Russian domestic PVC prices to increase in January

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Negotiations over January shipments of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) began in the Russian market in the early week. Expectedly producers announced an increase of prices for supplies to the domestic market, according to ICIS-MRC Price Report.

Most likely SPVC prices in the Russian market reached their minimum in December and will grow next year under the pressure of several factors.

January, like the year before, will be the first month of price increases next year. Russian producers intend to achieve a price increase of Rb1,500 - 2,000/tonne, which is partly due to the increase in the VAT rate.

Demand for PVC from the domestic market remains at a good level as for the current time of the year. Some converters even purchased additional volumes of PVC in December. Stocks inventories at Russian producers are insignificant due to export. In particular, since October, under the pressure of the seasonal factor, Russian producers began to actively increase export sales in order to balance the domestic market in the face of declining demand.

November export sales of SPVC reached a record level over the past few years and amounted to about a third of the total monthly production volume. About 30,500 tonnes were shipped to foreign markets in November (excluding deliveries to the countries of the Customs Union) versus 16,700 tonnes in October. Total PVC exports from the country were about 135,5200 tonnes in the first eleven months of this year, up 62% year on year.

There is no import alternative for the Russian consumer even taking into account the January price increase for SPVC. Key PVC suppliers in past years - manufacturers from China significantly reduced export prices in December, in some cases, prices for container shipments of acetylene PVC reached $785/tonne, DAP Moscow. But even such low export prices of Chinese PVC did not allow competing with Russian PVC.

Some Russian producers sdaid the growth of the January contract prices of SPVC was a result of the increase in the VAT rate from 2019 by 2%. The current weakening of rouble against the dollar also affected the situation.

Overall, January deals for K64/67 PVC were negotiated in the range of Rb71 500 - 75 000/tonne CPT Moscow, including VAT, for lots of less than 500 tonnes. Deals for K70 PVC were discussed on average up by Rb1,500-2,000/tonne.
MRC

Nghi Son oil refinery offers its first jet fuel cargo -sources

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Vietnam’s Nghi Son oil refinery has offered its first jet fuel cargo, weeks after it officially began commercial production, two sources at the refinery told Reuters.

The export cargo is ready for loading from Jan. 1 to Jan. 10, the first source said, declining to be identified as he was not authorized to speak with media.

“The export volume and price are still subject to negotiations with potential buyers,” the source added. A third source at the refinery told Reuters in November that the facility was seeking government permission to export its first batch of 30,000 tonnes of jet fuel.

“Exporting the first batch will help us secure an ISO certificate for the product,” the first source said, adding that the refinery would sell jet fuel in the domestic market after that under a deal signed with Vietnam Oil and Gas group, or PetroVietnam.

The 200,000-barrels-per-day Nghi Son refinery, located 260 km (160 miles) south of Hanoi, began commercial production on Nov. 14 after months of tests.

The USD9 billion refinery is 35.1 percent owned by Japan’s Idemitsu Kosan Co, 35.1 percent by Kuwait Petroleum, 25.1 percent by PetroVietnam and 4.7 percent by Mitsui Chemicals Inc.
MRC

Gurit closes PVC production site divestment

MOSCOW (MRC) – Gurit announces the successful closing of the divestment of all shares in the Company`s PVC production site in Qingdao, China,said the company.

Gurit has decided to focus the core materials manufacturing in the Asia-Pacific region on SAN, PET and balsa wood at its existing production facility in Tianjin, China. Following this decision, Gurit has disclosed the signing of an agreement to sell all shares in Gurit’s PVC production company in Qingdao, China to Zhengyu Sunshine Industrial Co. Ltd. for an undisclosed purchase price on August 3rd, 2018.

Gurit announces the successful closing of this transaction with the buyer. The financial results of this divestment will be disclosed as part of the annual report 2018 of Gurit.

The companies of Gurit Holding AG, Wattwil/Switzerland, are specialized on the development and manufacture of advanced composite materials, related technologies and select finished parts and components. The comprehensive product range comprises fibre reinforced prepregs, structural core products, gel coats, adhesives, resins and consumables. Gurit supplies global growth markets with composite materials on the one hand and composite tooling equipment, core material wind turbine blade kits, structural engineering and select finished parts on the other. The global Group has production sites and offices in Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Spain, the U.K., Turkey, Canada, the U.S.A., Ecuador, New Zealand, India and China.
MRC

Indorama to acquire PET recycling capabilities from Custom Polymers PET

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL), a global chemical producer, announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire a PET recycling facility from Custom Polymers PET in Alabama, US, as per the company's press release.

The facility consists of two production lines; Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (rPET) Flake and food-grade rPET Pellets, with a combined capacity of 31,000 tonnes/annum.

Regardless of the fluctuations in the quality of post-consumer feedstock, this recycling facility can offer consistently high quality recycled PET material that meets customers’ specific needs in Packaging and Fibers. Indorama Ventures with Custom Polymer has important footprints in Recycling in multiple locations in Europe, in Mexico, in Thailand and now in USA.

A growing emphasis on sustainability and circular economy objectives among packaging and consumer product manufacturers is expected to be amongst the key factors driving market growth. This acquisition is strategically in line with the Company’s objectives of long-term sustainability. The acquisition of this recycling facility from Custom Polymers will allow IVL to have a secured supply of rPET Flake and food-grade100% rPET Pellets in US, and this will open up new opportunities to meet the ever increasing food grade rPET demand for more sustainable packaging solutions by major brand owners. The proximity of this recycling facility to our existing polyester manufacturing entities in US, synergies of management and supply chain are expected to benefit Indorama Ventures’ ability to serve our customers in North America.

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, listed in Thailand (Bloomberg ticker IVL.TB), is one of the world’s leading petrochemicals producers, with a global manufacturing footprint across Africa, Asia, Europe and Americas. The company’s portfolio comprises Necessities and High Value-Added (HVA) categories of Polymers, Fibers, and Packaging, selectively integrated with self-manufactured Ethylene Oxide/Glycols and PTA where economical. Indorama Ventures products serve major FMCG and Automotive sectors, i.e. Beverages, Hygiene, Personal Care, Tire and Safety segments. Indorama Ventures has approx. 16,000 employees worldwide and consolidated revenue of USD 8.4 billion in 2017. The Company is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI).
MRC

Celanese raises January prices for UHMW-PE polymers in Europe, Americas and Asia

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Celanese Corporation, a global specialty materials company, has announced price increases for its GUR and GHR grades (UHMW-PE) to be shipped starting from January to Europe, the Americas and Asia, as per the company's press release.

The price increases below will be effective for orders shipped on or after 1 January, 2019, or as contracts otherwise allow, as follows:

- in Europe - by EUR150/tonne;
- in Asia - by USD150/tonne;
- in North and South America - by 10%.

Meanwhile, final price for individual grades may vary.

As MRC informed earlier, Celanese Corporation has raised list and off-list selling prices for Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) sold in Asia Outside China (AOC). The price increase below is for orders shipped and is effective as of 21 December 2018, or as contracts otherwise allow, and is incremental to any previously announced increases. Thus, Celanese increased VAM list and off-list selling prices by USD50/mt for AOC.

Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production of differentiated chemistry solutions and specialty materials used in most major industries and consumer applications. Based in Dallas, Celanese employs approximately 7,600 employees worldwide and had 2017 net sales of USD6.1 billion.
MRC