PE imports to Kazakhstan rose by 24% in 2017

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of polyethylene (PE) into Kazakhstan grew in 2017 by 24% year on year, totalling about 121,400 tonnes. Shipments of all PE grades increased, reported MRC analysts.

December PE imports to Kazakhstan fell to 9,300 tonnes from 12,000 tonnes a month earlier, local companies significantly decreased their purchasing of high density polyethylene (HDPE) in Russia and Uzbekistan. Overall PE imports were 121,400 tonnes in 2017, compared to 97,800 tonnes a year earlier. Purchasing of all PE grades rose, with linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) accounting for the greatest increase.

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


December HDPE imports to Kazakhstan dropped to 6,500 tonnes from 9,600 a month earlier. Local companies, particularly, pipes producers, reduced their purchasing of PE in Russian and Uzbekistan under the pressure of seasonal factors. Thus, last year's HDPE imports reached 92,700 tonnes, up by 26% year on year.

December purchases of LDPE in foreign markets by local companies increased to 1,900 tonnes from 1,700 tonnes in November, Russian producers raised their shipments slightly. Overall LDPE imports to Kazakhstan totalled 21,600 tonnes over the stated period, up by 15% year on year.

Purchasing of LLDPE by local companies was 7,200 tonnes in 2017 versus 5,600 tonnes a year earlier.

MRC

PP imports into Ukraine rose by 3% in 2017

MOSCOW (MRC) - Total imports of polypropylene (PP) into Ukraine increased to 123,100 tonnes in 2017, up 3% compared to 2016.
The greatest decrease in imports occurred for homopolymer PP, according to MRC DataScope.

December PP imports to Ukraine decreased 10,700 tonnes from 11,900 tonnes a month earlier, with the propylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) and block propylene copolymers (PP block copolymers) accounting for a decrease in shipments. Overall PP imports into the country increased to 123,100 tonnes over the stated period versus 119,600 tonnes a year earlier. Demand for all PP grades increased, but homopolymer PP accounted for the greatest growth.

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

Last month's imports of homopolymer PP to the Ukrainian market decreased to 8,600 tonnes from 9,200 tonnes in November. The main decrease occurred for the supply of homopolymer PP raffia grade from Saudi Arabia. Overall homopolymer PP imports totalled 94,400 tonnes in 2017, up by 4% year on year.

December imports of PP block copolymers into the country were about 1,000 tonnes, down 10% year on year. Local companies decreased their demand for pipe propylene copolymers. Imports of PP block copolymers into the country were about 12,900 tonnes in January-December, compared with a little more than 12,500 tonnes.

December imports of PP random copolymers into Ukraine decreased to 1,000 tonnes against 1,500 tonnes in November, with decrease in purchases provided by local producers of pipes and injection moulding products. Overall imports of PP random copolymers reached 13,700 tonnes in January-December 2017, whereas this figure was 13,600 tonnes a year earlier.

Total imports of other propylene copolymers over the reporting period were about 2,100 tonnes, compared with 2,500 tonnes in the same time a year earlier.

MRC

Ascend introduces new high performance PA66 for electrical components in unattended appliances

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Ascend Performance Materials, the world’s largest fully integrated producer of polyamide 66 resin, has launched Vydyne FR350J, a new high performance compound based on polyamide 66 (PA66) that will bring extra safety to electrical connectors used in unattended home appliances, as per the company's press release.

In addition to excellent electrical and flammability properties, Vydyne FR350J also exhibits high ductility and elongation at break (15 percent), providing engineers with greater freedom when designing parts such as living hinges and snap fits.

The new unreinforced, flame-retardant compound also has superior melt flow and requires lower pressure to fill molds; reducing cycle times and production costs. Vydyne FR350J has a wide processing window and is color stable for natural and colorable applications.

"Home appliances are getting smarter and demand for these so-called 'smart' products continues to grow. That means they will incorporate more electronics and more connectors," said Vikram Gopal, Ascend’s vice president of technology. "Vydyne FR350J will make sure that appliances are safe as well as smart."

Additional features of Vydyne FR350J include an RTI electrical rating of 130°C (RTI is the relative temperature index; RTI electrical is an indication of how critical electrical insulating properties vary with temperature) and a UL94 V-0 flammability rating at thicknesses down to 0.4 mm. The flame retardant additive package is REACH and RoHS compliant and exhibits low corrosion for improved electrical contact performance.

Vydyne FR350J exhibits a best-in-class glow wire ignition temperature (GWIT) of 960 C at all thicknesses (up to 3.0 mm) according to the test method IEC 60695-1-13. Finished molded parts tested according to IEC 60335-1 achieved glow-wire end product test values of 750°C at all thicknesses. Vydyne FR350J also achieves PLC 0 ratings in hot wire ignition (HWI) and high amp arc ignition (HAI) tests carried out according to UL 746A.

As MRC wrote previously, in May 2016, Ascend Performance Materials said it had put plans to build a propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant on hold because of market conditions. The two-train project at Chocolate Bayou, TX, with a combined capacity of more than 1 million m.t./year of propylene, was expected to become the largest such facility in the United States and cost an estimated USD1.2 billion. It has already been delayed once from the original onstream date of 2016 to mid-2019. Ascend is expected to use the UOP Oleflex PDH technology.

Ascend Performance Materials is a global leader in the production of Nylon 6,6.
MRC

LyondellBasell named to Fortune Magazine "World Most Admired Companies" list for the first time

MOSCOW (MRC) -- LyondellBasell, one of the world's largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies, has announced it has been named to Fortune Magazine's 2018 list of the "World's Most Admired Companies" for 2018, as per the company's press release.

This is a first-time achievement for the company.

"This is a tremendous and well-deserved honor for our 13,000 employees around the world who continue to deliver on the promise of making LyondellBasell the best operated, most valued company in our industry," said Bob Patel, CEO of LyondellBasell. "While we are certainly proud of all that has been accomplished, our focus remains on executing the strategy that will make us even more competitive in the future."

According to Korn Ferry, who administers the survey for Fortune Magazine, the "World's Most Admired Companies" study surveys top executives and directors from eligible companies, along with financial analysts, to identify the organizations that enjoy the strongest reputations within their own industries and across industries. Survey respondents are asked to evaluate companies in the categories of:

- Ability to attract and retain talented people
- Quality of management
- Social responsibility to the community and the environment
- Innovativeness
- Quality of products or services
- Wise use of corporate assets
- Financial soundness
- Long-term investment value
- Effectiveness in doing business globally

In December, LyondellBasell commemorated the 10-year anniversary of the merger between Basell AF and Lyondell Chemical Company. Since the merger, LyondellBasell has:

- established a reputation as one of the safest, most reliable operators in the industry;
- more than doubled in enterprise value;
- increased its dividend nine times since 2011 and returned nearly $28 billion to shareholders in dividends and share buybacks;
- been granted more than 5,000 patents worldwide;
- invested billions to expand the capacity of plants across the globe, including a 20 percent increase in U.S. ethylene capacity since 2012;
- announced new innovations and growth projects, including the construction of the new Hyperzone Polyethylene (PE) plant and the world's largest Propylene Oxide/Tertiary Butyl Alcohol plant in Texas; and,
= expanded into new markets, including India and China; and, new product lines, including recycled plastics.

As MRC informed before, in August 2016, LyondellBasell made the final investment decision to build a high density polyethylene (HDPE) plant on the US Gulf Coast. The plant will have an annual capacity of 1.1 billion pounds (500,000 metric tons) and will be the first commercial plant to employ LyondellBasell's new proprietary Hyperzone PE technology. The start-up of the new plant is scheduled for 2019.

LyondellBasell is one of the world's largest plastics, chemical and refining companies and a member of the S&P 500. LyondellBasell manufactures products at 56 sites in 19 countries. LyondellBasell is also a leading licensor of polypropylene and polyethylene technologies. The more than 250 polyolefin process licenses granted by LyondellBasell are twice that of any other polyolefin technology licensor.
MRC

PVC imports to Kazakhstan down by 3% in 2017

MOSCOW (MRC) - Imports of unmixed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into Kazakhstan slightly exceeded 51,000 tonnes in January-December 2017, up 3% compared with the same time a year earlier, according to MRC analysts.

Despite the seasonal factor, there was a slight increase in demand for PVC in December from local companies. December imports of unmixed PVC amounted to 2,900 tonnes against 2,700 tonnes a month earlier.
Overall PVC imports into the country increased to 51,000 tonnes over the stated period versus 52,600 tonnes a year earlier. Due to the geographical position, the main suppliers of PVC to Kazakhstan were Chinese producers, with the share of about 92% of the local market over the stated period.

The second largest PVC supplier was Russia, the total imports of PVC during the period exceeded 4,000 tonnes.

MRC