Russian producers to decrease November PVC prices

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Negotiations over November shipments of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) began in the Russian market on Monday, 29 October. Producers had to reduce prices for supplies to the domestic market, according to ICIS-MRC Price Report.

SPVC prices has steadily increased in the Russian market since the beginning of the year under the pressure of various factors, and November will become the first month in 2018, when consumers will see a price drop.
Negotiations on the November supply started on Monday, 29 October; the producers expectedly announced price cuts. The prices were heard by roubles (Rb) 2,000–4,000/tonne lower from October level. Contrary to the expectations of many converters, they did not manage to achieve a reduction in prices in October, as it had been in previous years.

The high export prices of acetylene PVC in China and the growth in export volumes have allowed Russian producers in some cases to achieve a rise in prices in the domestic market in October. The export volumes that have grown in the past few months have allowed Russian producers to balance the domestic market even taking into account weakening demand for PVC under pressure from the domestic consumer.

Supply of K70 PVC was even slightly tight in October. Nevertheless, despite the relatively good balance in the domestic market, Russian producers had to reduce PVC prices in November. This was partly due to external factors - SPVC prices are getting cheaper all over the world.

The demand for PVC from the domestic market is declining, and some converters hope to achieve a significant reduction in prices in November due to increased competition between producers.

Overall, November deals for K64/67 PVC were negotiated in the range of Rb74,000-76,000/tonne CPT Moscow, including VAT, for lots of less than 500 tonnes. K58/70 PVC was contracted at the prices, which were by on average of Rb1,000/tonnes higher.
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UAE ENOC to shut condensate splitter for a month in November

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) has scheduled month-long maintenance for November at its 140,000 barrels per day (bpd) condensate splitter in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as per Reuters.

The planned maintenance will include the integration of a new crude distillation unit (CDU) pipeline that is expected to come onstream late next year, the sources said.

The sources declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak with media. ENOC did not immediately reply to an email from Reuters on the matter.

The maintenance comes as companies including ENOC and South Korea's Hanwha Total are grappling with feedstock condensate supply tightness due to sanctions against Iran which will take effect this month.

ENOC had chartered at least one vessel to store jet fuel to ensure supply to airlines in Dubai, sources told Reuters last month.

It also has onshore tanks to store refined oil products, including gasoline and feedstock.

Separately, ENOC last month announced that it would be constructing a jet fuel pipeline that can carry 2,000 cubic metres of the aviation fuel per hour to Al Maktoum International Airport.

The 16.2-km (10-mile) jet fuel pipeline is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2020
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US crude stocks rise for a sixth week, fuel draws down

MOSCOW (MRC) -- U.S. crude oil inventories climbed for a sixth straight week, but grew less than forecast last week, amid a drop in net imports and the government's sale of barrels from its reserve, while gasoline and distillate stocks drew down, as per Hydrocarbonproceesing.

The Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday that crude inventories, excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, rose 3.2 million barrels in the week to Oct. 26, less than analyst forecasts for a 4.1 million-barrel build. Much of that increase was in the Midwest, where stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub rose 1.9 million barrels, the EIA said. That was also the sixth straight week of builds at the delivery point for U.S. crude futures.

Net U.S. crude imports fell last week by 639,000 barrels per day, as exports rose 305,000 bpd. Oil prices rose after the data, with U.S. heating oil prices leading the energy complex higher after a big decline in inventories.

"Bullish draws to the products have acted as a counterweight to bearish sentiment ... half of today's crude build was contributed from another SPR release," Matt Smith, director of commodity research at ClipperData. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) said in August it would offer 11 million barrels of oil for sale from the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) ahead of sanctions on Iran that are expected to reduce global supplies of crude. The delivery period for the proposed sale of sour crudes is from Oct. 1 through Nov. 30.

Winners for the sale include ExxonMobil, Marathon Petroleum and Phillips 66, according to a notice from the DOE in early September. Traders said the SPR barrels have been hitting the market this month and data showed stockpiles in the SPR fell by about 1.6 million barrels last week, the biggest weekly drop since December 2017.

"PADD 3 stocks fell by 1 million barrels. It would've fallen by 2.5 million if not for the SPR," one trader said. Inventories in the Gulf Coast, or PADD 3 region, fell by 1.1 million barrels to 218.5 million last week.

Distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, fell 4.1 million barrels, versus expectations for a 1.4 million-barrel drop, the EIA data showed. Gasoline stocks fell 3.2 million barrels, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 2.1 million barrel drop.
MRC

Meridian Energy Group engages CIBC World Markets as financial advisor

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Meridian Energy Group, Inc., a leading developer of innovative and environmentally-compliant oil refining facilities, and CIBC World Markets Corp. have entered into an engagement agreement under which CIBC will act as Meridian’s financial advisor, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

CIBC will assist in structuring and arranging for both debt and equity transactions for the full project financing for Meridian’s Davis Refinery project in Belfield, North Dakota. CIBC is a market leader in providing corporate finance and advisory services and, has decades of experience in major energy project financing in general across the oil and gas value chain, with unique market insights and creative solutions for all downstream capital needs.

Meridian has raised a significant portion of project financing to this point and will continue to raise development financing for completion of pre-EPC work. Meridian has initiated site preparation and grading at the Davis site, and is proceeding with final design and equipment fabrication and procurement with full construction activities and foundation work resuming in Spring 2019. Full commercial operation of the Davis Refinery is expected in late 2020 or early 2021.

Tom Skwarek, member of the Meridian Board of Directors, had this to say on the CIBC engagement, "Meridian is extremely pleased to engage CIBC as its Financial Advisor. CIBC’s leadership in energy project financing and its full range of banking and capital markets skills will ensure access to the right financial partners joining our founding shareholders as construction progresses."

Meridian Chief Financial Officer, Chad Hope echoed these sentiments, "Meridian is looking forward to CIBC’s expertise to assist in securing the necessary financing to construct and operate the Davis Refinery. This is an important and crucial step in constructing the cleanest refinery to date, in the world."
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Phillips 66 and Renewable Energy Group to build renewable diesel facility

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Phillips 66 and Renewable Energy Group, Inc. announced that planning is underway for the construction of a large-scale renewable diesel plant on the U.S. West Coast, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The plant would utilize REG’s proprietary BioSynfining® technology for the production of renewable diesel fuel. Planned feedstocks include a mix of waste fats, oils and greases, including regionally-sourced vegetable oils, animal fats and used cooking oil.

"REG is excited to be working with a leading refiner, Phillips 66 , on a project that has the potential to significantly expand biofuel production in Washington state and provide low carbon fuel markets with products that are in significant demand on the West Coast ,” said Randy Howard , CEO of REG. “We look forward to working with state and local stakeholders to facilitate development of this important project and increase the supply of low carbon fuels in the region."

The new facility would be constructed adjacent to the Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery in Washington state . The Ferndale Refinery offers existing infrastructure, including tank storage, a dock, and rail and truck rack access.

"The proposed facility’s strategic location in Washington state would enable us to move renewable fuels more efficiently to support West Coast and international fuel market demand." said Brian Mandell , senior vice president, Marketing and Commercial, Phillips 66 . "We continually look for opportunities to provide our customers with a reliable source of innovative renewable fuels."

This announcement follows more than a year of collaboration between Phillips 66 and REG related to site selection and preliminary engineering. The companies expect to make a final investment decision in 2019. If approved, production at the new facility is currently premised to start in 2021.

REG owns and operates 13 biomass-based diesel refineries, with a combined effective production capacity of 565 million gallons per year. This includes REG Geismar, a 75-million-gallon nameplate capacity plant located in Louisiana that was the first renewable diesel plant built in North America . REG’s 100 million gallon per year REG Grays Harbor biodiesel plant, the largest biorefinery in the REG fleet, is also located in Washington state .
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