PP output in Russia increased by 2% in eleven months

MOSCOW (MRC) - Production of polypropylene (PP) in Russia grew to about 1.273 mln tonne in first eleven months of this year, up 2% year on year, compared to the same period of 2016. The greatest increase in production was shown by SIBUR Tobolsk and Tomskneftekhim, according to MRC ScanPlast.

November PP production in the country grew to 115,300 tonnes, compared with 108,000 tonnes in October; Ufaorgsintez, Tomskneftekhim and Nizhnekamskneftekhim increased their capacity utilisation. In general, in January-November PP production in the Russian Federation approached the level of 1.273 mln tonnes against 1.251 mln tonnes a year earlier, the greatest increase in production showed SIBUR Tobolsk and Tomskneftekhim, while Neftekhimiya, Stavrolen and Nizhnekamskneftekhim lowered production indicators.

Structure of PP production over the reported period looked as follows.

The largest producer of PP in Russia - SIBUR Tobolsk in November produced about 45,900 tonnes against 46,900 tonnes a month earlier.
SIBUR Tobolsk's PP production exceeded 463,900 tonnes in January-November 2017, up 12% year on year. Such a major increase in the output was caused by the absence of the plant's shutdown for a scheduled maintenance this year.

Nizhnekamskneftekhim increased capacity utilisation in November, total polypropylene production had grew to 18,000 tonnes against 14,200 tonnes in October. The producer's PP production in January-November decreased by 3% from last year's level to 193,300 tonnes.

Poliom (GC Titan) in the last couple of months has seriously limited the capacity utilization, following the results of the last month the production of polypropylene amounted to about 12,600 tonnes against 13,400 tonnes in October. The decrease in production volumes was a result of to the shutdown for preventive maintenance and the work on capacity expansion. Total PP production at the plant over the reported period was about 187,000 tonnes, up 1% year on year.

Tomskneftekhim increased production volumes in November, and the final production of propylene polymers was 12,100 tonnes against 11,400 tonnes in October. Total PP production at Tomskneftekhim over the reported period reached 128,600 tonnes, compared with 117,700 tonnes year on year.

November PP production at Ufaorgsintez increased to about 11,200 tonnes from 10,400 tonnes a month earlier. The producer's PP output at Ufaorgsintez increased to 113,500 tonnes in January-November 2017 compared with 111,700 tonnes year on year.

Neftekhimiya (Kapotnya) decreased capacity utilisation in October, total polypropylene production had decreased to 8,100 tonnes against 10,600 tonnes in October. The producer's PP output in the eleven months of the year reached 94,900 tonnes, up 20% year on year. A low indicator of the current year was a result of a long scheduled maintenance works in March-April.

Stavrolen (LUKOIL) last month worked with a reduced capacity utilisation, the final figure for the production of propylene polymers was 7,300 tonnes against just over 1,000 tonnes in October (the producer in October worked only a few days due to a stop for long repairs) . Overall PP production at the plant reached 92,300 tonnes in January-November, down 11% year on year.


MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Sinopec to double capacity of the Neopentylglycol (NPG) production line at its Yangzi refinery from 40,000 tpy to 80,000 tpy, the company said on Monday, reported Reuters.

Expanded production line will start operation in 2020.

NPG is used as a raw material to produce paints and lubricants.

As MRC informed previously, China's Sinopec group, parent of Sinopec Corp, will invest USD29.05 billion to upgrade four refining bases between 2016 and 2020 to produce higher-quality fuels. Sinopec's upgrades come as China, the world's second-biggest oil consumer, is embracing more stringent fuel standards in its battle against pollution and suffering an overall glut in refining capacity. After the upgrades, the total refining capacity of the four refining sites will reach 130 MMtpy, or 2.6 MMbpd, while ethylene capacity will reach 9 MMtpy
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- A furnace exploded during a unit restart at Venezuela’s largest refining complex, injuring two workers, a union leader and a family member of one of the victims said on Wednesday, reported Reuters.

The explosion occurred on Tuesday night at the naphtha reformer of the Cardon refinery on the Paraguana peninsula, the sources said, adding the two victims received medical treatment.

"They were trying to pull out the naphtha reformer and one of the furnaces exploded," said union leader Ivan Freites. State-run Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) did not immediately respond to a request for information.

The father of one of the injured workers said his son was recovering after burns on his body. "They told me at 8 p.m. that my son and another colleague had this accident, but that they were fine," said the father, Pablo Cespedes.

The complex is the largest refining center in the country and one of the largest in the world with a capacity of 955,000 bpd. However, operations have been negatively impacted by constant failures and a lack of crude to process.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) — China raised refined products export quotas to its four state oil majors by 30 percent in the first batch of allowances for 2018, a document reviewed by Reuters showed.

The notice did not include quotas for independent refiners, also known as "teapots," the second year the private refiners are being left out of the export scheme. The state majors will receive total export quotas of 16.24 MMt under the general trade term for exporting gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, the Ministry of Commerce said in a notice.

Asia's largest refiner, Sinopec, has the biggest quota share at 6.74 MMt, followed by PetroChina at 5.75 MMt. Sinochem and CNOOC will be allowed to export 2 MMt and 1.75 MMt of products, respectively.

CNOOC also got a separate allowance to export 70 Mt of LNG. "The increase in quota showed oil majors are actively applying for more allowance to export," said a China-based trader who declined to be named.

"Due to weak domestic demand for gasoline and diesel, export margins are better than the domestic margin," the trader said. The trader also said he expects the commerce ministry to issue separate export quotas for two refineries that will be started up by Dalian Hengli Petrochemical and Zhejiang Rongsheng Group next year.

China issued an allowance for 12.4 MMt in its first batch of export quotas in 2017.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) — Imports of Iranian crude oil by major buyers in Asia tumbled 29% in November from the same month a year ago to the lowest volumes since April 2016, government and ship-tracking data showed, as per Reuters.

In total, China, India, Japan and South Korea imported 1.36 MMbpd last month from Iran, the data showed. The drop comes after imports hit highs earlier this year and last when Tehran ramped up exports after the lifting of sanctions that had targeted its disputed nuclear program.

The slowdown had been expected, as oil loadings bound for Asia fell below 1.5 MMbpd in October, a person with knowledge of Iran's tanker schedules had told Reuters.

Tehran is pushing to retain its prized Asian customers, hoping price reductions will boost the appeal of its crude compared with other Middle Eastern grades even as the potential threat of a renewal of US sanctions looms.

China, the biggest buyer, purchased 8.8% less oil from Iran year-on-year, taking around 557,900 bpd. Meanwhile India's refiners cut Iranian oil imports by more than half in November, ship tracking data showed, squeezing them to a 21-month low in protest at Tehran's decision to award a giant gas field to a Russian company.

Imports to Japan were down 19% from a year earlier to 193,141 bpd, data released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed on Thursday.
MRC