Clariant Catalysts expands in China with opening of new office in Yinchuan

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Clariant, a company in specialty chemicals, has announced the opening of a new office for its Catalysts business in Yinchuan city, capital of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region in China, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

With the new branch, Clariant becomes the first multinational catalyst provider based in northwest China, a region that is home to a majority of the nation’s coal-to-chemicals producers as well as numerous syngas and polyolefin companies.

Located in downtown Yinchuan, the new office will allow closer cooperation with regional customers, enabling Clariant to offer engineering services and sales assistance. The local team will be supported by Clariant specialists both within China and from around the world. The company’s expansion is part of its "China Insider" strategy, which stresses the importance of local expertise for technologies specific to China, combined with full access to global innovations.

The Yinchuan office is Clariant’s fifth branch in China. Clariant has two catalyst production facilities in China, one in Jinshan district of Shanghai, and the other in Panjin city of Liaoning province. The facilities develop and produce a variety of catalysts specifically for China’s market requirements and conditions. At the end of 2015, an R&D team has been established to better support the local technical needs. Clariant is also present in Beijing, offering engineering services and sales assistance to customers in the area.

As MRC reported earlier, in March 2017, Clariant was awarded a contract by Dongguan Grand Resource Science & Technology Co. Ltd. to develop a new propane dehydrogenation unit in cooperation with CB&I. The project includes the license and engineering design of the unit, which is to be built in Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, China.

Clariant AG is a Swiss chemical company and a world leader in the production of specialty chemicals for the textile, printing, mining and metallurgical industries. It is engaged in processing crude oil products in pigments, plastics and paints. Clariant India has local masterbatch production activities at Rania, Kalol and Nandesari (Gujarat) and Vashere (Maharashtra) sites in India.
MRC

Evonik and NTEC developed new monofilament using VESTAMID

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Evonik and NTEC, an experienced manufacturer of filaments based in China, have jointly developed a new monofilament using Evonik’s high performance plastic VESTAMID for instrument strings, said Evonik in its press release.

Since the late 1930s, growing numbers of instruments have used strings made of robust nylon fibers. There are obvious benefits to these - they are environmentally stable, durable, and easy to use.

The monofilament made from VESTAMID D18 that Evonik and NTEC have developed, a polyamide 612 (PA 612), meets all these requirements and also excels thanks to its outstanding transparency and smooth surface. This last property gives musicians better dexterity when playing, while the high level of transparency enhances the clarity and tone of the strings.

On the process side, the new filament scores points with its excellent processing stability, which guarantees the same length of string diameter, resilience and scalability.

Derek Shi, a manager from Evonik’s High Performance Polymers Business Line, says: "We are committed to bringing the innovative solutions to the users by means of our wide range of specialty polymers. The concept of PA 612-based nylon strings is aimed at professional musical instruments with a pleasant and clear sound."

Strings made of VESTAMID D18 feature balanced mechanical properties and low hygroscopicity. This allows them to maintain stable frequency and pitch in moist or humid environments.

The monofilament with a diameter range of 0.5-0.7mm was originally developed for harp strings but with different diameters and winding methods can equally be used in other string and plucked instruments such as violins.

"The success of harp strings with VESTAMID® is the product of the excellent collaboration between Evonik and NTEC. Evonik provided the material & product know-how, while NTEC contributed its years of experience in producing these specific filaments for instrument strings," said Dr. Iordanis Savvopoulos, head of the Granules & Compounds Product Line at Evonik.

As MRC informed earlier, in September 2016, Evonik Industries officially broke ground in Marl for construction of a new production plant for specialty polyamide 12 (PA12) powders. The specialty chemicals company will thus increase annual capacity for its VESTOSINT brand of PA12 powders by 50%. The amount invested lies in the mid-double-digit million euro range. The new plant is scheduled to come on stream at the end of 2017.

Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. Profitable growth and a sustained increase in the value of the company form the heart of Evonik’s corporate strategy. Its activities focus on the key megatrends health, nutrition, resource efficiency and globalization. Evonik benefits specifically from its innovative prowess and integrated technology platforms. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world.
MRC

LyondellBasell grants Spherizone and Lupotech T Licenses to Shaanxi Coal Yulin Energy and Chemical

MOSCOW (MRC) -- LyondellBasell has granted its Spherizone and Lupotech T Licenses to Shaanxi Coal Yulin Energy and Chemical, according to Plastemart.

Spherizone is the most advanced polypropylene technology and should help expand the company’s product portfolio, while Lupotech T should provide a cost advantage. This technology will be used in the Jingbian Chemical Industrial Park in Yulin City, China.

The financial details of this transaction are still unknown.

This deal represents LyondellBasell’s 14th grant of Spherizone technology since it was launched in 2006. LyondellBasell Executive Vice President Global Dan Coombs stated: "The Spherizone technology enables polypropylene producers to expand their business and capture additional value through product differentiation. Lupotech T is the clear market leader in high-pressure tubular LDPE technology offering low operating and investment costs to our customers."

As MRC reported earlier, in March 2017, LyondellBasell polyethylene (PE) process technology ‘LyondellBasell Hostalen ACP’ was chosen by Shandong Yuhuang Shengshi Chemical for a 200,000 tpa high density polyethylene (HDPE) unit at its petrochemical complex in Heze, Shandong, China.

LyondellBasell is one of the world's largest plastics, chemical and refining companies. The company manufactures products at 57 sites in 18 countries. LyondellBasell products and technologies are used to make items that improve the quality of life for people around the world including packaging, electronics, automotive parts, home furnishings, construction materials and biofuels.
MRC

PVC imports to Belarus rose by 43% in January-May

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of unmixed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into Belarus grew in January-May 2017 by 43% year on year, totalling 11,400 tonnes, according to MRC's DataScope report.


According to the statistical committee of the Republic of Belarus, local converters slightly increased purchasing of unmixed PVC in May, total imports were just over 2,800 tonnes, compared to 2,500 tonnes a month earlier. Thus, PVC imports rose in the first five months of 2017 to 11,400 tonnes from 8,000 tonnes in January-May 2016, local windows producers accounted for the main increase in demand.

Russian producers were the key suppliers of resin to Belarus. They accounted for about 74% of the Belarusian market in the first five months of the year. Producers from Germany with the share of about 23% were the second largest suppliers.

MRC

PP imports to Ukrainian market dropped by 1% in Q1 2017

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of polypropylene (PP) into the Ukrainian market decreased in the first six months of 2017 by 1% year on year to 57,100 tonne, as per MRC's DataScope report.

June PP imports to Ukraine rose to 10,500 tonnes from 9,400 tonnes a month earlier, the propylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) segment accounted for an increase in shipments, whereas demand for propylene copolymers subsided. Overall imports of propylene polymers reached 57,100 tonnes in January-June 2017, compared to 57,600 tonnes a year earlier. Propylene block copolymers (PP block copolymers) accounted for an increase in imports, whereas demand for statistical propylene copolymers (PP random copolymers) decreased.

Structure of PP imports over the reported period was as follows.


Last month's imports of homopolymer PP to the Ukrainian market grew to 8,400 tonnes from 6,800 tonnes in May. Local companies offset a shortage of PP from European producers by higher shipments from Russia and Saudi Arabia. Overall shipments of homopolymer PP reached 43,800 tonnes in the first six months of 2017 versus 44,700 tonnes a year earlier.

June imports of PP block copolymers were 1,100 tonnes, compared to 1,200 tonnes a month earlier, demand for injection moulding propylene copolymers subsided. Over 6,100 tonnes of PP block copolymers were imported over the stated period, whereas last year's figure was 5,500 tonnes. Local pipes producers accounted for the greatest increase in demand.

Last month's imports of PP random copolymer also fell to 942 tonnes from 1,200 tonnes in May, shipments of injection moulding PP random copolymer were reduced. Overall imports of PP random copolymers exceeded 6,000 tonnes in January-June 2017, whereas this figure was 6,400 tonnes a year earlier.

Overall imports of other propylene copolymers were 1,100 tonnes over the stated period.

MRC