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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Williams Partners L.P. has announced its Geismar, La. olefins plant resumed consistent operations in late March and is expected to produce ethylene at the base plant’s production rate through May. The process to achieve its full expanded production rate will be ongoing through June, as per the company's press release.
The expanded plant was ramping up when a new transformer that supplied power to a plant expansion compressor unexpectedly failed. The transformer is being repaired at the original manufacturer’s facility. The plant continues to improve production rates due to the ability to use equipment installed as part of the plant’s expansion. The plant’s expanded production rate is expected to be reached shortly after the repaired transformer is re-installed.
Base ethylene production capacity at the plant is 1.35 billion pounds per year and the expanded capacity is 1.95 billion pounds per year. Williams Partners’ share of the total capacity of the expanded plant is approximately 1.7 billion pounds per year.
As MRC reported earlier, in February 2015, Williams Partners announced that its expanded Geismar plant had begun manufacturing ethylene for sale after experiencing an unexpected delay in the final stages of commissioning.
Williams, headquartered in Tulsa, Okla., is one of the leading energy infrastructure companies in North America. It owns controlling interests in both Williams Partners L.P. and Access Midstream Partners, L.P. through its ownership of 100% of the general partner of each partnership. Additionally, Williams owns approximately 66% and 50% of the limited partner units of Williams Partners L.P. and Access Midstream Partners, L.P., respectively. On June 15, 2014 Williams proposed the merger of Williams Partners and Access Midstream Partners. The proposed merger has been approved by boards of each partnership and is expected to close in early 2015.
MRC
Williams Partners plans to reach full capacity utilisation at its expanded olefins plant in June
Upper end of pipe HDPE prices grew by Rb6,500/tonne in Russia
MOSCOW (MRC) - April prices for Russian pipe high density polyethylene (HDPE) increased by Rb3,000 - 6,500/tonne, according to ICIS-MRC Price Report.
Despite the expectations of many Russian pipe producers, they did not manage to roll over March PE prices for April delivery. Russian producers managed to increase prices for pipe HDPE significantly, citing strong demand and more expensive imports. April prices for pipe HDPE increased by Rb3,000-6,500/tonne, compared with the March level.
Demand for pipe HDPE was quite strong in the early April. Many market participants have built up stock inventories actively, some companies said that they purchased, taking into account the needs of the May. The supply of polyethylene in the market was tight, in particular natural PE100. There was available only HDPE from Nizhnekamskneftekhim.
But in the second half of April, demand for pipe HDPE has significantly weakened. One of the key factors of the demand weakening was the problem with working capital; converters had problems with crediting. As a result, many pipe producers had to change their plans for the feedstock procurement.
April deals for Russian natural PE 100 were done in the range of Rb89,000-93,500/tonne FCA, including VAT. The price range of black PE100 was less significant, the deals were done in the range of Rb92,500-94,500/tonne CPT Moscow, including VAT.
MRC
Clariant returns to profit in Q1 but suffers franc appreciation
Q1 sales decreased 2 pct to 1.465 billion Swiss francs (USD1.53 billion) from 1.492 billion Swiss francs.
Q1 net result from continuing operations at 87 million francs compared to net loss of 39 million francs.
Clariant said that exceptional items including restructuring, impairment, and transaction-related costs declined to Swfr13m compared to Swfr99m in the first quarter of 2014.
Clariant’s largest division, Plastics & Coatings, registered a 1% growth in sales in local currencies during the first quarter of 2015 but a decrease in francs of 4% to Swfr619m, with earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) decreasing 11% in local currencies and 17% in francs.
Plastics & Coatings’ Masterbatches subdivision also took a hit from the cold winter in North America, where sales declined, although they remained flat in Europe and grew in Latin America and Asia, with both India and China performing well. The subdivision Additives benefited from good sales of halogen-free flame retardants for electrical applications and electronics recovered.
Sees FY 2015 further increase in its EBITDA margin before exceptional items above full-year 2014 and increase cash flow generation.
As MRC informed earlier, Clariant announced that it has acquired the black pigment preparations portfolio of Lanxess, located at Nagda, Madhya Pradesh.
Clariant AG is a Swiss chemical company and a world leader in the production of specialty chemicals for the textile, printing, mining and metallurgical industries. It is engaged in processing crude oil products in pigments, plastics and paints. Clariant India has local masterbatch production activities at Rania, Kalol and Nandesari (Gujarat) and Vashere (Maharashtra) sites in India.
MRC
PVC imports to Kazakhstan slumped by 47% from January to March 2015
MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of unblended polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into Kazakhstan fell over the first three months of 2015 by 47% year on year to slightly more than 6,200 tonnes, reported MRC analysts.
March imports of unblended PVC to Kazakhstan rose to 3,200 tonnes under the pressure of seasonal factors versus 2,100 tonnes in February. The overall imports of resin decreased to 6,200 tonnes from January to March 2015 from 11,600 tonnes over the same period of 2014. Such a major fall in PVC imports to Kazakhstan was caused by both weaker demand for resin from local producers and virtually a complete cessation of further PVC re-imports into Russia.
Chinese producers, with the share of about 98% of the local market over the stated period, are the main PVC suppliers to the Kasakh market because of the geographical factor.
MRC
GPPS imports to Russia fell by 42% in Q1 2015
MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) to the Russian market decreased in the first quarter of 2015 by 42% year on year and totalled 3,500 tonnes, according to MRC DataScope report.
March GPPS imports rose by 17% from February to 1,600 tonnes. Traditionally, imports grow in the first half of the year. This year's lower imports were caused by the displacement of foreign grades by Russian material because of the increased production in the country.
The sector of extrusion grade GPPS for the foam products processing accounted for the greatest fall im shipments. Imports of these grades were only 160 tonnes in Q1 2015 versus 1,130 tonnes in the first quarter of 2014. Thus, the decrease in imports was caused by the increased output of GPPS for the extruded polystyrene (XPS) producers at Gazprom neftekhim Salavat this year. At the same time last year, the plant produced GPPS-115 grade, used in the injection moulding processing.
Imports of polystyrene for sheet extrusion fell by 35% to 1,700 tonnes, whereas imports of injection moulding GPPS grades dropped by 28% to 1,670 tonnes.
MRC