IRPC might reduce operating rates at PP plant in Thailand following issue at propylene unit

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Thailand’s IRPC, a PTT Plc subsidiary, has unexpectedly shut down its upstream propylene unit this morning due to an unspecified technical issue, as per CommoPlast with reference to market sources.

As a result, the company might have to lower the operation rate at the downstream polypropylene (PP) plants in the coming days.

The company owns two PP lines, with a combined capacity of 775,000 tons/year. At the time of this report, there is no confirmation on the duration of the shutdown.

In fact, in an email to its customers, the company has informed the possibility of trimming run rates at PP plant, which could affect supply for November shipment.

As MRC informed before, IRPC shut its PP plant for a two- week maintenance turnaround in H2 January 2016. Located in Rayong province of Thailand, the PP plant has a production capacity of 300,000 mt/year.

Propylene is a feedstock for the production of PP.

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.

PTT Global Chemical is a leading player in the petrochemical industry and owns several petrochemical facilities with a combined capacity of 8.45 million tonnes a year.
MRC

Emergency shutdown at Chinese Zhong An PP plant

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Zhong An United Coal Chemical Co Ltd has unexpectedly shut its polypropylene (PP) plant on 23 October due to technical glitches at its polymerization section, reported CommoPlast with reference to market sources.

Based in Anhui, China, the PP plant has a production capacity of 350,000 tons/year.

It is expected to remain off-stream for about few days, while the restart date could not be ascertained. There are some speculations rumors from the market mentioning the shutdown could reach as long as 6 months, however, after verification by CommoPlast, the rumors appeared to be untrue.

As MRC wrote before, the company has recently shut this plant for an unplanned shutdown. Thus, Zhong An Coal Chemical halted operations at the unit owing to technical issues on October 6, 2019. The unit remained off-line until 15 October 2019. Located at Huainan, Anhui province, China, the PP unit has a production capacity of 145,000 mt/year in 2019 (the designed capacity - 350,000 mt/year).

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.

Zhongan United Coal Industry Chemical Co. Ltd. mines, processes, manufactures, and distributes coal products. The сompany produces brown coal products, bituminous coal products, hard coal products, coking coal products, and other related products. Zhongan United Coal Industry Chemical markets its products throughout China.
MRC

Repsol markets its first certified circular polyolefins

MOCOW (MRC) -- Repsol achieves another important milestone in its commitment to boost the circular economy and stands as a pioneer in the production of certified circular polyolefins, which use plastic waste as raw material, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.

In 2015, Repsol experimentally began to feed oil from chemically recycled plastic waste, leading the implementation of plastic waste chemical recycling on an industrial scale. Repsol has obtained ISCC PLUS certification for its complex in Puertollano for the first tons of circular polyethylene and polypropylene that are already commercially available to its customers in Europe.

Repsol’s circular polyolefins are produced by feeding, as an alternative raw material, oils obtained from plastic waste not suitable for mechanical recycling. This waste would otherwise go to landfill. This new raw material is fed alongside conventional raw material at its refinery, reducing the consumption of non-renewable resources. By ISCC Plus certification, Repsol can allocate these savings on a specific share to the polyolefins produced in the complex.

These certified materials ensure the traceability of the plastic waste used at the source and at the same time, offer the same quality and functionality as virgin polyolefins. The new portfolio of circular polyolefins grants Repsol and its value chain a new portfolio of products

made from recycled material for applications that demand high standards of hygiene and safety, making them ideal for food packaging.

This certification proves Repsol's commitment to innovation, to the excellence of its processes, and collaboration with third parties. The company anticipates significant trends, offering leading products that help its customers meet the consumers' demand for more sustainable products and to promote the transition towards a new circular economy.

As MRC informed earlier, Spain’s Repsol will shut down its cracker in Tarragona (Spain) for maintenance in the fourth quarter of 2019. The turnaround at this steam cracker, which produces 702,000 mt/year of ethylene and 372,000 mt/year of propylene, was pushed back from Q3 2019. The exact dates of maintenance works are not disclosed.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,436,390 tonnes in the first eight months of 2019, up by 9% year on year. Shipments of all PE grades increased. At the same time, 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.

Repsol S.A is an integrated Spanish oil and gas company with operations in 28 countries. The bulk of its assets are located in Spain.
MRC

Celanese raises October VAM prices in Europe, Middle East and Africa

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Celanese Corporation, a global chemical and specialty materials company, has increased its October list and off-list selling prices for Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, as per the company's press release.

The price rise below is for orders shipped on or after 24 October, 2019 , or as contracts otherwise allow, and is incremental to any previously announced increases.

Thus, VAM prices rose by EUR70/mt for Europe, the Middle East & Africa.

As MRC reported earlier, Celanese last raised its VAM prices for the stated above regions and Asia on 18 September, 2019, by EUR50/mt.

According to MRC's DataScope report, September EVA imports to Russia fell by 22,7% year on year to 3,420 tonnes from 4,430 tonnes in September 2018, and overall imports of this grade of ethylene copolymer into the Russian Federation decreased in January-September 2019 by 18,2% year on year to 29,190 tonnes (35,690 tonnes in the first nine months of 2018).

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. Based in Dallas, Celanese employs approximately 7,700 employees worldwide and had 2018 net sales of USD7.2 billion.
MRC

Explosion happened at Chinese Inner Mongolia PVC plant

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Inner Mongolia Sanlian Chemical Co Ltd has experienced explosion on its carbide-based PVC polymerization unit around 3am midnight, reported CommoPlast with reference to market sources.

Based in Inner Mongolia, China, the carbide-based PVC plant has a production capacity of 400,000 tons/year. It has remain off-stream until further information. The cause of fire and details on the casualties was still under investigation and pending for further notice.

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.

Inner Mongolia Sanlian Chemical Corporation Ltd. manufactures and distributes chemical products. The Company produces polyvinyl chloride, trichlorethylene, caustic soda, and other chemicals.
MRC