INOVYN becomes first commercial producer of bio-attributed PVC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- European vinyls producer INOVYN has launched the world's first commercially available bio-attributed polyvinyl chloride (PVC), reported S&P Global with reference to company representatives' statement.

The Biovyn product will be made using 100% renewable ethylene feedstock derived from biomass.

The product was officially launched Thursday at the K Trade Fair 2019 in Dusseldorf.

Biovyn will be manufactured at Inovyn's 320,000 mt/year Rheinberg site, where it will receive bio-attributed ethylenesupplied via pipeline from sister company Ineos' Cologne steam cracker.

Biovyn will be the first PVC made without using fossil fuels. Instead it will use a bio-attribution process, whereby bio-feedstock is strictly tracked to its precise output in the PVC product, following strict technical, social and environmental standards set out by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials, the company said during the event.

"Through our sustainability program we are developing a new generation of PVC grades that meet both the rigorous product quality and performance needs of our customers, while moving us closer towards a circular, carbon-neutral economy for PVC", said Filipe Constant, Inovyn's business director.

"Driven by the increasing global focus on the circular economy, there is growing demand for a specialist, renewable PVC that decouples its production from the conventional use of virgin fossil feedstocks."

Biovyn is expected to be used in numerous applications, depending on customer demand, including general purpose but also specialty uses such as automotive and medical.

The event also discussed Inovyn's initiatives in producing recycled PVC, as part of its commitment to VinylPlus, a voluntary sustainability program to improve the sustainability performance of European PVC. In 2018 around 800,000 mt of recycled PVC was produced by the European PVC industry, with a target of around 900,000 mt/year by 2025, to make up around 20% of the current European virgin PVC market.

INOVYN is among the top four PVC producers in the world by volume, with around 1,800,000 mt/year capacity to produce various grades of PVC at seven plants across Europe.

As MRC reported before, in early October 2019, Inovyn started maintenance works at its PVC plant at its Jemeppe Site, Belgium. According to the company’s website, the Jemeppe site is one of the largest PVC production capacities in Europe with 420,000 tons/year of material supplied to key sectors including building, automotive and piping.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's overall PVC production exceeded 720,500 tonnes in the first nine months of 2019, up by 3% year on year. At the same time, not all Russian producers raised their output.

Headquartered in London, INOVYN has pro-forma sales of more than EUR3 billion, with 4,300 employees and assets across 14 sites in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the UK. Governance of the Joint Venture is equally split between the partners.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- LyondellBasell (LBI), the world’s largest licensor of polyolefin technologies, has announced that Shandong Chambroad Sinopoly New Materials Co., Ltd., has selected LyondellBasell’s leading polypropylene (PP) technology for a new world scale facility, as per LBI's press release.

The facility will include a 400 KTA PP plant using LyondellBasell’s Spheripol technology as well as a 200 KTA PP plant using LyondellBasell’s Spherizone technology. The facility will be built in Boxing City, Shandong Province, China.

"We are delighted about Shandong Chambroad’s decision to use LyondellBasell’s polypropylene technology for their Boxing City facility. LyondellBasell’s polypropylene technology is the most widely used process in the world and is very well established in the market,” said Jim Seward, senior vice president of research and development, technology and sustainability at LyondellBasell. “Customers appreciate the simplicity and robustness of the Spheripol process and also value the ability to produce outstanding polymer grades on a benchmark cost basis with the Spherizone technology."

Mr. Luan Bo, President of Shandong Chambroad Sinopoly New Materials Co., Ltd stated: "The selection of LyondellBasell’s polypropylene allows us to serve the market place at its best as we will be in a position to deliver cost effective recognized bulk polymers through the Spheripol technology and to supply differentiated high margin polymer products through the Spherizone technology allowing our organisation to grow on a solid basis."

The Spherizone multi-zone circulating reactor (MZCR) provides a unique and innovative platform to manufacture polypropylene products with novel architecture and enhanced product properties. With this award, more than 15 Spherizone plants have been licensed in Asia.

Spheripol is the leading PP process with more than 25 million tons of licensed capacity. The latest fifth generation Spheripol technology includes process improvements that further maximize operational efficiency.

Both plants will commence operations using LyondellBasell’s Avant ZN catalyst.

New licensees can take advantage of LyondellBasell’s in-house expertise of continuous production improvement, sustainable product development and catalyst know-how, by optionally joining our Technical Service program.

As MRC reported earlier, in February 2019, HPCL-Mittal Energy Limited (HMEL) selected LyondellBasell’s fifth-generation Spheripol PP process technology for a 500 KT per year plant in Bathinda, India.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, the PP consumption in the Russian market was 909,260 tonnes in January-August 2019, up by 10% year on year. Shipments of PP block copolymer and homopolymer PP increased.

LyondellBasell is one of the largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies in the world. Driven by its 13,000 employees around the globe, LyondellBasell produces materials and products that are key to advancing solutions to modern challenges like enhancing food safety through lightweight and flexible packaging, protecting the purity of water supplies through stronger and more versatile pipes, and improving the safety, comfort and fuel efficiency of many of the cars and trucks on the road. LyondellBasell sells products into approximately 100 countries and is the world's largest licensor of polyolefin technologies.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Russia's output of chemical products dropped in September 2019 by 2.4% month on month.
However, production of basic chemicals increased by 3.6% in the first nine months of 2019, according to Rosstat's data.

According to the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, the largest increase in production volumes on an annualized basis accounted for mineral fertilizers and polymers in primary form. Thus, 200 ,000 tonnes of ethylene were produced in September, compared to 255,000 tonnes a month earlier. Kazanorgsintez and Stavrolen capacities were shut for maintenances in September. Thus, 2,256,000 tonnes of this olefin were produced in January-September 2019, up by 0.7% year on year.

Benzene production in September amounted to 108,000 tonnes against 117,000 tonnes a month earlier, which was also a result of the shutdowns in Kazan and Budenovsk. Overall output of this product reached 1,076,000 tonnes in the first nine months of 2019, up by 0.6% year on year.

September production of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) were 107,000 tonnes (100% of the basic substance) versus 111,000 tonnes a month earlier. Overall output of caustic soda totalled 960,900 tonnes over the stated period, compared to 946,500 tonnes a year earlier.

1,927,000 tonnes of mineral fertilizers (in terms of 100% nutrients) were produced in September versus 1,939 mln tonnes a month earlier. Overall, Russian plants produced 18,180,000 tonnes of fertilizers in January-September 2019, up by 4.3% year on year.

Last month's production of polymers in primary form decreased to 670,000 tonnes, up 8.8% from August due to scheduled maintenance works of several manufacturers. Overall output of polymers in primary form totalled 6,338,000 tonnes over the stated period, up by only 3.2% year on year.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Russia's output of products from polymers rose in September by 5.2% year on year. However, this figure increased by 1.7% year on year in the first nine months of 2019, reported MRC analysts.

According to the Russian Federal State Statistics Service, September production of unreinforced and non-combined films was slightly over 107,300 tonnes, compared to 110,000 tonnes a month earlier. Output of films products grew in January-September 2019 by 9.1% year on year to 893,000 tonnes.

Last month's production of non-porous boards, sheets and films rose to 32,900 tonnes from 33,100 tonnes in August. Thus, overall output of these products reached 284,100 tonnes over the stated period, up by 11.3% year on year.

September production of porous polymer boards, sheets and films was 26,100 tonnes, compared to 25,700 tonnes a month earlier. Overall output of these products reached 174,800 tonnes in the first nine months of 2019, compared to 202,900 tonnes a year earlier.

September production of plastic bottles and flasks decreased to 1,527,000 items from 1,643,000 items a month earlier. Overall output of these plastic products totalled 15,420,000 units in January-September 2019, compared to 15,836,000 units a year earlier.

Last month's production of polymer pipes, hoses and fittings was 60,800 tonnes versus 64,100 tonnes in August. Overall output of these products was 462,500 tonnes in the first nine months of 2019, up by 3.5% year on year.

September production of sacks and bags from ethylene polymers reached 2,500,000,000 units, compared to 2,300,000,000 units a month earlier. Overall output of these plastic products totalled 19,135,000,000 units over the stated period, compared to 20,154,000,000 units a year earlier.

Last month's production of linoleum and floor coverings was 14,270,000 square metres, compared to 14,880,000 square metres in August. Overall output of these products totalled 111,700,000 square metres in January-September 2019 versus 100,630,000 square metres a year earlier.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Saudi Arabia’s National Petrochemical Industrial Co. (NATPET), a major producer of propylene and polypropylene, plans to highlight advances in several of its material grades at K 2019, taking place Oct. 16-23 in Dusseldorf, Germany, said the company.

It will mark the firm’s fourth consecutive appearance at this large, triennial plastics fair. On Stand A74 in Hall 8B, NATPET will be showcasing the following products: Recently developed polypropylene grades –– R40MLT-MG, R25MLT-MG and H12MLT-MG –– targeting healthcare and medical applications. NATPET is the first and only producer in the Middle East and Africa to manufacture such resins for these demanding markets. A new random copolymer PP grade –– R70MLT –– that delivers higher melt flow rates to speed up production output; and a newly commercialized, phenol-free fiber grade –– H25FBF –– for the production of bulk continuous filaments (BCF), continuous filaments (CF) and staple fiber. The material also can be used in carpet and upholstery, and in some automotive compounding applications.

"Additionally,” said Chief Commercial Officer Jamal Malaikah, "at our booth we will be offering both existing and potential customers technical awareness sessions on different NATPET grades, and providing information how best to optimize use of these grades for maximum commercial feasibility."

Machine manufacturer FANUC Deutschland GmbH will be running NATPET grades on its K Show booth: they will be making parts from medical-grade R40MLT-MG resin on Booth A60 in Hall 14. NATPET also cited its ongoing cooperation with Milliken Chemical, which began more than eight years ago, with the aim of improving the optical properties of random copolymer and other PP grades used in thermoforming. “We believe this joint development has added value to both firms," Malaikah said, “and we believe there is good reason for further cooperation."

NATPET, meanwhile, continues to expand, having become the sole owner of Bonar NATPET Geosynthetics by acquiring the 50 percent share of the foreign partner (Low & Bonar) from U.K. Bonar NATPET is selling its PP fibers to well-known companies worldwide, and has become the geotextiles market leader in the Middle East. NATPET is investing to further broaden the company’s PP fiber production capabilities.

Separately, NATPET has gained a new partner in NATPET Schulman Speciality Plastic Compounds (NSSPC) –– one of its compounding plants –– following the purchase by LyondellBasell of A. Schulman Inc.’s global compounding business. NATPET holds a 50 percent stake in that joint venture, which produces high-quality compounds for automotive, home appliance and other applications.

As MRC informed earlier, NATPET restarted PP production in late September following an unplanned outage. The plant was shut following fire occured on October 2, 2018. The incident in the complex has caused a few casualties with 1 person reported to have been killed and 11 others injured. Located at Yanbu in Saudi Arabia, the PP plant has a production capacity of 400,000 mt/year.

As per MRC's DataScope, September PP imports into Ukraine increased to 11,400 tonnes from 11,100 tonnes a month earlier, local companies raised their purchasing of of homopolymer PP grades in Middle West. Overall imports of propylene polymers reached 101,500 tonnes in January-September 2019, compared to 97,700 tonnes a year earlier. Homopolymer PP accounted for the main growth in imports, while the demand for propylene copolymers declined with a few exceptions.

Founded in 1999, NATPET operates a 400,000 metric-ton-per-year polypropylene plant in Yanbu Industrial City on Saudi Arabia’s west coast, producing a wide range of polypropylene products using the state-of-the-art Spheripol® process licensed from LyondellBasell. The company also produces its own, high-quality main raw material, propylene, through an integrated propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant on the site.
MRC