HDPE production in Russia down 1% in H1 2019

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Russia's production of high density polyethylene (HDPE) totalled 486,400 tonnes in the first six months of 2019, down by 1% year on year. At the same time, only one of the four producers reduced its output, according to MRC's ScanPlast report.

June HDPE production in Russia was 78,300 tonnes, whereas this figure was about 88,900 tonnes a month earlier, Kazanorgsintez reduced its polyethylene (PE) production. Thus, overall HDPE output reached 486,400 tonnes in January-June 2019, compared to 491,400 tonnes a year earlier. Gazprom neftekhim Salavat, Kazanorgsintez's and Stavrolen's higher production could not offset the absence of the output at Nizhnekamskneftekhim.

The structure of PE production by plants looked the following way over the stated period.


Kazanorgsintez's total HDPE production dropped to 39,500 tonnes in June from 50,300 tonnes a month earlier, the Kazan producer reduced its output in favour of the linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) production. The Kazan plant's overall HDPE output reached 268,800 tonnes in January-June 2019, up by 2.5% year on year.

Stavrolen produced 27,300 tonnes last month, which virtually corresponds to the May figure. The plant's overall output reached 154,200 tonnes over the stated period, up by 2% year on year.

Gazprom neftekhim Salavat produced 11,400 tonnes in June, compared to 10,500 tonnes a month earlier. The Baskhir plant's overall HDPE output reached 61,400 tonnes in the first six months of 2019, up 2% year on year.

Nizhnekamskneftekhim produced exclusively LLDPE over the stated period.

MRC

PP imports to Russia in H1 2019 decreased by 11%

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Polypropylene (PP) imports into Russia slumped in the first six months of 2019 by 11% year on year to 86,800 tonnes.
The greatest decrease in imports accounted for homopolymer PP, according to MRC DataScope.

June PP imports into the Russian market decreased to 12,600 tonnes from 16,300 tonnes a month earlier, supply of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers declined. In general, total PP imports into the country decreased to about 86,800 tonnes in January - June compared with 97,800 tonnes year on year. The volume of external purchases for all grades of polymers of propylene decreased, with the exception of PP block copolymers, with the most noticeably reduced imports of homopolymer PP.

Overall, the structure of PP imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period.

June imports of homopolymer PP decreased to 3,300 tonnes against 6,500 tonnes a month earlier, shipments of homopolymer PP raffia from Central Asia decreased several times. Thus, overall imports of homopolymer PP to Russia totalled 28,600 tonnes in the first six months of 2019, compared to 36,000 tonnes a year earlier.

June imports of PP block copolymers in Russia were about 4,300 tonnes against 5,100 tonnes in May on decreased demand for injection moulding PP. Imports of PP block copolymers into Russia reached 25,500 tonnes in January-June 2019, compared to 24,200 tonnes a year earlier.


June imports of PP random copolymers were about 2,000 tonnes versus 1,700 tonnes a month earlier, on increased volumes of film PP purchases. Total imports of propylene copolymers in Russia were 15,100 tonnes in January - June 2019, compared with 16,900 tonnes year on year.

Russia's imports of other polymers of propylene for the period were about 17,500 tonnes in the first six months of the year, compared with 20.600 tonnes year on year.


MRC

Pennsylvania governor says state won't use tax dollars to restart refinery

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf said that he did not support using taxpayer dollars to help save the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery complex from permanently closing, reported Reuters.

"The administration does not plan expending any funding to maintain the site as a refinery," Wolf spokesman J.J. Abbott said in a statement to Reuters, saying there were "significant challenges" to such a plan.

The refinery suffered a massive fire last month that prompted owners to seek to shut the plant and laying off about 1,000 people.

The lack of government support - both politically and financially - will likely dampen efforts to sell and restart the largest and oldest refinery on the US East Coast.

As MRC informed previously, the alkylation unit involved in a massive fire on 21 June at Philadelphia Energy Solutions Inc's oil refinery has been completely destroyed, which hampered the supply of gasoline from the US East Coast's largest refinery.
MRC

Air Liquide signs long-term supply agreement with GCGV and will build new Air Separation Unit

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Air Liquide has signed a long-term agreement with Gulf Coast Growth Ventures (GCGV), a 50/50 joint venture between ExxonMobil and SABIC, to supply oxygen and nitrogen from its industrial gas pipeline network to GCGV’s planned ethane cracker facility located near Corpus Christi, in Texas, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

To support the new agreement and additional volumes, Air Liquide plans to invest nearly 140 million USD to build a new world-scale Air Separation Unit in Bay City, Texas, and related infrastructure investments.

Air Liquide will supply 2,000 tons per day of oxygen and 900 tons per day of nitrogen to GCGV’s planned 1.8 million tons per year ethane cracker facility. Air Liquide will also add nearly eight miles of pipeline to connect GCGV to its Gulf Coast Pipeline System, strengthening Air Liquide’s extensive capabilities throughout the Gulf Coast region of the US, and its position in the growing industrial basin of Corpus Christi, where it has been present since the mid-1930’s.

In addition to delivering full requirements for oxygen and nitrogen to GCGV’s new petrochemical plant, the production capacity from the Bay City ASU, and its connection to Air Liquide’s expansive pipeline network along the Gulf Coast, will enable Air Liquide to retire older, less efficient assets. By modernizing its asset fleet, Air Liquide provides enhanced competitiveness to its customers over the long term and reduces the carbon intensity of its operations, hence contributing to achieving its 2025 Climate Objectives.

With Air Liquide’s ability to provide large volumes of oxygen and nitrogen via its integrated production and supply network, customers can benefit from a safe, flexible and reliable supply to meet their growing demands.

"Air Liquide is proud to be part of this word-class project and to collaborate with industry leaders like ExxonMobil and SABIC. This long-term agreement and investment in the new Bay City, Texas ASU, further demonstrates Air Liquide’s strong position and extensive capabilities in the Gulf Coast region of the US and its commitment to providing customers with sustainable, high quality solutions to meet their growing needs safely, reliably and with excellence," Michael Graff, Air Liquide Group Executive Vice President and Member of the Executive Committee said.

As MRC informed before, in April 2018, Air Liquide signed a new long-term agreement with LyondellBasell, one of the world’s largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies, to supply oxygen to LyondellBasell’s new large-scale petrochemical plant which will be constructed in Channelview, Texas.
MRC

Nuberg EPC signs contract to deliver Chlor-Alkali Plant

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Global EPC and turnkey management company Nuberg EPC has been selected by SCE Chemicals, Morocco as the EPC lump sum contractor to establish a new Chlor-Alkali plant, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The plant will produce caustic soda, hydrochloric acid and sodium hypochlorite chlorine.

The new production line will be established at Jorf Lasfar Parc Industrial Medz in El-Jadida, Morocco and is due for completion in late 2020. The project was penned down at SCE Chemicals office in Casablanca, Morocco, where Mr. AK Tyagi, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), Nuberg, Mr. Moutawakkil Abdelkebir, General Manager, SCE and dignitaries from both companies were present.

SCE is an industrial company operating in the fields of chemistry and agriculture. It holds considerable resources for producing and marketing its products such as sulfonic acid, sodium silicate, SLES, Aluminium sulfate and others. The specialized areas of SCE are the detergent and cosmetics, the water treatment and the timber industry. Chlorine and caustic soda are important raw materials for pharmaceutical products.

"We are honored that Nuberg EPC is to deliver its first chlor-alkali plant in Morocco. SCE Chemicals has entrusted us with the opportunity to play a key role in helping them to build the plant," comments Nuberg Engineering CMD, Mr. AK Tyagi. Nuberg EPC has a proven track record of global experience in setting up more than 20 chlor alkali plants around the world including Egypt, Sweden, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh and now adding Morocco in the list. "The essential capabilities and project management competencies make Nuberg EPC deliver best-in-class technology along with a complete world-class turnkey solution," continues Mr. AK Tyagi.

Mr. Moutawakkil Abdelkebir, General Manager, SCE Chemicals said, "We are happy to announce our association with the specialized chlor-alkali EPC & LSTK company, Nuberg EPC, for our chlor-alkali project". Chlorine derivatives produced from the plant will be used for disinfection and water treatment industrial processes.

The plant will have the most advanced bipolar membrane cell technology licensed from UK based Inovyn.
MRC