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

Arkema increases photocure resin production capacity at its Sartomer affiliate in China

MOSCOW (MRC) -- To support the growth of Sartomer, the world leader in specialty photocure resins, Arkema announces a project to expand by over 30% production capacity at its Nansha facility in China, as per the company's press release.

This new production line will in particular help meet strong customer demand in Asia in the electronics, 3D-printing and inkjet printing cutting-edge markets.

Arkema's Sartomer plant in Guangzhou serves the customer base throughout Asia in this rapidly expanding, high growth market of specialty UV curable inks, coatings and adhesives.

Arkema announces the construction on its Nansha site south of Canton, China, of a new production line for UV, LED and EB (Electron Beam) photocure resins, which should come on stream early 2019. This new line will produce high performance photocure resins with innovative properties, earmarked for the electronics cutting-edge markets in which they are used for the manufacture and design of printed circuits and smartphone, tablet or television screens, as well as the 3D-printing market for which Sartomer has just launched its latest generation range of solutions under the trade name N3xtDimensionTM.

Thanks to production sites and R&D facilities in Europe, Asia and the United States, Sartomer’s customers benefit from high quality technical support for tailor-made developments as well as responsive local logistics services. This strong local presence in each of the 3 regions of the world marks Sartomer out as a partner with unique know-how who is close to its customers and therefore in a position to fulfil their specific requirements for high performance resins.

These innovative solvent-free specialty resins are environmentally friendly, while also complying in particular with global standards on volatile organic compound (VOC) low emissions. Hence they bolster the Group’s strategy in the development of new "eco-sustainable" materials, and will enable Sartomer to capitalize on the 10% annual growth expected in the electronics and 3D-printing high added value niche markets.

This project is consistent with the Group’s ambition to speed up the development of its advanced materials that should eventually account for over 25% of its sales, and to continue consolidating its presence in Asia.

As MRC informed before, in March 2017, Arkema completed the sale to INEOS of its 50% stake in Oxochimie, their oxo alcohols manufacturing joint venture, and of the associated business. The impact of this divestment on the group’s annual sales will represent some EUR40 million. With this operation, Arkema continues to implement its divestment program.

Arkema is a global manufacturer in specialty chemicals and advanced materials, with 3 business segments - High Performance Materials, Industrial Specialties, and Coating Solutions - and globally recognized brands, the Group reports annual sales of 7.5 billion euros. Buoyed by the collective energy of its 19,700 employees, Arkema operates in close to 50 countries.
MRC

PE imports to Ukraine down by 4% in H1 2017

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of polyethylene (PE) into the Ukrainian market dropped in the first half of 2017 by 4% year on year to 122,700 tonnes. Demand for low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) subsided, according to MRC's DataScope report.

June PE imports to Ukraine decreased to 22,000 tonnes after the May surge, compared to 23,800 tonnes a month earlier. Local companies reduced their purchasing of HDPE and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). Overall PE imports reached 122,700 tonnes in January-June 2017, compared to 128,000 tonnes a year earlier, only shipments of LLDPE and ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) increased.

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


HDPE imports to the Ukrainian market fell last month, oversupply of polymer in the market and expectations of resumption of Karpatneftekhim's launch were the main reasons for lower purchasing in foreign markets. June imports were 9,900 tonnes, compared to 11,100 tonnes in May. Overall HDPE imports reached 52,800 tonnes in the first half of 2017 versus 62,700 tonnes a year earlier, shipments of film grade HDPE fell by almost a quarter, demand for injection moulding PE subsided by 12%.

June LDPE imports rose to 5,700 tonnes from 5,000 tonnes a month earlier, with Russian producers accounting for the main increase in shipments. Overall LDPE imports exceeded 31,000 tonnes over the stated period, down by 1% year on year.

Last month's LLDPE imports were 5,700 tonnes, compared to 6,300 tonnes in May, with films producers accounting for a slight decrease in demand. Overall LLDPE imports grew to 31,200 tonnes in January-june 2017 from 28,300 tonnes a year earlier. Producers of film products, particularly, of stretch films, accounted for the main increase in demand.

Imports of other PE grades, including ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA), totalled 7,700 tonnes over the stated period, compared to 5,600 tonnes a year earlier.

MRC

HPCL to set up petrochem plants in Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh

MOSCOW (MRC) -- State-owned refiner HPCL is building a new 9 mln tpa refinery-cum-petrochemical complex at Pachpadra in Rajasthan and a petrochemical complex at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh as part of a Rs 61,000-crore expansion, according to Plastemart.

HPCL will also invest part of the amount over the next four years for expanding and upgrading its existing refining capacity to meet higher quality fuel norms, the company said in an investor presentation. HPCL is upgrading both its Mumbai and Visag refineries to produce fuel meeting Euro-VI emission norms.

Of the Rs 61,000 crore to be invested till 2021, Rs 23,400 crore will be in refining, Rs 23,600 crore in marketing infrastructure and another Rs 13,000 crore in joint venture projects. The joint venture projects include the west coast refinery, petrochemical complex at Kakinada, a 5 million tonnes LNG import terminal at Chhara in Gujarat and a fuel farm facilities at Mumbai airport.

As MRC wrote before, HPCL and its partner Lakshmi N Mittal will invest about USD3 bln in setting up a petrochemical complex at the Bhatinda refinery in Punjab. HPCL-Mittal Energy Ltd (HMEL), a joint venture between HPCL and Mittal Energy Investments Pvt Ltd, Singapore, plans to set up an up to 1.2 mln ton naphtha cracker, expandable to 1.7 mt.

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) is an Indian state-owned oil and natural gas company with its headquarters at Mumbai, Maharashtra and with Navratna status. HPCL has about 25% marketing share in India among PSUs and a strong marketing infrastructure. The Government of India owns 51.11% shares in HPCL and others are distributed amongst financial institutes, public and other investors.
MRC

Evonik advances innovation in lubricants with its new Friction & Motion Competence Center

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Evonik’s Resource Efficiency Segment has unveiled its new Friction & Motion Competence Center in Darmstadt, Germany, as per the company's press release.

Fully equipped and operational, the Competence Center acts as a technology platform focusing on the development of mid- and long-range innovations for the lubricant market.

"About 15 to 20 percent of the energy consumed each year is used just to overcome friction. So there's a great need for products that can reduce that energy loss," says Dr. Johannes Ohmer, Managing Director, Evonik Resource Efficiency GmbH.

This fact, combined with the noticeable trend towards car-sharing, e-mobility, and autonomous vehicles, as well as other emerging technologies, such as robotics and drone transportation, require new solutions for reducing friction losses.

"That’s a challenge we are ready to accept," says Dr. Gunter Schmitt, Director of the Friction & Motion Competence Center. Evonik envisions a future in which significant additional revenues in the intermediate and long term are derived from the synergy of combining various product and technology competencies within Evonik’s Resource Efficiency Segment.

“There are many areas within Evonik that can be tapped to generate a stream of lubricant innovations. That’s why we established the Friction & Motion Competence Center, and that’s why we have built these dedicated laboratories,” explains Dr. Ralf Dussel, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Evonik’s Oil Additives Business Line.

For example, he adds, rather than limiting their focus exclusively to the potential of lubricant additives, the scientists at the Friction & Motion Competence Center will also examine fluid systems, surface designs and high performance polymers.

As a leading provider of oil additives, Evonik develops technologies that boost efficiency with its DRIVON™ technologies in engine oils, driveline fluids and gear oils. With the Friction & Motion Competence Center, Evonik focuses on innovations that contribute to the resource-efficient lubricant solutions of tomorrow.

As MRC informed previously, Evonik Resource Efficiency will invest in a capacity expansion of its performance foams business at its production site in Darmstadt, Germany. The investment will increase the output of the facility by about 20% as a first step. The Group will be adding production equipment to its operations complex that manufactures products marketed under the Rohacell brand. The expanded production capacity was expected to be operational by the second half of 2017.

Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. 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.
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