EPS imports to Russia fell by 23%

MOSCOW (MRC) -- January imports of expandable polystyrene (EPS) to the Russian domestic market decreased by 23% year on year. Russian companies imported 2,100 tonnes of EPS during the said month, according to MRC DataScope report.

The Chinese plant Loyal is the main EPS supplier to the Russian market (such grades, as F-SA, F-MS, F-SB and BS were imported in January). The overall Loyal's EPS imports were about 740 tonnes. Styrochem, Jiangsu Sunchem and LG Chem remained among the major suppliers in January.

January is a traditionally weak season. Long New Year holidays in Russia contributed to seasonal factors. Therefore, converters build up the main stocks in December.
According to ICIS-MRC Price report, SIBUR increased its February EPS prices by Rb3,000/tonne FCA, including VAT,. At the same time, the company reduced its prices for export shipments to Ukraine, which are announced in US dollars.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- January imports of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into Russia fell by 7.6 times year on year to 3,640 tonnes, according to MRC DataScope report.

Lower purchasing of PET in foreign markets was registered monthly since May 2014. After the end of the season, in September, Russian converters cut import purchasing further. The slump in imports were caused by two factors: firstly, by the increased production capacity in Russia last year (the start-up of the second line at Polief, the plant's capacity rose by 90,000 tonnes per year); secondly, the two-fold rouble devaluation led to a substantial increase in import prices.

According to ICIS-MRC Price report, prices of Chinese and Korean PET were much higher than prices of Russian PET chips producers in the Russian domestic market, despite lower export prices of PET in Asia throughout the last year.

The largest PET supplier to Russia remained Shanghai Hengyi Polyester. Shanghai Hengyi Polyester shipped 1,500 tonnes to the Russian market.

The Lithuanian plant Neo Group is the second largest supplier in January. At the same time, Zhejiang Wankai and China Resources Chemicals' PET grades, which used to be in the top 5 import suppliers, were not imported in January.

Shipments of Indorama Polymers and Jiangsu Sanfangxiang to Russia also fell significantly in January.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- In step with green building trends in commercial and institutional architecture, Dow Coating Materials (DCM) has introduced two new resin technologies for low and ultra-low VOC coatings, said the producer on its site.

MAINCOTE AEH Acrylic Epoxy Hybrid combines the weatherability and UV resistance of acrylics with the chemical resistance of epoxies for two-component (2K) concrete coatings. Expanding on its offerings for direct-to-metal (DTM) coatings, DCM also launched MAINCOTE 4950 Acrylic Resin, an offering that combines three technical innovations in one binder for high performance with less VOC.

"Coatings are increasingly recognized as contributing to holistic green building design by helping enhance durability and protection properties," said Mary Rose Correa, North American industrial coatings field marketing manager, Dow Coating Materials. "Our new MAINCOTE Resins build on the durability and protection properties of metal and concrete coatings while lowering VOC to low and ultra-low levels."

MAINCOTE AEH Resin offers excellent tire pickup resistance in waterborne 2K concrete coatings, making it an excellent choice for commercial flooring and residential garage floors where high performance and ultra-low VOC is desired. For commercial and institutional wall applications, MAINCOTE AEH Resin offers excellent resistance to aggressive cleaning regimens while contributing to improved aesthetics in daylighted interiors.

Compared to current DTM finish coats formulated at various VOC levels, MAINCOTE 4950 Resin offers an improved balance of hardness, corrosion and durability properties, as well as good architectural gloss and trim paint properties.

As MRC wrote previously, last November, The Dow Chemical Company announced an increased divestiture target aligned to further enhance the value of its portfolio and support the company’s market-driven, integrated strategy. On track to complete its goal of realizing USD4.5 billion to USD6 billion in proceeds by year-end 2015, and with additional portfolio management actions underway, Dow is now increasing its divestiture target to USD7 billion to USD8.5 billion to be complete by mid-2016. Since 2013, the company has generated USD2.5 billion in proceeds, reallocating this capital to remunerate shareholders, fund growth and reduce debt.

The Dow Chemical Company is an American multinational chemical corporation. As of 2007, it is the second-largest chemical manufacturer in the world by revenue (after BASF) and as of February 2009, the third-largest chemical company in the world by market capitalization (after BASF and DuPont). Dow is a large producer of plastics, including polystyrene, polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, and synthetic rubber.

MOSCOW (MRC) -- PolyOne GLS Thermoplastic Elastomers has announced its collaboration with Schneider Electric and Mobiya, a part of Schneider Electric’s Business, Investment and People for the Bottom of the Pyramid (BipBop) program, as per the company's press release.

PolyOne’s GLS Versaflex TPE was selected for several functional components in Schneider Electric’s Mobiya TS 120, a portable, solar-powered LED lamp that combines lighting and mobile phone charging.

"We are pleased to help Schneider Electric bring the basic necessity of light and power to those who need it," said Walter Ripple, vice president and general manager, PolyOne GLS Thermoplastic Elastomers. "Versaflex TPE is ideally suited for the demanding environments in which Mobiya is used, providing an ideal combination of usability, durability, and aesthetics."

"This is an excellent example of how collaboration and innovation are driving meaningful products that improve the quality of life with safe, affordable off the grid lighting," said Gilles Vermot Desroches, senior vice president Sustainability, Schneider Electric.

Versaflex TPE provides a soft-touch gripping and sealing surface for the lamp’s glow-in-the-dark, three-stage power switch as well as a cover for its mobile phone charging outlet. PolyOne worked with designers at Schneider Electric to select the material and also supported testing at the Schneider Electric R&D center in India.

For the lamp components, Schneider Electric’s designers wanted a globally available material with 'water clarity' to make it easier for users to see the glow-in-the-dark switch in pitch-black conditions. The Mobiya TS 120 also needed a material that would bounce back to original shape with repeated flexing while resisting tears and scratches. Versaflex TPE meets these needs and also complies with both the European Union Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive and stringent UL flame ratings.

As MRC reported earlier, last year, PolyOne Corporation presented its specialty portfolio for automotive interiors to designers and engineers at the 2014 WardsAuto Interiors conference. These advanced technologies, including soft-touch materials as well as colorants and special effects, enable customers to design new features that boost consumer appeal and reduce manufacturing complexity.

PolyOne Corporation, with 2013 revenues of USD3.8 billion, is a global provider of specialized polymer materials, services, and solutions. PolyOne is a provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions with operations in specialty polymer formulations, color and additive systems, polymer distribution and specialty vinyl resins.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The Munich-based Wacker Group is presenting new binders and additives for the paint and surface-coating industries at the European Coatings Show (ECS) in Nuremberg, Germany, from April 21 to 23, 2015, reported the company on its site.

One of the highlights is the new silicone resin emulsion SILRES WH. The product which is based on a new silicone resin can be used as a hydrophobizing wood impregnating agent or as an additive in wood stains. Wood impregnated with SILRES WH is protected against damp, moisture and the subsequent damage caused by fungi and insects for an exceedingly long time.

Wacker is also showcasing a binder from its new PRIMIS line for high-value outdoor applications. PRIMIS AF 1000, the line’s first product, combines organic and inorganic components, enabling the formulation of bright, highly durable, exterior paints with reduced dirt pick-up.

At ECS 2015, WACKER will be premiering a silicone resin emulsion for wood protection coatings. Its superior impregnating effect enables long-term protection against damp, moisture and damage from moisture exposure. Marketed as SILRES WH, the product is so flexible that it even bonds to wood surfaces and thus retains the hydrophobic, i.e. water-repellent properties typical for silicones for many years. Long-term tests with impregnated wood show that the moisture and damp resistant properties of SILRES WH are fully intact after 15 years. Silicone resin additives which have been successfully used on mineral substrates for decades can now provide wood with lasting outdoor protection.

The 50% emulsion is based on a functional silicone resin and is suitable as a wood impregnant or as an additive for formulating film-forming, pigmented wood stains. Due to its hydrophobic properties, SILRES WH significantly reduces the water uptake of wood and, as a result, its moisture content. Weathering tests have shown that the silicone resin’s impregnating effect lasts for many years. Thus, wood is better protected against typical damage caused, for example, by fungi, mold and insects or by cracks due to shrinkage and swelling. It is possible to reduce the use of biocides in formulations significantly. In wood stains and coatings, even low amounts of SILRES WH provide a long-lasting hydrophobic effect.

SILRES WH produces a visible beading effect on wood surfaces. By providing wood with long-term protection, the product greatly reduces the frequency of renovation and recoating compared with conventional wood preservatives. Best results are achieved when mixing the additive with water in a 1:4 to 1:9 ratio. In water-based stains, a concentration of up to three percent SILRES WH is sufficient.

A further ECS 2015 highlight is the new PRIMIS line, comprising binders and additives for advanced, high-value paints and architectural coatings. The new line combines organic and mineral components to deliver a binder with a completely novel property profile. The elastic, acrylic ester-based, organic component performs a binder’s traditional role, offering strong adhesion and cohesion, good mechanical properties and enhanced processability. The solid mineral components, on the other hand, have outstanding protective properties and ensure long-lasting, bright colors and reduced dirt pick-up.

PRIMIS AF 1000 offers improved scratch and abrasion resistance, optimized thermal conductivity and water-vapor permeability, and simpler and more even processing. Additionally, the dispersion is characterized by excellent film formation, even at low outdoor temperatures, and by its elasticity while its surface exhibits maximum blocking resistance. The mineral components also improve fire performance. The dispersion’s good pigment compatibility and color consistency keep exterior paints bright for longer – extending renovation cycles and, in turn, positively impacting overall costs.

The new PRIMIS AF 1000 dispersion is ideal for challenging exterior applications and expands Wacker’s extensive portfolio designed for plasters and exterior coatings.

As MRC informed before, in 2013, Wacker Chemie AG officially launched its new production plant for ethylene-vinyl-acetate copolymer (EVA) dispersions at its Ulsan site in South Korea. The additional 40,000 tonnes from the second reactor line increases the site's EVA-dispersion capacity to a total of 90,000 tonnes per year. The production capacity of the site had, thus, almost doubled, making the plant complex one of the biggest of its kind in South Korea.

Wacker Chemie AG is a worldwide operating company in the chemical business, founded 1914. The company is controlled by the Wacker-family holding more than 50 percent of the shares. The corporation is operating more than 25 production sites in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The product range includes silicone rubbers, polymer products like ethylene vinyl acetate redispersible polymer powder, chemical materials, polysilicon and wafers for semiconductor industry.
MRC