MOSCOW (MRC) -- Celanese Corporation, a global technology and specialty materials company, has announced that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Push Group Co., Ltd. (Push Group), with respect to the formation of a new joint venture focused on the production of cellulose acetate-based specialty products, including high-quality plastics and films, reported the company in its press release.
"This is an exciting opportunity for Celanese, together with Push Group, to add a specialty cellulose plastics focus to our leading cellulose acetate capabilities and our leading engineered thermoplastics platform, and participate in the development of the next generation of products manufactured with cellulose acetate flake," said Scott Sutton, president, Materials Solutions for Celanese.
Push Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sichuan Wuliangye Group Co., Ltd., and is based in Yibin, China. Although definitive terms of several ancillary agreements are still under negotiation, Celanese and Push Group have concluded the negotiation of the joint venture agreement that would govern their relationship and have agreed to extend the period of exclusivity related to formation of the project.
Pursuant to the terms of the joint venture agreement, Push Group would contribute certain existing cellulose acetate-related assets, and Celanese would contribute certain technology and its leading cellulose acetate operational know-how and experience. The execution of the Joint Venture Agreement and certain other remaining ancillary documents is expected to occur before the end of March 2016, with closing of the transaction subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals and third party consents.
As MRC reported earlier, in October 2015, Fairway Methanol LLC, a 50-50 joint venture between Mitsui and Celanese, commenced production of methanol at its planned annual production capacity of 1.3 million tons in Texas, USA.
Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production of differentiated chemistry solutions and specialty materials used in most major industries and consumer applications. Based in Dallas, Texas, Celanese employs approximately 7,500 employees worldwide and had 2014 net sales of USD6.8 billion.
MRC
MOSCOW (MRC) -- The global polystyrene (PS) market is projected to reach USD28.2 bln by 2019, at a CAGR of 5.1% between 2014 and 2019, in terms of value, as per Plastemart with reference to MarketsandMarkets.
The market for polystyrene is estimated to grow on account of the rapid expansion of the plastics and rubber manufacturing industries, especially in Europe and the increasing rates of industrialization and globalization. The flourishing packaging and electronics application in emerging economies is expected to act as a budding opportunity for the PS market.
China is estimated to be the leading country in the Asia-Pacific polystyrene market. Increase in demand of polystyrene in the Asia-Pacific is led by the rising demand from electronic appliances and packaging applications, due to increasing population and improving standards of living of individuals. However, the shift in preference towards organic and recyclable plastics is one of the major restricting factors hampering the growth of the polystyrene market.
We remind tha, as MRC informed previously, in December 2015, Trinseo, a global materials company and manufacturer of plastics, latex and rubber, and its affiliate companies in Europe announced price increases for all polystyrene (PS), ABS and SAN grades. Thus, the December contract and spot prices for the products listed below rose as follows:
- STYRON general purpose polystyrene grades (GPPS), STYRON and STYRON A-TECH high impact polystyrene grades (HIPS) - by EUR60 per metric ton;
- MAGNUM ABS and TYRIL SAN resins - by EUR30 per metric ton.
MRC