850 liquid crystal polymer (LCP), a new specially designed grade that meets the rigorous performance and processing demands of new high-speed USB 3.0 surface mount connectors, as per the company's press release.

This advanced new material delivers the high flow, flatness, and dimensional stability required for new 12-gigabyte connectors that target applications in desktop and laptop computers, as well as tablets.

"The connector industry’s adoption of advanced fine-pitch technology has placed even more exacting demands on materials," said Glenn Cupta, global business development manager for electrical/electronics at Solvay Specialty Polymers. "Xydar MG-850 LCP offers manufacturers exceptional performance for these next-generation connectors, providing even tighter tolerances and lower warpage compared to our standard LCP material."

Xydar MG-850 LCP is a 50% glass/mineral reinforced polymer that fills thin walls over long flow lengths. The proprietary mineral and glass reinforcement package provides excellent warp resistance. It also exhibits a heat deflection temperature of 271 C and infrared reflow capability up to 260 C. The material’s low moisture absorption facilitates improved IR reflow performance, according to Cupta.

Solvay’s new injection moldable grade offers performance advantages over competitive low-warp LCPs, and doesn’t suffer from corrosion issues exhibited by other rival material technologies, such as halogen-free flame retardant polyphthalamide (PPA) resins. Xydar LCP is inherently flame retardant, transparent to microwave radiation and resistant to virtually all chemicals.

As MRC informed previously, in October 2014, Swiss Solvay, a privately owned multinational chemicals company, unveiled its breakthrough innovation for surface cleaning formulations. While Mirapol Surf S polymers are a well-established range of polymers for hydrophilization of surfaces such as ceramic, glass, stainless steel, Solvay launches a unique technology enabling formulators to deliver the key benefits consumers now expect for even modern plastic surfaces. With Mirapol Surf N, Solvay makes a step change in household cleaning making it effortless and longer-lasting.

Solvay S.A. is a Belgian chemical company founded in 1863, with its head office in Neder-Over-Heembeek, Brussels, Belgium. The company has diversified into two major sectors of activity: chemicals and plastics. Solvay supplies over 1500 products across 35 brands of high-performance polymers – fluoropolymers, fluoroelastomers, fluorinated fluids, semi-aromatic polyamides, sulfone polymers, aromatic ultra polymers, high-barrier polymers and cross-linked high-performance compounds.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- After a prolonged closure, the Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd (HPL) plant is in the process of re-starting operations with the trial run to begin in the near future, as per Plastemart.

"The captive power plant has been commissioned as a pre-start up activity. The main plant start-up should happen anytime now," a source in HPL told PTI, adding that stabilisation of the power plant would take some days, after which steps would be initiated for operating the mother plant, closed since July 2014.

Earlier, the West Bengal Government had provided Rs. 100 crore as margin money as demanded by the lenders, while the other promoter, TCG, was yet to furnish that amount. TCG has agreed to come up with the margin money, while the lenders have also committed funds for running the plant.

As MRC wrote before, in mid-July 2014, the manufacturing plant of Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd was shut down after the naphtha cracker unit developed a technical snag. Earlier, the Haldia plant was running at 50% capacity for long due to working capital crunch.

Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd is a modern naphtha based petrochemical complex at Haldia, West Bengal, India. Haldia has played the role of a catalyst in emergence of more than 500 downstream processing industries in West Bengal with a capacity to process more than 3,50,000 TPA of polymers, among which are polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Market capacity of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in Kazakhstan increased in 2014 by 5% year on year and totalled 54,400 tonnes, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

To dat, there is no production of PET chips in Kazakhstan. Local bottlers and converters meet the needs of the Kazakh market by imported Chinese and Korean PET. China and Korea are the main PET chips suppliers.

At the same time, Chinese grades accounted for 59% of the total imports of material for the production of PET preforms in 2014, whereas Korean grades accounted for 41%. Last year's share of other countries-suppliers was low and was less than 1%.

The growth in consumption was achieved because of a surge in shipments in December, as the overall consumption of material in the market remained stable from January to November 2014 compared to the same period of 2013. December PET imports totalled 5,800 tonnes, up by almost 5 times than imports in November.

According to ICIS-MRC Price report, spot prices of Asian bottle grade PET fell again in the domestic Kazakh market last week. On the average, traders made discounts of Tenge 5,000-10,000/tonne to customers. The price range dropped to Tenge 240,000-260,000/tonne CPT Almaty, including VAT.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Albemarle Corp. (ALB) reported a fourth-quarter loss of USD18.5 million, after reporting a profit in the same period a year earlier because of the costs associated with its Rockwood acquisition, pensions and lower sales, said the company in its press release.

Rockwood announced the completion of the USD6.2bn acquisition earlier this year.

On a per-share basis, the Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based company said it had a loss of 24 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs and to account for discontinued operations, came to 99 cents per share.

The results missed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of USD1.01 per share.

The specialty chemicals company posted revenue of USD598.6 million in the period, also falling short of Street forecasts. Analysts expected USD648.6 million, according to Zacks.

For the year, the company reported profit of USD133.3 million, or USD1.69 per share. Revenue was reported as USD2.45 billion.

Albemarle shares have dropped almost 8 percent since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Wednesday, shares hit USD55.37, a decrease of 12 percent in the last 12 months.

Albemarle Corporation, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a premier specialty chemicals company with leading positions in attractive end markets around the world. With a broad customer reach and diverse end markets, Albemarle develops, manufactures and markets technologically advanced and high value added products, including lithium and lithium compounds, bromine and derivatives, catalysts and surface treatment chemistries used in a wide range of applications including consumer electronics, flame retardants, metal processing, plastics, contemporary and alternative transportation vehicles, refining, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, construction and custom chemistry services.
MRC