Output of products from polymers in Russia grew by 4.2% in the first four months of 2017

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Russia's output of products from polymers continued to increase in April year on year to 2.4% under the pressure of seasonal factors. Thus, this figure grew to 2% in January-April 2017, reported MRC analysts.

According to the Russian Federal State Statistics Service, April production of of plastic pipes, hoses and fittings rose to 46,600 tonnes from 38,100 tonnes a month earlier. Overall output of these products totalled 140,800 tonnes in the first four months of 2017, up by only 0.4% year on year.

Last month's production of unreinforced and non-combined films was 84,100 tonnes, compared to 90,100 tonnes in March. Output of films products grew in January-April 2017 by 5.4% year on year to 314,400 tonnes.

April production of boards, sheets and non-porous sheets went up to 29,200 tonnes, compared to 28,000 tonnes a month earlier. Overall output of these products grew in January-April 2017 to 106,000 tonnes, up by 10.5% year on year.

Last month's production of boards, sheets and porous polymer films was 21,700 tonnes, whereas this figure was 20,000 tonnes a months earlier. Overall output of these polymer products dropped over the stated period by 2.4% year on year, totalling 74,200 tonnes.

April production of plastic windows and window sills, and door blocks increased to 1.6 million square metres and 67,900 square metres, respectively, versus 1.2 million square metres and 67,300 square meters. Output of these products totalled about 4 million square metres (a decrease by 1.9% year on year) and 245,000 square metres (a drop by 8.1% year on year), respectively, in the first four months of the year.
MRC

ExxonMobil completes new PE lines at Mont Belvieu plastics plant

MOSCOW (MRC) -- ExxonMobil Chemical Company has announced the mechanical completion of two new 650,000 tons per year high performance polyethylene (PE) lines at its plastics plant in Mont Belvieu, Texas. The company expects production to begin during the third quarter of 2017, as per the company's press release.

Part of a previously announced multi-billion dollar expansion project in the Baytown area, the PE lines will process ethylene feedstock from the new steam cracker currently under construction at the Baytown complex.

"As an early mover to complete a polyethylene project fueled by the shale gas revolution, this world-scale, state-of-the-art facility will double the plant’s production capacity, making it one of the largest polyethylene plants in the world," said Neil Chapman, president of ExxonMobil Chemical Company.

This project enables ExxonMobil Chemical to economically supply a rapidly growing demand for high-value polyethylene products. These high-performance products deliver sustainability benefits such as lighter packaging weight, lower energy consumption and reduced emissions. The finished PE product will be shipped to customers around the world.

The Baytown expansion project is one of 11 ExxonMobil announced as part of its 10-year, USD20 billion Growing the Gulf initiative. Projects planned or under way are expected to create more than 35,000 construction jobs and more than 12,000 full-time jobs.

"As the U.S. continues to produce abundant supplies of oil and natural gas, ExxonMobil is investing billions of dollars along the U.S. Gulf Coast to help meet growing global demand. These investments will not only expand existing refining and chemical capacity, but also stimulate economic growth and create jobs," Chapman said.

As MRC informed earlier, in November 2016, Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. announced it received a contract from ExxonMobil Chemical Company to provide engineering, design and construction management services as part of a new 650 kTa polyethylene facility to be located at ExxonMobil’s Beaumont polyethylene plant.

ExxonMobil is the largest non-government owned company in the energy industry and produces about 3% of the world's oil and about 2% of the world's energy.
MRC

Loews completes acquisition of rigid plastics firm CCC


MOSCOW (MRC) -- Loews Corporation announced that it has completed its acquisition of Consolidated Container Company (CCC), a leading rigid plastic packaging manufacturer based in Atlanta, GA, said the company on its press release.

CCC provides packaging solutions to stable consumer end markets such as beverage, food and household chemicals. With a network of manufacturing locations across the United States, CCC reliably provides quality products to its customers. The USD1.2 billion acquisition, subject to customary purchase price adjustments, was funded with approximately 50 percent cash-on-hand and 50 percent debt at CCC.

Loews Corporation is a diversified company with three publicly-traded subsidiaries – CNA Financial Corporation, Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP – and two non-public subsidiaries – Loews Hotels & Co and Consolidated Container Company.

CCC is a leading developer and manufacturer of rigid plastic packaging solutions in North America. CCC specializes in customized mid- and short-run packaging solutions, serving a diverse customer base in the household chemicals, food/nutraceuticals, industrial/specialty chemicals, water, and beverage/juice markets. CCC also operates a leading recycled and custom compounded post-consumer resin business, Envision Plastics. With 57 rigid plastic packaging manufacturing facilities, two recycled resins manufacturing facilities, and 2,200 employees, CCC has an integrated, nationwide network that consistently delivers reliable and cost-effective packaging and recycled resin solutions to meet the needs of a wide range of customers and markets. From its state-of-the-art Studio PKG, to the recycling technologies of Envision Plastics, to its experienced manufacturing teams across its network, CCC delivers high-performance, cost-effective solutions to meet even the most challenging applications.
MRC

KBR wins Oman LNG Feed contract

MOSCOW (MRC) -- KBR, Inc. announced today that it has been awarded a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) and project management services contract for Oman Liquefied Natural Gas LLC (Oman LNG) in Qalhat, Oman. Oman LNG operates three liquefaction trains with a total nameplate capacity of 10.4 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), as per the company's press release.

KBR is a recognized leader in LNG with over 40 years of continuous experience and depth of capability, know-how and engineering talent that is unmatched in the industry. This project represents KBR's reentry into the Oman market and supports our strategic focus on gas monetization in the Middle East region.

"This contract confirms KBR's strong reputation as one of the world's preeminent leaders in LNG facilities and demonstrates the trust that Oman LNG has placed in KBR following the successful development of the original Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) of this world-class LNG facility," said Jay Ibrahim, KBR President: Europe, Middle East & Africa. "We are committed to expanding our footprint in the Middle East and are delighted at this opportunity to reestablish KBR in Oman and contribute to Oman's In-Country Value (ICV) initiatives."

Revenue associated with this contract was undisclosed and will be booked into backlog of unfilled orders for KBR's Engineering & Construction business segment in the second quarter of 2017.

KBR is a global provider of differentiated professional services and technologies across the asset and program life cycle within the Government Services and Hydrocarbons sectors. KBR employs over 34,000 people worldwide (including our joint ventures), with customers in more than 80 countries, and operations in 40 countries, across three synergistic global businesses.
MRC

Jilin Petrochemical to bring on-stream LLDPE plant in China

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Jilin Petrochemical, part of PetroChina, is likely to restart a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) plant following a maintenance turnaround, as per Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the company has planned to resume operations at the plant on May 26, 2017. The plant was shut for maintenance on May 12, 2017.

Located in Jilin province, China, the plant has a production capacity of 275,000 mt/year.

As MRC informed before, another major petrochemical producer in China - Sinopec Maoming Petrochemical - shut its LLDPE plant in China for maintenance in late March 2017. The exact duration of the planned turnaround could not be ascertained. Located at Guangdong in China, the plant has a production capacity of 220,000 mt/year.

Petrochina Jilin Petrochemical Company was established in Jilin. It was registered as a state-run company.

PetroChina Company Limited, is a Chinese oil and gas company and is the listed arm of state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation, headquartered in Dongcheng District, Beijing. It is China's biggest oil producer.
MRC