BASF launches E-TPU production facility in Taiwan

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF, inventor of the world's first Expanded Thermoplastic Polyurethane (E-TPU) Infinergy, has launched a new Infinergy production facility at its Changhua manufacturing site in Taiwan. The expanded capacity will meet growing demand for the revolutionary material solution across a variety of applications and industries, reported PublicNow.

'The Changhua production site will play a key role in helping us to meet the rising demand for E-TPU,' said Jens Dierssen, Head of Global Business Management Infinergy, BASF. 'With the new production facility, we are expanding our global footprint to better serve customers within the Asia Pacific region.'

'This investment reflects our commitment to the market, providing efficient production, timely qualification process to meet the growing market demands and customer needs. We are now even closer to the market and our customers, ' added Kin Wah Chay, Managing Director of BASF Taiwan.

The closed-cell, elastic particle foam has a unique blend of properties, such as high rebound, low density, durability over a wide temperature range, chemical resistance and low weight. This innovation is widely used in the transportation, furniture, construction and sports equipment, such as a bicycle saddle created by Ergon, a cycling innovation company based in Koblenz, Germany.

Ergon's bicycle saddles are comprised of two shells functioning in isolation from each other in a sandwich construction, held in a floating arrangement by the high-performance elastomer damper made of Infinergy.

In a three-wheeled concept vehicle, 05GEN from Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., BASF's Infinergy was used in the tires to enhance the overall riding experience, and its characteristic cellular structure contributed to its striking design.

The material has also been adopted in construction, providing a safer and improved sporting experience on running track and playing fields, owing to the outstanding cushioning effect of the E-TPU particles.

As MRC reported before, in December 2017, BASF’s Coatings division inaugurated a new automotive coatings plant at its Bangpoo manufacturing site, Samutprakarn province, Thailand. The new plant is the first BASF automotive coatings manufacturing facility in ASEAN, and will produce solventborne and waterborne automotive coatings to meet growing market demand in the region.

BASF is the leading chemical company. It produces a wide range of chemicals, for example solvents, amines, resins, glues, electronic-grade chemicals, industrial gases, basic petrochemicals and inorganic chemicals. The most important customers for this segment are the pharmaceutical, construction, textile and automotive industries. BASF generated sales of about EUR58 billion in 2016.
MRC

Velocys and PQ partner for catalyst manufacturing

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Velocys plc, the renewable fuels company, has announced that it has partnered with PQ Corporation (PQ) for the supply of commercial quantities of Velocys’ proprietary catalyst to be used in multiple biorefineries incorporating its technology, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.

PQ is a leading global provider of specialty catalysts, services, materials and chemicals for the refinery, emissions control and petrochemical industries.

Catalyst produced by PQ has already been used to successfully produce renewable transportation fuel and other products at ENVIA, the world’s first commercial smaller scale gas-to-liquids plant, which incorporates Velocys technology. In addition, PQ will manufacture the catalyst to be used by Velocys’ licensees as well as by the biorefinery projects that the company is developing with its industry partners, including its US biorefinery that will convert waste woody biomass into 20 million gallons per year of low-carbon transportation fuels and its plant in the UK that will convert waste into sustainable jet fuel.

"PQ has the proven capability to produce Velocys’ catalyst following our rigorous commercial production methodology. Our relationship with PQ gives us a great combination of a trusted and high-quality manufacturer who can deliver for us all over the world. After their successful production and deployment of our catalyst at the ENVIA biorefinery, we’re now ready to move to the next phase of catalyst manufacturing, with greater commercial quantities produced for future projects," Paul Schubert, COO of Velocys, said.

"Our highest priority is to safely manufacture, market and distribute products in a responsible manner that protects the environment. We do this, in part, by collaborating with our customers to create new products and technologies that further our mission. Our partnership with Velocys is a perfect example of this," David J. Taylor, PQ’s Executive Vice President and President – Environmental Catalysts and Services, said.
MRC

PP imports to Belarus rose by 7.5% in Jan-Jul 2018

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of polypropylene (PP) into Belarus grew in the first seven months of 2018 by 7.5% year on year, totalling slightly over 58,300 tonnes. Demand increased for all grades of propylene polymers, according to MRC's DataScope report.

July PP imports into Belarus were 8,800 tonnes, compared to 8,400 tonnes a month earlier, local companies raised their purchasing of injection moulding propylene copolymers in Russia. Overall imports of propylene polymers reached 58,300 tonnes in January-July 2018, compared to 54,200 tonnes a year earlier, with propylene copolymers accounting for the greatest increase in demand.

The supply structure by PP grades looked the following way over the stated period.


July imports of homopolymers of propylene (homopolymer PP) to the Belarusian market dropped to 5,700 tonnes from 6,000 tonnes a month earlier, local companies reduced their purchases of homopolymer PP raffia in Russia. Overall imports of homopolymer PP reached 39,300 tonnes in the first seven months of 2018, up by 5.6% year on year. Russian producers with the share of about 89% of the total shipments were the key suppliers.

July imports of propylene copolymers to Belarus were 3,100 tonnes versus 2,300 tonnes a month earlier, local companies increased their procurement of injection moulding statistical copolymers (PP random copolymers) in Russia. Thus, overall imports of propylene copolymers reached 19,000 tonnes in January-July 2018, whereas this figure was 17,000 tonnes a year earlier.

MRC

Ufaorgsintez shut PE and PP production

MOSCOW (Market Report) -- Ufaorgsintez (petrochemical asset of Bashneft, which is part of Rosneft) shut down the second low density polyethylene (LDPE) line and polypropylene (PP) production capacities for maintenance. The outage will be long, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

The plant's customers said Ufaorgsintez took off-stream its second LDPE line for a scheduled turnaround on 19 September (production of 158 and 153 grade polyethylene (PE) was shut) and PP production. The outage will be quite long and will last until 12 and 19 October, respectively.

As reported earlier, the first LDPE line (108 grade PE) was already shut for a 30-day maintenance on 1 September.

Ufaorgsintez's overall LDPE and PP production capacities are about 90,000 and 120,000 tonnes per year, respectively.

PJSC Ufaorgsintez produces phenol, acetone, synthetic ethylene-propylene rubber, high and low density polyethylene, polypropylene, over 30 types of petrochemical products and over 25 items of consumer products. Ufaorgsintez's net profit was Rb5.41 billion in 2017, down by 7% year on year.
MRC

Output of chemical products in Russia grew by 3.4% in January-August 2018

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Russia's output of chemical products dropped in August 2018 by 0.4% month on month.
Thus, this figure increased by 3.4% in the first eight months of the year of 2018, according to Rosstat's data.

According to the Federal Service of State Statistics, last month's production of basic chemicals decreased by 0.4% from July 2018, with ethylene accounting for the main reduction. Overall production of chemical products grew in January-August 2018 by 3.4% year on year, with benzene accounting for the greatest increase in the output.

243,000 tonnes of ethylene were produced in August versus 237,000 tonnes a month earlier, Angarsk Polymers Plant and Tomskneftekhim's production capacities were shut down for maintenance last month. 2,002 tonnes of this olefin were produced in the first eight months of 2018, up by 1.6% year on year.

Last month's production of benzene dropped to 115,000 tonnes from 117,000 tonnes in July. Overall output of this product reached 965,800 tonnes over the stated period, up by 6%year on year.

August output of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) was 108,000 tonnes (100% of the main substance) versus 106,000 tonnes a month earlier, increase production was caused by a the resumprion of the capacities of SayanskKhimPlast. Overall production of caustic soda grew to 844,500 tonnes in January-August 2018, up by 3.6% year on year.

Last month's output of mineral fertilizers was 1.819 m tonnes (in terms of 100% nutrients) versus 1.783 m tonnes in July, Russian producers increased their production of nitrogen and potash fertilizers. Overall, Russian plants produced 13.645 m tonnes of mineral fertilizers in the first eight months of 2018, up by 2.2% year on year. Nitrogen fertilizers accounted for the greatest increase in the output - up by 6% year on year.
MRC