PVC imports into Ukraine fell by 40% in Jan-Apr, exports up by 2%

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

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Friday agreed stricter energy efficiency targets for certain types of ships in an effort to speed up action to cut the sector’s emissions, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee has been meeting in London this week to discuss tougher rules on sulfur emissions and other measures towards meeting a long-term goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50% from 2008 levels by 2050.

The international shipping sector accounts for about 2% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the main greenhouse gas blamed for global warming.

Under its Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), the IMO set mandatory targets for new ships on the maximum amount of CO2 emissions allowed for different vessel types and sizes to provide the same amount of transportation.

A draft of the agreement shows that new container ships will now be required to be up to 50% more efficient by 2022, compared with the previous target of up to 30% more efficient by 2025.

New general cargo ships, gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and hybrid diesel-electric cruise ships will also have to be up to 30 percent more efficient by 2022.

“Your work in this session has strengthened the energy efficiency framework,” IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim told delegates in London.

The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) said the move could reduce CO2 emissions by about 750 million tonnes from 2022 to 2050, equating to around 2% of all emissions from international shipping over that period.

“The IMO’s decision to move up and tighten energy efficiency targets for some new ships is a modest but necessary step to combat climate change,” said Dan Rutherford, ICCT’s marine program director.

However, some environmental campaigners said the target is already being beaten by some of the most efficient ships being built today and stricter goals should be set.

As MRC informed earlier, the upcoming International Maritime Organization sulfur regulations for marine fuel will lead to a deficit of 600,000 barrel per day of marine gasoil in 2020.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Sinopec’s Jinling refinery exported a cargo of 35,600 tonnes of gasoline from its Nanjing plant to Singapore on May 12, marking its first light distillate shipment to a foreign destination, reported Reuters with reference to the company's statement.

Sinopec is boosting exports of a range of refined fuel products to ease a build-up of domestic supplies, the company said via its official newspaper.

China raised fuel export quotas by 30% in its latest allocation as record refinery output exceeds domestic demand for fuel.

As MRC wrote before, in September 2018, China's Sinopec Corp joined a group planning to build an oil refinery in Alberta, an enterprise that would strengthen demand for the Canadian province's heavily discounted crude.

Sinopec Corp. is one of the largest scale integrated energy and chemical company with upstream, midstream and downstream operations. Its principal business includes: exploring, developing, producing and trading crude oil and natural gas; producing, storing, transporting and distributing and marketing petroleum products, petrochemical products, synthetic fiber, fertilizer and other chemical products. Its refining capacity and ethylene capacity rank No.2 and No.4 globally. Sinopec listed in Hong Kong, New York, London and Shanghai in August 2001. Sinopec Group, the parent company of Sinopec Corp., is ranked the 5th in Fortune Global 500 in 2012.
MRC