GCC chemical production forecast to double to US$80 bln

(Plastemart) -- GCC chemical production was forecast to rise to nearly US$80 bln over the coming decade, from the current US$40 bln, as per Khalid Al Falih of Saudi Aramco at the Gulf Petrochemical and Chemicals Association forum in Dubai.

The United Arab Emirates' foreign trade minister Sheika Lubna Al Qasimi said the global ethylene share of the Gulf's petrochemical producers is projected to grow to 20% by 2014 from only 5% at the beginning of the previous decade.

Aramco is pushing ahead it with its own plans to develop petrochemical and related downstream industries in locations such as Rabigh, on the Red Sea, and Jubail, on the Persian Gulf, where the company is developing major industrial complexes with Sumitomo Chemical Co. and Dow Chemical Co. respectively.

MRC

(Plastemart) -- Polymer consumption in India, currently pegged at 8 mln tpa, is poised to more than double to 15 mln tons in 5 years, maximum 7 years time, as per Mr Ajay Shah, Senior VP Polymers, Reliance Industries Ltd.

In view of the current per capita consumption of 36 kg in China and 32 kg in Brazil, per capita polymer consumption is poised to grow from its current 8 kg in India. Processing capacity is expected to see a corresponding increase in the next 5-7 years to match this growth in polymer consumption. The highest growth will be seen in the injection molding sector - 2.6 mln tons of the 10 mln tons will be consumed by the injection molders of India in the time period, as per Mr Shah.

The injection molding sector in India witnessed a more than 50% growth year on year, in H1 of financial year 2010-2011. Growth will be driven by the automobile and cell phone manufacturers.

MRC

(Rhodia) -- Rhodia is announcing the upcoming launch of polyamide (PA) powders for rapid prototyping and small series manufacturing by selective laser sintering (SLS). This is the first time that PA 6 powders are offered for direct part fabrication by SLS. The range will be extended to include PA 66 powders in the coming months.

Using SLS, designers and processors can produce complete families of fully functional prototype parts, each with different dimensions, one after the other, before they cut any metal for tooling. Once the design is validated, they can even use SLS for limited series commercial production.

Cutting-edge industries such as aerospace, automobile racing, robotics or medical prosthesis manufacturers have already adopted direct manufacturing technologies that aim to produce in a fraction of time customized design parts with properties similar to those made by traditional technologies.

Until now, growth of so-called ⌠time compression technologies beyond these sectors has been limited, partly because the choice of materials available for SLS is much more limited than it is for conventional molding. With the introduction of PA 6 powders, the same polyamides can be used for prototyping and for injection molding.

MRC

(Plastemart) -- Energy major ConocoPhillips is looking at opportunities to invest further in Qatar's LNG and petrochemical industries besides working with QP on joint energy projects abroad, global CEO Jim Mulva has said, adding that "Qatar is a high priority country for ConocoPhillips."

The company has successfully invested billions of dollars in liquefied natural gas and petrochemical projects. ConocoPhillips has collaborated with Qatar Petroleum since 1997 with the establishment of the Q Chem I joint venture. ConocoPhillips has since participated with Qatar in the Q Chem II and RLOC petrochemical ventures through its 50% ownership in ChevronPhillips Chemicals.

MRC

(Plastemart) -- US based concentrates maker Ampacet is planning to open manufacturing plants in Brazil and India in early 2011, and add a new line in Italy by mid-2011. The Brazilian unit in Camacari is expected to produce 11-13 million lbs of black concentrates for blown film, blow moulding and injection molding applications annually.

In March 2011, the Indian facility in Pune will be opened with a production capacity of 24-29 million lbs of white and additive concentrates. Ampacet's North American projects include three new lines in DeRitter, among which two will be for colour and additive concentrates and the third to make black masterbatches. The projects also include single new lines in Cartersville and Kitchener, which will make similar white masterbatches using resins.

MRC