BASF presents innovative solutions for latest home care and personal care trends

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF, the world's petrochemical major, has presented new ingredients for modern colour detergents and high-performance automatic dishwashing detergents, said the producer on its site.

One of the key trends in the detergent market is the preservation of colours and the prevention of dye transfer during the washing cycle so that colorful clothes look like new for a long time. BASF offers this solution for colour detergents with Sokalan HP 56 K and Sokalan HP 66 K. The special polymers prevent bleeding dyes from staining other garments in the washing process. It is thus possible to wash dark and bright colors together without them losing their original colours. As a result, the clothes look new for longer and the colors remain brilliant. In addition to the product properties, new possibilities for the formulation of the special polymers in liquid color detergents and highly concentrated product formats such as pouches and pods will be presented at the trade fair.

The attention is on sustainable solutions for automatic dishwashing alongside modern ingredients for detergents. To this end, BASF introduced the readily biodegradable chelating agent Trilon M and the two new types Trilon M Max and Trilon Ultimate. The chelating agents offer a particularly high-performance phosphate alternative for automatic dishwashing detergents. EU regulations stipulate that phosphate will be virtually prohibited for this application in Europe from 2017. The chelating agents actively bind water hardness ions, which cause limescale build-up on the dishes. Trilon M Max offers further advantages in terms formulation flexibility and esthetic choice of the automatic dishwashing detergent. The 2-in-1 solutions Trilon® Ultimate provide extra benefits such as improved stability of the dishwashing tablet or extra glass protection.

Besides, BASF has presented under the title "Sensory 2.0" new ingredients and formulations with specific sensory characteristics that are able to play a vital role in consumer preference of cosmetic products.

Emulgade Sucro Plus is BASF's new completely natural-based emulsifier that has been approved by COSMOS, ECOCERT and NATRUE. In addition to good emulsifying properties and a high electrolyte tolerance the product demonstrates a distinct sensory performance.

BASF’s newly designed polymer Cosmedia Ace answers to the need in personal care market for elegant textures, versatility and cost-effectiveness. Its ability for strong thickening, emulsifying and stabilizing a wide range of emulsions makes it multifunctional. Cosmedia Ace also allows flexibility as it is liquid and therefore easy to use. In addition, it is cold-processable, can be added at any stage of the process and is efficient over a broad pH range. What is more, the polymer is cost-effective while providing textures with an elegant sensory, with inherent waxyness. All additives are natural based and without any EO derivatives. This allows the use of Cosmedia Ace in environment-friendly concepts.

As MRC informed before, BASF will expand its capacity for the production of Paliocrom effect pigments by more than 20% by 2017 in Ludwigshafen, Germany. The investment will enable the company to accommodate for the growing demand of its aluminum-based effect pigments in the automotive coatings sector. With an investment of approximately EUR10 million, BASF aims to strengthen its position in this fast-growing market.

BASF is the largest diversified chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF produces a wide range of chemicals, for example solvents, amines, resins, glues, electronic-grade chemicals, industrial gases, basic petrochemicals and inorganic chemicals. The most important customers for this segment are the pharmaceutical, construction, textile and automotive industries. BASF had sales of over EUR74 billion in 2014 and over 113,000 employees as of the end of the year.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL), a world-leading producer of intermediate petrochemicals, announced its third quarter total revenue was THB 62,603 million, 2% lower year-on-year, while improving core net profit by 121% to THB 1,811 million due to an increase in volumes, a change in the portfolio mix to more high value-add products and a broader geographical footprint that helped core EBITDA rise 43% to THB 6,091 million, said Textilesupdate.

The Feedstock business remained muted in Q3 partially due to an unplanned outage at the company’s Ethylene plant in the USA and a force majeure by a domestic raw material producer in Thailand. Nevertheless, the global PET business increased production by 9% compared to the third quarter of 2014 enabling core EBITDA to rise 37%. The Fibers and Yarns business increased its production by 8% compared to the same period last year and together with some positive foreign currency earnings translation, raised core EBITDA by 118%.

“The product mix changed as a result of our global acquisition strategy focus on higher value added businesses,” said Mr. Aloke Lohia, Group CEO of Indorama Ventures. “Our timely acquisition of Performance Fibers earlier this year led to an improvement to the bottom line and strengthened our portfolio, leading to better performance even during the traditional low season.

“The consolidation of the industry and improved supply chain costs, caused by lower oil prices and a strong dollar have assisted us to grow profit. We will continue to increase our global footprint and scale of production to meet the needs of the major global brands who are not seeing a lowering of demand,” Mr. Lohia said.

As MRC informed earlier, Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd. said Thursday that it plans to acquire a 100% stake in the purified isopthalic acid, PET and purified terephthalic acid businesses of Cepsa Spain. Cepsa Spain operates plants at Guadarranque-San Roque, Cadiz, with a nameplate production capacity of 220,000 mt/year of PIA, 175,000 mt/year of PET and 325,000 mt/year of PTA.

Indorama Ventures is a leading producer in the polyester value chain in Thailand with strong global network and manufacturing across Asia, Europe and North America. Its products serve major players in diversified end use markets, including food, beverages, personal and home care, health care, automotives, textile, and industrial. The company’s main products are PTA, PET and polyester fibre, which are distributed across the world.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Azerbaijan's state-run energy company SOCAR is interested in buying stakes in refineries in Egypt and in participation in the African country's oil refining sector, according to Reuters.

"We would like to widen our activities in Egypt, particularly to buy stakes in refineries there and participate in Egypt's oil refining," SOCAR's president Rovnag Abdullayev told reporters.

Abdullayev made his comments after his return from a recent trip to Egypt, where he discussed energy sector cooperation with Egyptian officials.

Azerbaijan is currently exporting about 1 MMtpy of oil and refined products to Egypt.

As MRC reported earlier, on 15 April, 2015, Italian Maire Technimont and Azerbaijan’s SOCAR-Polymer signed an EUR350 mln-agreement on construction of Sumgayit polypropylene (PP) plant at the Azerbaijan-Italy business meeting.

SOCAR, which is keen on expanding operations in the retail oil products market abroad, is involved in exploring oil and gas fields, producing, processing, and transporting oil, gas, and gas condensate, marketing petroleum and petrochemical products in the domestic and international markets, and supplying natural gas to industry and the public in Azerbaijan.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL) has inform that Indorama Netherlands B.V., a fully owned subsidiary of IVL has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire a 100% stake in the Purified Isopthalic Acid (220,000 tonnes p.a. of PIA), Polyethylene Terephthalate (175,000 tonnes p.a. of PET) and Purified Terephthalic Acid (325,000 tonnes p.a. of PTA) business in Guadarranque-San Roque, Cadiz, Spain from Cepsa Quimica SA, a wholly-owned affiliate of Cepsa, as per the company's press release.

The new acquisition in Spain is Europe's largest and only producer of 220,000 tons of PIA capacity and is the 2nd largest producer in the World. This is IVL first business in PIA, an essential component to produce PET and various other chemicals globally. The integration with PTA and PET capacity allows the site to be fully integrated where a third party refinery is connected by pipeline to supply raw materials. The PTA and PET production in Southeast Europe will complete IVL reach across Europe and lead to consolidation in Europe.

This acquisition is in line with IVL's successful strategy of Leadership, vertical integration, portfolio expansion and geographic diversification. In June 2015, IVL had acquired CEPSA'S PTA assets in Montreal Canada.

The value of the acquisition, calculated in accordance with the regulations of the Capital Market Supervisory Board and the Stock Exchange of Thailand, is less than 15 percent and the total size of transactions in the past 6 months is also less than 15 percent. Therefore, this transaction is not subject to disclose as per the regulation concerning the acquisition and disposal of assets of listed companies as prescribed by the regulation of the Stock Exchange of Thailand Re: Disclosure of Information and Other Acts of Listed Companies Concerning the Acquisition and Disposition of Assets, 2004 (as amended).

The transaction is subject to usual regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed within the first half of 2016.

As MRC informed earlier, Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL) informed that its subsidiary Indorama Petrochem Limited, Thailand has signed a definitive share purchase agreement with Bangkok Cable Company, Limited, a major shareholder, to acquire 94.91 percent equity stake in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymers maker Bangkok Polyester Public Company Limited (BPC), Thailand.

Indorama Ventures is a leading producer in the polyester value chain in Thailand with strong global network and manufacturing across Asia, Europe and North America. Its products serve major players in diversified end use markets, including food, beverages, personal and home care, health care, automotives, textile, and industrial. The company’s main products are PTA, PET and polyester fibre, which are distributed across the world.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Thai petrochemicals producer Rayong Olefins plans to shut its naphtha cracker at Map Ta Phut in December for two weeks, reported The Petrochemical Standard with reference to a company source.

Problems at the cracker have prompted operating rates to be lowered to 95% from 100% over the past week, the source added.

The cracker which is able to produce 400,000 mt/year of propylene and 800,000 mt/year of ethylene.

It supplies feed stock to Thai Polyethylene which has the production capacity of 980,000 mt/year of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), 100,000 mt/year of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and 110,000 mt/year of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE).

"We will shut our derivative units as well," the source added.

As MRC wrote before, in August 2014, The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued three final GHG Prevention of Significant Deterioration construction permits for the Formosa Plastics facility in Point Comfort, Texas, US. Formosa, another major petrochemical producer, is expanding its chemical complex, located near Victoria, and taking three actions with its turbines unit, olefins unit and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) unit.

Rayong Olefins Company Limited produces ethylene, propylene, mixed C-4, benzene, and tulene which are supplied to downstream manufacturers of polyethylene and polypropylene.
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