PVC imports in Kazakhstan increased by 46% in 2014

MOSCOW (MRC) - Imports of unmixed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in Kazakhstan increased to 65,100 tonnes in 2014, up 46% compared with the same time a year earlier, according to MRC analysts.
The peak in unmixed PVC imports in the country occurred for September, and external supplies began decreasing since October. In December PVC imports in Kazakhstan decreased to 1,300 tonnes, compared with 2,600 tonnes in November. Total PVC imports in the country increased to 65,100 tonnes in January - December 2014, compared with 44,500 year on year. Such a serious increase in PVC imports in the country resulted from a further re-imports of the polymer in Russia.

According to the Statistics Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan exports of unmixed PVC from the country were about 11,000 tonnes in July-November 2014. The main suppliers of PVC in the local market were producers from China, with their share of more than 97% from the total PVC imports into the country.

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Production of polymer goods in Russia increased by 11.8% in 2014

MOSCOW (MRC) - Russia's production of finished products made from polymers grew by 11.8% in 2014. The leaders in the industry last year traditionally were producers of polymer films, according to MRC analysts.

December production of the finished products made from polymers seasonally decreased by 4.3%, compared with the November level, however the year end production volumes increased. According to the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, the December production of unreinforced and noncombined films decreased to 105,000 tonnes, compared to 110,000 tonnes in November 2014. Russia's output of noncombined and reinforced films 1.136 mln tonnes in 2014, up 33.1% year on year.

December production of plates and sheets in Russia totalled 19,200 tonnes, compared to 18,100 tonnes in November. Total production of plates and sheets in the country was 219,000 tonnes in Russia, up only 0.3% year on year.

December production of plastic pipes, hoses and fittings in the country fell to 52,600 tonnes, while in November it reached 54,200 tonnes. Russia's production of plastic pipes, hoses and fittings was about 609,000 tonnes in 2014, up 2.4% year on year.
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Fujian Southeast Electrochemical to restart PVC plant in China

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Fujian Southeast Electrochemical is likely to restart a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plant following maintenance turnaround, reported Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the plant is likely to be restarted before February 2015. It was shut in mid-January 2015 for maintenance turnaround.

Located in Fujian province of China, the plant has a production capacity of 100,000 mt/year.

We remind that, as MRC informed previously, on 9 September 2014, Formosa Plastics Corp (FPC) shut its PVC plant in China for a one-month maintenance turnaround. Located at Ningbo in Zhejiang province of China, the plant has a production capacity of 400,000 mt/year.

Besides, on 9 October 2014, Inner Mongolia Yili shut down its PVC plant in China for a one-month turnaround. A Polymerupdate source informed that the plant was shut on October 9, 2014. It is likely to remain off-stream for around one month.

Located at Erdos in Inner Mongolia, the plant has a production capacity of 500,000 mt/year.
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Sipchem started EVA plant in Saudi Arabie

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Saudi International Petrochemical Company (Sipchem) has started a new ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) film plant, as per Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in Saudi Arabia informed that the plant started production on December 29, 2014.

Located at Hail in Saudi Arabia, the plant has a production capacity of 4,000 mt/year.

As MRC reported earlier, on 26 July 2014, Sipchem commenced trial runs at a new EVA/low density polyethylene (LDPE) swing plant in Saudi Arabia. Located in Jubail Saudi Arabia, the plant has a production capacity of 200,000 mt/year.

Established in 1999, Saudi International Petrochemical Company (Sipchem) manufactures and markets methanol, butanediol, tetrahydrofuran, acetic acid, acetic anhydride, vinyl acetate monomer. Besides, it has launched several down-stream projects to manufacture ethylene vinyl acetate, low density polyethylene, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, cross linkable polyethylene, and semi conductive compound that are scheduled to start in 2013.
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Occidental announces Q4 and twelve months 2014 results

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) announced core income for the fourth quarter of 2014 of USD560 million, compared with USD1.2 billion for the fourth quarter of 2013, said the company in its press release.

The fourth quarter of 2014 had a reported loss of USD3.4 billion, compared with income of USD1.6 billion for the fourth quarter of 2013. The spin-off of California Resources Corporation was completed on November 30, 2014, and its financial and operational results have been classified as discontinued operations.

Domestic core after-tax earnings were USD59 million for the fourth quarter of 2014, compared to USD391 million for the fourth quarter of 2013. The current quarter domestic results reflected lower crude oil and NGL realized prices, higher operating costs from increased workover and maintenance activities and higher DD&A expense, partially offset by higher crude oil volumes. International core after-tax earnings were USD355 million for the fourth quarter of 2014, compared to USD709 million for the fourth quarter of 2013. The current quarter international results reflected lower crude oil realized prices, offset by higher crude oil volumes due to the timing of liftings.

Chemical pre-tax core earnings for the fourth quarter of 2014 were USD160 million, compared to USD128 million in the fourth quarter of 2013. The improvement in the fourth quarter results reflected higher margins for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resulting primarily from higher PVC pricing and improved volumes for most product lines, partially offset by lower caustic soda pricing.

Midstream pre-tax core earnings were USD168 million for the fourth quarter of 2014, compared with USD106 million for the fourth quarter of 2013. The increase in earnings reflected improved marketing performance and higher gas processing income.

Core income for the twelve months of 2014 was USD3.8 billion, compared with USD4.6 billion for the same period in 2013. Net income for the twelve months of 2014 was USD616 million, compared with USD5.9 billion for the same period in 2013. The full year 2013 and eleven months of 2014 California Resources Corporation results are included in the reported net income and cash flows and have been classified as discontinued operations. Operating cash flow from continuing operations, excluding capital accruals, was USD9.4 billion and the company spent USD8.7 billion for capital expenditures, net of partner contributions.

Chemical pre-tax core earnings were USD569 million for the twelve months of 2014, compared with USD612 million for the same period of 2013. The lower earnings in 2014 were primarily a result of lower caustic soda pricing driven by new chlor-alkali capacity in the industry and higher energy and ethylene costs, offset by higher PVC margins and improved volumes across most product lines. Construction commenced on the Ingleside, Texas, ethylene cracker during the first half of 2014 and commercial operations are expected to begin in early 2017. Spending on the cracker began last year and is expected to peak during 2015.

As MRC wrote before, Ingleside Ethylene Llc, the 50:50 joint venture between Occidental Chemical Corporation (OxyChem) and Mexichem, have announced that construction of its ethylene cracker at OxyChem’s Ingleside, Texas, complex is underway and the project remains on schedule to become commercially operational in the first quarter of 2017.

Occidental Petroleum Corporation is an international oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the United States, Middle East/North Africa and Latin America. Headquartered in Houston, Occidental is one of the largest U.S. oil and gas companies, based on equity market capitalization. Occidental’s midstream and marketing segment gathers, processes, transports, stores, purchases and markets hydrocarbons and other commodities in support of Occidental’s businesses. The company’s wholly owned subsidiary OxyChem manufactures and markets chlor-alkali products and vinyls.
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