Celanese to expand production of thermoplastic co-polyesters at Italy plant

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Celanese Corporation, a global chemical and specialty materials company, today announces the expansion of its Pibiflex and Riteflex TPC (thermoplastic co-polyester) production unit at the Donegani facility in Ferrara, Italy to support the continued growth of its global engineered materials business, said Businesswire.

Celanese continues to exhibit its leadership position in the manufacture and compounding of highly engineered materials, such as thermoplastic co-polyesters, by adding this capacity to support growth in sophisticated, functionalized polymers. The company will continue to partner with its customers to deliver innovative solutions to meet ever-increasing consumer and industrial needs and respond to the changing complexity in high-performance polymers.

Celanese recently added one more solid-state polymerization unit at the Donegani facility, which started up successfully in September 2018. Celanese expects to expand the production capacity of the unit further by adding another polymerization line to be completed in the next 15 to 18 months.

The expansion of this thermoplastic co-polyester unit further demonstrates the company’s ability to respond to global customer demand using the knowledge and expertise of world-class engineering capabilities which enable these types of projects and expansions.

Thermoplastic co-polyester (TPCs) are block co-polymers that combine favorable characteristics of vulcanized rubber with the easy processability of thermoplastics for toughness, tear and flex fatigue resistance over a wide temperature range. Besides thermoplastic co-polyesters, Celanese also offers a broad range of other thermoplastic elastomers like thermoplastic vulcanizate (Forprene TPV), thermoplastic olefines (Forflex TPO), thermoplastic elastomers based on SBC (Laprene and Sofprene TPS), and thermoplastic elastomer solutions for special markets like artificial turf infill (Holo, Forgrin, Terra XPS granules) and footwear (Sofprene TPR, Sofpur TPU) for a broad range of customer-oriented solutions, including functionalization and color.

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. Our businesses use the full breadth of Celanese's global chemistry, technology and commercial expertise to create value for our customers, employees, shareholders and the corporation.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Weak seasonal demand and oversupply continued to affect significantly low density polyethylene (LDPE) prices in the Russian market. Price reduction for March deliveries for some items reached Rb3,000/tonne, reported in the ICIS-MRC Price Report.

The same situation repeated in the Russian LDPE market again from year to year, the excess supply amid low demand made sellers cut prices. The current year was no exception, since the beginning of the year LDPE prices constantly become cheaper.

Some sellers announced a further price reduction for March deliveries last week. The most decrease will account for 108 LDPE, the price reduction for some suppliers was Rb3,000/tonne.

In order to balance the domestic market, some producers have increased export volumes in the past few months.

Angarsk Polymer Plant planned to reduce the capacity utilisation in 2019. However, all these factors did not help to balance the domestic market.

Some sellers still hope that in the second half of March, the situation with demand will improve and price rise will stop.
Restrictions of truck movement will be introduced in April, which can lead to a increase in the cost of delivery.

Kazanorgsintez plans to shut down some of its LDPE production capacities for almost a one-month maintenance from 12 April. In the meantime, sellers had to cut their prices.

March price offers for 108 LDPE in the late last week reached Rb81,800-83,000/tonne CPT Moscow, including VAT.
The price range was quite wide this week with prices heard at Rb88,800-94,500/tonne CPT Moscow, including VAT.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Kazakhstan plans to cut its oil exports by around 2% this year to 71 million tons, its energy ministry told Reuters, mainly at the expense of China, amid a production decline, reported Reuters.

This is down from 72.5 million tonnes Kazakhstan exported overseas in 2018.

Kazakhstan plans to reduce its own output to 89.5 million tonnes in 2019 from 90.3 million tonnes last year, due in part to planned maintenance shutdowns at its three largest oil fields.

Its key exporting route is the Caspian Pipeline from western Kazakhstan to the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk. Supplies via that route are set to remain broadly unchanged this year.

Kazakhstan will slash its exports to China via the Atasu-Alashankou pipeline to 0.5 million tonnes from 1.38 million tonnes in 2018, the energy ministry said.

It will also completely halt supplying Russia’s Orenburg refinery. Last year oil supplies there from Kazakhstan stood at almost 0.5 million tons.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Hexion Inc. has announced it has named Brenntag North America, Inc., part of the Brenntag Group as its national distribution partner for its Epoxy Specialty and Base Epoxy Resins and Intermediates businesses in the United States and Canada, according to BusinessWire.

"We are pleased to expand our relationship with Brenntag as a distribution partner because of their commitment to strong customer service throughout the sales process," said Ann Frederix, Senior Vice President, Epoxy Specialties. "As a global market leader in chemical distribution, Brenntag has extensive experience as a distributor for a variety of resins and epoxy products, as well as a strong technical sales team."

"We are excited to be aligned with Hexion, an industry leading supplier of epoxy resins," said Ted Davlantes, Vice President, Coatings and Construction, Brenntag North America. "These products will provide us with a robust spectrum of epoxy solutions for our customers."

Hexion is a leading producer of epoxy specialty resins, modifiers and curing agents in Europe and the United States with a global reach to its end markets. Epoxy resins are the fundamental component of many types of materials and are often used in the automotive, construction, wind energy, aerospace and electronics industries due to their superior adhesion, strength and chemical resistance. Epoxy specialty resins are also used for a variety of high-end coating applications. Epoxy-based surface coatings are among the most widely used industrial coatings due to their long service life and broad application functionality combined with overall economic efficiency. Hexion also leverages its resin and additives position to supply custom resins to specialty coatings formulators. Hexion is also one of the world’s largest suppliers of basic epoxy resins, such as solid epoxy resin (SER) and liquid epoxy resin (LER), used in a wide variety of industrial coatings applications.

As MRC wrote previously, Brenntag, the global market leader in chemical distribution, announced that from February 1, 2014 the company would distribute the cellulosic additive and latex powder portfolio of Dow Construction Chemicals in Germany and Austria.

Based in Columbus, Ohio, Hexion Inc. (formerly known as Momentive Specialty Chemicals Inc.) is a global leader in thermoset resins. Hexion Inc. serves the global wood and industrial markets through a broad range of thermoset technologies, specialty products and technical support for customers in a diverse range of applications and industries. Hexion Inc. is controlled by investment funds affiliated with Apollo Global Management, LLC.

Brenntag, the global market leader in chemical distribution, covers all major markets with its extensive product and service portfolio. Headquartered in Essen, Germany, the company operates a global network with more than 530 locations in 73 countries and a workforce of more than 16,000 employees. In 2017, the company generated sales of EUR 11.7 billion (USD 13.3 billion). Brenntag connects chemical manufacturers and chemical users. The company supports its customers and suppliers with tailor-made distribution solutions for industrial and specialty chemicals. With over 10,000 products and a world-class supplier base, Brenntag offers one-stop-shop solutions to around 185,000 customers.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- After nine years at the helm, Nordson Corp. president and CEO Michael F. Hilton has announced his plan to retire by the end of 2019, said Canplastics.

In a statement, the Westlake, Ohio-based maker of precision dispensing equipment for consumer and industrial adhesives, sealants and coatings announced that it has "initiated a search of internal and external candidates for [a] successor," and that Hilton will remain in his current roles throughout that process "to ensure a smooth transition."

During Hilton’s tenure, Nordson grew from USD819 million to USD2.3 billion in sales, the statement said, and he led over 30 transactions at Nordson, including acquisitions that established new product platforms in medical, test and inspection, and flexible packaging.

"Michael has done a tremendous job of diversifying and growing the company through both innovation and acquisition, which has driven the company to record sales and profitability," Michael Merriman, chairman of the Nordson board, said in the statement. “As we look forward, the board intends to identify a leader who will build upon Nordson’s great foundation and further enhance value and opportunities for our employees, customers and shareholders."

Founded in 1954, Nordson has operations and support offices in more than 35 countries.
MRC