SIIG to halt operations at Saudi Chevron Phillips for maintenance

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Saudi Industrial Investment Group (SIIG) shut down its Saudi Chevron Phillips (SCP) project for 26-day scheduled maintenance, including catalyst replacement starting from Nov. 15, 2019, reported Agraam.

The relevant financial impact is expected to show in Q4 2019, SIIG said in a bourse filing.

As MRC informed before, in March 2018, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP successfully introduced feedstock and commenced operations of a new ethane cracker at its Cedar Bayou facility in Baytown, Texas. At peak production, the unit will produce 1.5 million metric tons/3.3 billion lbs. per year.

Besides, US-based Phillips 66 remains open to developing another ethane cracker for its Chevron Phillips Chemical (CP Chem) joint venture, the refiner's CEO said in March 2018.

Ethylene and propylene are feedstocks for producing polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,589,580 tonnes in the first nine months of 2019, up by 7% year on year. Shipments of all PE grades increased. The estimated PP consumption in the Russian market was 976,790 tonnes in January-September 2019, up by 4% year on year. Shipments of PP block copolymer and homopolymer PP increased.

SCP is a 50:50 joint venture between SIIG and Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC.

Headquartered in San Ramon, California, Chevron Corporation is the the second-largest integrated energy company in the United States and among the largest corporations in the world. Chevron is involved in upstream activities including exploration and production, downstream activities including refining, marketing and transportation, and advanced energy technology. Chevron is also invested in power generation and gasification processes.

Phillips 66 is a diversified energy manufacturing and logistics company with a portfolio of integrated businesses: Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties. The company processes, transports, stores and markets fuels and products globally. Phillips 66 Partners, its master limited partnership, is an integral part of the portfolio.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Sinopec Guangzhou Petrochemical, part of China's petrochemical giant - Sinopec, has restarted its polystyrene (PS) unit following a planned outage, as per Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the company has resumed operations at the unit on November 4, 2019. The unit was shut for maintenance on October 8, 2019.

Located in Guangzhou province of China, the unit has a production capacity of 60,000 mt/year.

As MRC wrote previously, Sinopec Guangzhou Petrochemical plans to restart operations at its cracker in early December, 2019. The company started maintenance at the plant on October 12, 2019. Located in the Guangzhou province of China, the cracker has ethylene production capacity of 260,000 mt/year and propylene production capacity of 150,000 mt/year.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated consumption of PS and styrene plastics totalled 364,910 tonnes in the first nine months of 2019, which corresponds to the last year's level. The estimated consumption was 42,720 tonnes in September 2019, up by 3% year on year and up by 12% from August 2019.

China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation or Sinopec Limited is a Chinese oil and gas company based in Beijing, China. Sinopec's business includes oil and gas exploration, refining, and marketing; production and sales of petrochemicals, chemical fibers, chemical fertilizers, and other chemical products; storage and pipeline transportation of crude oil and natural gas; import, export and import/export agency business of crude oil, natural gas, refined oil products, petrochemicals, and other chemicals.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) to Kazakhstan decreased in the first three quarters of 2019 by 14% year on year to 6,400 tonnes, according to MRC's DataScope report.

Nevertheless, September imports of material into the country grew by 23% year on year and reached the highest level this year - 1,100 tonnes, compared to 900 tonnes in August 2019, whereas HIPS and GPPS imports to Kazakhstan were 2,200 tonnes in September 2018.

HIPS and GPPS are shipped to Kazakhstan mainly from Russia.

The share of the Russian Federation decreased by 16% of the total imports for the first nine months of 2019 to 70% (4,500 tonnes).

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Synthos SA, Poland's largest petrochemical producer, has reduced its November export prices of expandable polystyrene (EPS) for the Ukrainian market by an average of EUR50/tonne on the back of the on-going reduction of feedstock prices in Europe, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

Thus, this month's shipments of material to Ukrainian buyers will be done at EUR1,150-1,170/tonne FCA Oswiecim, excluding VAT.

As reported earlier, the Polish producer reduced its last month's prices for Ukraine by USD30/tonne to the range of USD1,200-1,220/tonne FCA Ocwiecim, excluding VAT.

Synthos SA is one of the largest producers of petrochemical products in Poland and is the largest producer of emulsion rubbers in Europe. Besides, it is the third largest European EPS producer.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of high density polyethylene (HDPE) into Russia grew in January-October 2019 by 44% year on year. Pipe grade and film grade polyethylene (PE) accounted for the greatest increase in imports, according to MRC's DataScope report.

October HDPE imports fell to 28,200 tonnes from 34,500 tonnes a month earlier, with Uzbek HDPE accounting for the main decrease. Overall HDPE imports reached 295,100 tonnes in the first ten months of 2019, compared to 204,400 tonnes a year earlier, PE imports rose in all consumption sectors, with film grade and pipe grade HDPE accounting for the largest increase in shipments.

Imports of pipe grade PE grew almost by two-fold year on year in the first ten months of 2019 to 45,800 tonnes. Producers from Saudi Arabia and South Korea accounted for the bulk of shipments.

Imports of film grade HDPE reached 105,400 tonnes versus 65,300 tonnes a year earlier. Uzbekistan has been the key supplier in this segment for the past years.

Injection moulding HDPE accounted for the least increase in imports, totalling slightly over 53,000 tonnes over the stated period versus 46,800 tonnes a year earlier. Producers from Uzbekistan, the UAE and Thailand are the main suppliers.

MRC