PE production in Belarus rose by 6% in Jan-Apr

According to the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus, the local LDPproducerer - Polymir - reduced slightly its capacity utilisation in April. April polyethylene (PE) output was 5,400 tonnes, compared to 5,600 tonnes a month earlier. Thus, Polymir's total LDPE output was almost 20,000 tonnes in January-April 2018, compared to 20,800 tonnes a year earlier.

As reported earlier, Polymir completely shut down its LDPE production for a scheduled overhaul on 5 May. The resumption of production is scheduled for 20 May.

The Belarusian producer also plans to resume some of its ethylene production capacities in August after the forced outage because of fire, which took place in June 2016. When the ethylene unit achieves 100% capacity utilisation, LDPE production capacities will also reach the nominal level of its capacity utilisation.

Polymir (part of Naftan) is Belarus' largest petrochemical company, producing a wide range of chemical products, such as low density polyethylene (LDPE), acrylic fibers, products of organic synthesis, hydrocarbon fractions, etc. Polymir was founded in 1968. The producer uses technologies of the largest foreign companies from Great Britain, Japan, Germany, Italy (Courtaulds, Asahi Chemical Co. Ltd, Kanematsu Gosho, SNIA BPD, etc.), as well as the developments of scientific research institutes and design institutes of the CIS countries. The plant's annual production capacity is 130,000 tonnes.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - Russia's imports of polypropylene (PP) slightly exceeded 61,900 tonnes in first four months of this year, up 35% year on year, compared to the same period of 2017. Supply of all grades of PP increased, according to a MRC's DataScope report.

Russian companies decreased volumes PP imports in April, which reached 16,100 tonnes against 16,800 tonnes in March; shipments of homopolymer PP from Turkmenistan decreased. In general, PP imports into Russia exceeded 61,900 tonnes in January-April 2018, compared with 45,700 tonnes year on year. The import for all grades of propylene polymers increased, the greatest increase in supplies accounted on homopolymer PP.

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

April imports of homopolymer PP decreased to 5,200 tonnes against 6,200 tonnes a month earlier, shipments of homopolymer PP raffia from Turkmenistan decreased. Overall imports of homopolymer PP reached 21,000 tonnes in the first four months of 2018, compared to 14,000 a year earlier.

April imports of PP block copolymers in Russia were about 4,900 tonnes against 4,300 tonnes in March. Local companies increased their purchasing of PP block copolymer for extrusion injection moulding in Europe. Imports of PP block copolymers into Russia rose to 16,200 tonnes in January-April 2018, compared to 13,600 tonnes a year earlier.

April imports of PP random copolymers were about 3,000 tonnes versus 2,500 tonnes a month earlier. Total imports of PP random copolymers in Russia were 10,800 tonnes in January - April 2018, compared with 8,700 tonnes year on year. The greatest increase in supply accounted for pipe propylene copolymers.

Imports of other propylene polymers for the reported period decreased to about 14,000 tonnes compared with 9,500 tonnes in the same time a year earlier.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, has unveiled a new and growing portfolio of SABIC polypropylene (PP) compounds that deliver a soft feel combined with excellent scratch performance in unpainted, low gloss automotive interior components, as per the company's press release.

The new SABIC PP compounds offer the luxurious haptics and finishes that today’s consumers demand - even in lower-priced vehicles. At the same time, these injection molding materials can help automotive OEMs and tiers reduce costs by as much as 50 percent by avoiding secondary operations such as applying soft paint, fabric, foam or other surface covering.

"Elegance, comfort and quiet in automotive interiors are becoming increasingly important to buyers of vehicles at all price points," said Scott Fallon, global leader of SABIC’s Automotive business. "SABIC engineered these new PP compounds to address this demand by helping manufacturers deliver an interior environment that connotes luxury while controlling costs. Our customers can benefit from the outstanding aesthetics and value this innovative material technology provides."

In addition to a soft tactile feel, SABIC PP compounds provide an attractive matte surface with excellent scratch resistance, good impact performance and low shrinkage. These SABIC materials also deliver good sound damping capability to help create a quiet cabin environment. The portfolio, which is available globally, includes several grades of short glass fiber-reinforced PP to give customers a choice of stiffness level and material density. The materials are also UV stabilized to prevent fading and color shift.

Possible applications where this material can be used include interior trims, seat and console side cladding, glove boxes, door panels and other similar interior components. SABIC PP compounds allow these types of parts to be efficiently manufactured using only one high-volume injection molding step.

Leading Indian automaker, Tata Motors, is the first automotive manufacturer to use one of the SABIC PP compounds in vehicle interior applications. Tata Motors selected a SABIC PP compound to mold parts with a soft feel and high-end appearance in the steering column cover and speedometer cluster top for its 2017 Tiago hatchback.

The company eliminated the need for expensive paint systems, saving about 30 percent, while achieving the same level of performance and aesthetics.

As MRC informed before, Sabic was named a winner of the prestigious Best Polymer Producer Award in the category of Polypropylene (PP) at an award ceremony held in conjunction with the European Plastics Converters (EuPC) Annual Event on 1 June 2017 in Madrid, Spain.

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) ranks among the world's top petrochemical companies. The company is among the world's market leaders in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene and other advanced thermoplastics, glycols, methanol and fertilizers.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- ExxonMobil Catalysts and Licensing LLC and BASF Corporation have signed an alliance agreement to jointly develop new gas treating solvents and process technologies for use in natural gas processing and petroleum refining, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Under this new agreement, BASF will market and license technologies developed from this collaboration, along with FLEXSORBTM and OASE technologies.

"With over 35 years of experience providing advance technologies for gas treating, we are excited to partner with BASF to provide innovative solutions to the industry," said Chris Birdsall, President of ExxonMobil Catalysts and Licensing LLC. "The alliance leverages our collective expertise to meet customer needs by providing technologies to increase capacity, reduce energy consumption, and meet tighter sulfur specifications."

"By bringing together two highly capable research and development teams, we expect to accelerate technology development and reduce the time to market," said Heidi Alderman, Senior Vice President, Intermediates, for BASF Corporation. “The next generation technologies will offer significant performance improvements for the benefit of our customers."

ExxonMobil has been offering its unique selective gas processing technology under the FLEXSORB brand since 1983, including the proprietary FLEXSORB SE and FLEXSORB SE PLUS solvents. The technology has been demonstrated in over 120 commercial applications worldwide.

With more than 40 years of experience, BASF offers its customers efficient solutions for the treatment of various gases such as natural gas, gas synthesis and biogas. Worldwide, these solutions have been proven and demonstrated in more than 400 reference plants. BASF markets its range of technologies, gas treatment agents and complete technical services under the brand OASE - Gas Treating Excellence by BASF.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Ravago Group, a leading service solutions provider in the global polymers and chemicals market, has signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) which will see the Belgian group build and operate a state-of-the-art polyolefins compounding facility in Ruwais Industrial Complex near the UAE capital, reported TradeArabia.

Ravago’s manufacturing segment, operates 24 plants across four continents, producing plastics, rubbers and chemicals, serving the automotive, electronics, and building and construction industries through the company’s global distribution network.

The agreement was signed at Adnoc’s Downstream Investment Forum, where the Abu Dhabi firm revealed plans to significantly enhance and expand its downstream operations in support of its ambition to become a leading global downstream player.

The duo said as per the agreement they will discuss further opportunities to unlock value and growth within the petrochemical value chain as part of Adnoc’s downstream expansion.

As part of Adnoc’s efforts to maximise value across its value chain, they will explore ways to upgrade and commercialise the non-prime product generated at Borouge, the joint venture between Adnoc and Austria-based Borealis. This process, known as compounding, would take place at the proposed facility, situated in the Ruwais.

Borouge is a leading petrochemicals company that provides innovative plastics solutions for the energy, infrastructure, mobility, packaging, healthcare and agriculture industries.

With 4.5 million tonnes of annual capacity, Borouge is the world’s largest integrated polyolefin complex, with the ambition to more than double its current capacity by 2025.

Both companies will also explore potential collaboration opportunities leveraging Ravago’s strengths across multiple areas to further unlock value within the petrochemical chain.

Abdulaziz Abdulla Alhajri, the director, Downstream Directorate, Adnoc, said: "We seek to create partnerships with those who can bring additional value to our hydrocarbon resources, downstream assets and the UAE economy at large."

"This proposed collaboration with Ravago is an excellent example of a partner bringing world-class technologies and expertise to complement Adnoc’s strengths, unlocking conversion value and creating efficiencies, for the benefit of both partners," he noted.

Ravago CEO Theo Roussis said this project confirms the group's commitment to the region and its legacy business, recycling, compounding and distribution.

The Ruwais Industrial Complex, where the new potential venture will be located, is already home to one of the largest downstream sites in the world, he stated.

ADNOC aims to further develop and expand Ruwais into the world’s largest integrated refining and petrochemicals complex, that will also include a large-scale, integrated manufacturing ecosystem, through the creation of new petrochemicals derivatives and conversion parks.

As MRC informed before, ADNOC has just announced it has signed a project development agreement with Cepsa of Spain for a new, world-scale Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB) facility in ADNOC’s refining and petrochemicals complex in Ruwais, UAE.
MRC