PP imports to Kazakhstan up 16% in January-May 2017

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of polypropylene (PP) into Kazakhstan rose in the first five months of 2017 by 16% year on year, exceeding 11,600 tonnes. Propylene copolymers accounted for the greatest increase in demand, reported MRC analysts.

May 2017 PP shipments to Kazakhstan grew to 3,900 tonnes from 2,200 tonnes a month earlier, local converters increased their purchasing of propylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) in Russia and China. Overall PP imports exceeded 11,600 tonnes in January-May 2017, compared to 10,000 tonnes a year earlier. Pressure pipes producers accounted for the greatest increase in demand.

The structure of PP imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period.


May imports of homopolymer PP rose to 2,900 tonnes from 800 tonnes a month earlier, local companies increased their purchasing of homopolymer PP raffia from Chinese and Russian producers. Overall PP imports of this PP grade exceeded 7,800 tonnes in the first five months of 2017, compared to 7,100 tonnes a year earlier.

Shipments of propylene copolymers decreased to 1,000 tonnes in May from 1,400 tonnes, local pipes producers reduced their purchasing. Thus, imports of propylene copolymers reached 3,800 tonnes over the stated period, compared to 2,900 tonnes a year earlier.

MRC

Alfa Laval awarded USD10.6 MM energy-efficiency order in China

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Alfa Laval—a heat transfer, centrifugal separation and fluid handling company—has won an order to supply compact heat exchangers to a refinery in China, said Hydrocabonprocessing.

The order has a value of approximately USD10.6 MM. It was booked late June in the Gasketed Plate Heat Exchangers unit of the Energy Division, with deliveries scheduled for 2018.

The Alfa Laval plate heat exchangers will be installed in so called SECOOL applications, where seawater is used as a cooling media for different duties in the refinery.

"I am very pleased to announce this order for our gasketed plate heat exchangers," said Susanne Pahlen Aklundh, President of the Energy Division. "They are compact and very energy efficient and hence perfect for applications in the refinery and petrochemical industries."
MRC

Pembina Pipeline placed USD2.8 bn of integrated assets into service

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Pembina Pipeline Corporation ("Pembina" or "the Company") announced that it has placed approximately USD2.8 billion of integrated capital projects into service, including its Phase III pipeline expansion ("Phase III Expansion") and two connected major delivery points: the Company's third fractionator at Redwater ("RFS III") and its Canadian Diluent Hub ("CDH"), said the company on its website.

"At the outset of these projects, we committed to constructing large-scale, multiyear-build assets on time and on budget, and I'm proud to say that we've successfully delivered on that promise, with the overall portfolio coming in under budget by approximately 8 percent and either on time or ahead of schedule," said Mick Dilger, Pembina's President and Chief Executive Officer.

The Phase III Expansion, which is underpinned by long-term contracts with take-or-pay commitments, was placed into service on June 30, 2017 on time and under budget from the $2.44 billion expected capital. The entire Phase III Expansion program, which was initiated in 2013, included installing over 900 kilometres ("km") of new pipeline primarily along the Company's existing Peace and Northern system rights-of-way, as well as upgrading and adding new mainline pump stations. Initial work for the Phase III Expansion included debottlenecking segments of existing pipeline systems from Taylor, British Columbia to Gordondale, Alberta and adding a new pipeline from Wapiti to Fox Creek, Alberta to accommodate increased volumes upstream of Pembina's Fox Creek tie-in point. In support of handling the increased product, 420,000 barrels per day ("bpd") of incremental capacity was added in the Fox Creek to Namao corridor of Alberta through the construction of two pipelines: a 16 inch and a 24 inch diameter pipeline, each spanning approximately 290 km.

Calgary-based Pembina Pipeline Corporation is a leading transportation and midstream service provider that has been serving North America's energy industry for over 60 years. Pembina owns and operates an integrated system of pipelines that transport various products derived from natural gas and hydrocarbon liquids produced primarily in western Canada.
MRC

US PolyOne acquires colour materials firm Mesa

MOSCOW (MRC) -- PolyOne Corporation, a premier global provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions, announced the acquisition of Mesa, a North American producer of color and additive materials and services, said Reuters.

Founded in 1990 and privately-owned, Mesa produces both solid and liquid colorant technologies and operates two facilities located in Phoenix, Arizona and Fort Smith, Arkansas. Mesa serves a diverse range of end markets including packaging, consumer products and outdoor equipment.

"Our color and additives offerings continue to expand, and we're very excited that Mesa is the latest addition to our leading portfolio of solutions," said Robert M. Patterson, chairman, president and CEO, PolyOne Corporation.

"Mesa is our fourth specialty color acquisition in the last eight months," Mr. Patterson said. "We continue to focus on these successful bolt-on opportunities where we can invest to grow, leverage our service and innovation expertise, and collaborate across all our PolyOne businesses."

"Our recent portfolio actions are representative of the momentum we have and will continue to build upon as we accelerate specialty growth," Mr. Patterson added. Along with the recent acquisition of Rutland and the announced divestiture of Designed Structures and Solutions, the company plans to discuss Mesa in more detail on its second quarter investor call.
MRC

Pakistan State Oil seeks 905 Mt of oil products for September

MOSCOW (MRC) — Pakistan State Oil is seeking 905,000 t of gasoline and fuel oil for September, three tender documents showed on Wednesday, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The state-owned company is seeking 10 cargoes of 65,000 t each of 180-cst high sulfur fuel oil for September loading on a free-on-board (FOB) basis.

It is also looking for 55,000 t of low sulfur fuel oil for September delivery into Kaemari or Port Qasim in Karachi on a cost and freight (C&F) basis.

For gasoline, PSO is seeking four cargoes of 50,000 t each of 92-octane gasoline on a C&F Keamari basis. The tenders close on July 24, remaining valid until Aug. 7

PSO typically uses fuel oil for power generation and gasoline in road transport. Its gasoline imports are slightly higher than usual this month due to increased demand during the school holidays, a source close to the matter said.

But this may fall once monsoon season kicks in and curbs transportation, the source added. Monsoon rains are also curbing demand for gasoil in the agriculture sector, the source said.

PSO has a high inventory of gasoil and jet fuel and does not need to import the fuels for September as of now, the source added.

The company has resumed jet fuel shipments to Afghanistan, after they were halted in June amid a border dispute, the source said.
MRC