Pipeline operator PERN to restart Russian oil flows if refinery clients agree

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Polish pipelines operator PERN will make it possible to restart flows of Russian oil if refinery clients jointly decide, reported Reuters with reference PERN’s chief executive.

Various possible solutions regarding how to handle the polluted oil from Russia are on the table and are being discussed by the refineries, PERN’s CEO Igor Wasilewski said.

As MRC informed before, Kazakh oil flowing via Russia to be loaded on tankers at the Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga has been contaminated and Kazakhstan plans to seek compensation from Russian pipeline monopoly Transneft. Russia’s oil export flows have been disrupted since April, when high levels of organic chloride were found in crude pumped via the Druzhba pipeline to Ust-Luga and other European countries. Six tankers with 598,000 tonnes of tainted oil were loaded at Ust-Luga, Kazakh Deputy Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Aset Magaulov told Reuters.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of unmixed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into Belarus decreased in the first three months of 2019 by 6.5% year on year, totalling about 8,300 tonnes, according to MRC's DataScope report.

According to the statistical committee of the Republic of Belarus, local converters increased their purchasing of PVC in March under the pressure of seasonal factors. Total imports were about 3,300 tonnes, compared to 2,800 tonnes a month earlier.

Thus, imports of unmixed PVC reached 8,300 tonnes in January-March 2019 versus 8,800 tonnes a year earlier, with local windows producers accounting for a decrease in demand.
Russian producers with the share of about 86% of the Belarusian market were the key suppliers of resin to Belarus over the stated period. Producers from Ukraine and Germany with the share of 8% and 4% were the second and third largest suppliers, respectively.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - Imports of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) into Ukraine decreased by 44% in the first four months of this year, compared to the same period in 2018 and reached about 15,800 tonnes. At the same time, during the period under review, export sales of Ukrainian PVC increased, according to MRC DataScope.

Last month's SPVC imports to the Ukrainian market increased to 4,200 tonnes from 3,700 tonnes in March, with US K70 PVC accounting for the main increase. Overall SPVC imports reached 15,800 tonnes in January-April 2019, compared to 26,600 tonnes a year earlier.

The key suppliers of PVC to the Ukrainian market were producers from Europe, their share in total imports in the first four months of this year was about 65%. A temporary reduction in the capacity utilisation of Karpatneftekhim in January-February due to a fire in the production of ethylene did not lead to a decrease in export volumes.

PVC exports from the country exceeded 50,100 tonnes in January-April, compared with about 49,000 tonnes in the same time a year earlier.
The key importers of Ukrainian polyvinyl chloride were consumers from India and Turkey, their share in total exports for the period under review was 58% and 20%, respectively.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Bubble wrap maker Sealed Air Corp. is acquiring Automated Packaging Systems Inc. (APS), an Ohio-based manufacturer of automated bagging systems, for USD510 million, as per Canplastics.

The acquisition will benefit the companies through “cross-selling opportunities” and “supply chain efficiencies,” Sealed Air said in a statement. “And APS will bring complementary capabilities and a history of innovation to Sealed Air."

Founded in 1962 with headquarters in Streetsboro, Ohio, APS employs more than 1,200 people, serves customers in over 60 countries, and operates seven manufacturing sites in the U.S. and U.K. In 2018, APS generated USD290 million in sales. The company is known for inventing Autobag bagging machines and pre-opened bags on a roll, and also offers three recycled film solutions under the EarthAware brand.

The acquisition is expected to close early in the third quarter of 2019.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Sealed Air makes the Cryovac food packaging and Bubble Wrap protective packaging brands. The company reported USD4.7 billion in sales in 2018 and has approximately 15,500 employees.

As MRC informed earlier, Sealed Air Corporation is investing in capacity at its Simpsonville, S.C. facility to produce plant-based food packaging.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Israel’s Oil Refineries (ORL) said it had been informed of an investigation by the Ministry of Environmental Protection at its Gadiv Petrochemical Industries unit, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

It said the investigation concerned a hydrocarbon leak that occurred a few months ago.

ORL, Israel’s largest refining and petrochemicals group, said at this stage it was unable to predict the results of the investigation and its implications for ORL and Gadiv.

As MRC informed earlier, Israel’s Oil Refineries (ORL) reported lower quarterly net profit, saying timing differences on the value of its inventory offset higher refining margins. ORL, Israel’s largest refining and petrochemicals group, earned USD63 million in the third quarter, down from USD74 million a year earlier.
MRC