PP plant taken off-stream by FREP

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Fujian Refining & Petrochemical (FREP) has undertaken an unplanned shutdown at its No.3 polypropylene (PP) plant in Fujian Province, as per Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the company has halted operations at the plant on September 18, 2018 owing to a technical glitch. The plant is likely to remain off-line for around one week.

Located in Fujian province, China, the No. 3 PP plant has a production capacity of 220,000 mt/year.

The company also operates other two PP plants at the same location with production capacity of 120,000 mt/year and 360,000 mt/year.

FREP is a joint venture between Fujian Petrochemical Co. (50%), ExxonMobil China Petroleum and Petrochemical Co. (25%) and Saudi Aramco Sino Co. (25%). Fujian Petrochemical is a 50:50 JV between Sinopec and the Fujian provincial government.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Russia's production of high density polyethylene (HDPE) totalled 652,500 tonnes in January-August 2018, up 1% year on year. At the same time, not all Russian producers raised their output of HDPE, according to MRC's ScanPlast report.

August total HDPE production grew to 81,500 tonnes in Russia, whereas this figure was 79,600 tonnes a month earlier; Gazprom neftekhim Salavat and Stavrolen increased their capacity utilisation. Overall HDPE production reached 652,500 tonnes in the first eight months of 2018, compared to 647,100 tonnes a year earlier. At the same time, Nizhnekamskneftekhim and Kazanorgsintez reduced their output.

The structure of HDPE production by plants looked the following way over the stated period.

Kazanorgsintez's total HDPE production dropped to 46,400 tonnes in August from 48,800 tonnes a month earlier. The Kazan plant's overall HDPE output totalled 357,400 tonnes in January-August 2018, down by 2% year on year. Lower output was caused by the resumption of the plant's linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) production.

Stavrolen produced 24,500 tonnes last month versus 21,800 tonnes in July. The plant's overall HDPE output reached 197,400 tonnes in the first eight months of 2018, up by 2% year on year.

Gazprom neftekhim Salavat increased its capacity utilisation in August, the plant produced 10,600 tonnes last month, compared to 9,000 tonnes a month earlier. The Bashkir plant's overall HDPE production reached 79,900 tonnes in the first eight months of 2018, up by 51% year on year. Such a high amount of growth in the plant's output was caused by the absence of a long shutdown for maintenance this year, in 2017, the company took off-stream its production capacities for a turnaround in July-August.

Nizhnekamskneftekhim produced HDPE only in April and May and plans to resume its HDPE production for a short period in the 20-s September. Thus, Nizhnekamskneftekhim production only 17,700 tonnes over the incomplete two months of the year versus 37,300 tonnes a year earlier.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Thailand’s leading manufacturer of toothbrushes and household brushes is committed to producing toothbrushes of the highest quality. For this reason, The First Thai Brush Co., Ltd. has chosen a high-quality thermoplastic elastomer from Kraiburg TPE to enhance the ergonomics and functionality of its Victory toothbrush product lines with a soft-touch grip, as per Kraiburg's press release.

Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE) have become important components in the manufacture of consumer products. When The First Thai Brush decided to redesign the handle of its Victory toothbrushes, they were looking for a flexible material with food-contact approval, superior design freedom and efficient processability, including compatibility with other plastics in a co-molding process that would not require a bonding agent to ensure long-term adhesion.

Moreover, ergonomics are key when it comes to designing high-quality functional toothbrushes. The use of an elastomeric material for the brush handle provides a pleasant soft-touch and non-slip grip which helps users achieve optimal cleaning motion with less pressure.

In close collaboration with Kraiburg TPE, The First Thai Brush selected a high-transparency food-contact grade from the THERMOLAST K range of consumer care compounds that also delivers a smooth silky surface finish and offers the perfect balance between flexibility and hardness to obtain the desired haptics.

In addition, the material combines high flowability and excellent adhesion to polar thermoplastics, such as PC, ABS and PETG, with superb colorability for versatile promotional effects. Together, these properties offered The First Thai Brush virtually unlimited possibilities in design, form and function to communicate the unique features of its Victory toothbrushes and enhance the experience of consumers.

"Beyond the right material, the success of any product greatly depends on smooth development and fast time-to-market," says Kit Tae, Deputy Managing Director of The First Thai Brush. "Apart from assisting us in the selection of the most suitable compound for this application, Kraiburg TPE took on our challenges as their own and went the extra mile to support us with their expertise throughout the entire project. Thanks to their high material quality and service standards, we were able to speed the innovation of our product and keep our competitive edge in the market."

As MRC wrote before, in December 2017, Kraiburg TPE presented a new series of thermoplastic elastomers from its Thermolast K family that was specially developed for excellent adhesion and UV resistance in two-component applications with ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM). The new compounds are intended for automotive applications such as EPDM window trim and sealing profiles with moulded TPE corner joints and end elements.

Kraiburg Rubber (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. was established in 2005 and is part of the Waldkraiburg-based German company Kraiburg Holding GmbH & Co. KG. The company produces a wide range of standard rubber compounds (based on NR, EPDM, CR, AEM, SBR, FKM, etc.) for automotive, building and construction applications, and other industrial markets as well as highly customised products for all kinds of industries at its Suzhou site. The compounds are produced on highly automated and fully process-controlled mixing lines, based on state-of-the-art technology. The company has 130 employees.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- ExxonMobil said that it has signed a cooperation framework agreement with the Guangdong Provincial People’s Government to advance discussions concerning the proposed construction of a chemical complex in the Huizhou Dayawan Petrochemical Industrial Park, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The new facility would help meet expected demand growth for chemical products in China.

The multibillion-dollar project, which remains subject to a final investment decision, would include a 1.2 million-tons-per-year ethylene flexible feed steam cracker, two performance polyethylene lines and two differentiated performance polypropylene lines. ExxonMobil’s decision to proceed with the project will be based on a number of factors, including receipt of permits and project competitiveness. Startup is planned for 2023.

"Our agreement with the Guangdong Provincial Government demonstrates ExxonMobil’s interest in advancing this project from concept to completion," said John Verity, president of the ExxonMobil Chemical Company. "We value the government’s support and its experience in moving such a large-scale project forward."

The new complex would rely on advanced proprietary technologies in direct crude steam cracking and performance polymers manufacturing. It would support progress toward China’s national petrochemical development priorities, which include self-sufficiency, diversified feedstock sources, rebalancing fuels versus chemicals and advancing new competitive technology. The framework agreement also confirms Guangdong Province’s support in progressing the Huizhou LNG receiving terminal, in which ExxonMobil intends to participate, including supply of LNG.

The company is also evaluating other chemicals manufacturing projects in Asia to help meet expected demand growth in the region. ExxonMobil expects to grow chemicals manufacturing capacity in Asia Pacific and North America by about 40 percent. That growth will be achieved in part by adding 13 new facilities, including two world-class steam crackers in the United States that are part of the company’s Growing the Gulf initiative. These investments would enable the company to meet increasing demand in Asia and other growing markets.

The company recently commenced operations at its new 1.5 million ton-per-year ethane cracker at the company’s integrated Baytown chemical and refining complex in Texas. ExxonMobil and SABIC have also created a new joint venture to advance development of the Gulf Coast Growth Ventures project, a 1.8 million tonne ethane cracker currently planned for construction in San Patricio County, Texas. The facility will also include a monoethylene glycol unit and two polyethylene units.

ExxonMobil’s downstream and chemical businesses both have a presence in China, and the company operates primarily through its Shanghai-based ExxonMobil (China) Investment Co. Ltd. affiliate. The company is also a joint venture partner with Sinopec, Fujian Province and Saudi Aramco in China’s first integrated refining and petrochemical facility to include international participation.

ExxonMobil is committed to social investment where it operates and supports programs that focus on the environment, health and education.

ExxonMobil and Sabic have collaborated on several petrochemical JVs in Saudi Arabia, including the Al-Jubail Petrochemical Company and Saudi Yanbu Petrochemical Company. Most recently, the companies constructed world-scale specialty elastomers facilities at the Al-Jubail joint venture complex to help meet the growing demand for rubber-based industrial and automotive products.
MRC

Thus, imports of unmixed PVC grew in January-July 2018 to 19,900 tonnes from 18,900 tonnes a year earlier, with local windows producers accounting for the main increase in demand.

Russian producers with the share of about 88% of the Belarusian market were the key suppliers of resin to Belarus over the stated period.
Producers from Ukraine and Germany were the second and third largest suppliers, respectively.

MRC