HIPS and GPPS imports to Kazakhstan down by 14% in three quarters 2019

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

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Motiva Enterprises, the US refining arm of Saudi Aramco, acquired 100% of Flint Hills Resources chemical plant, adjacent to its Port Arthur, Texas, oil refinery, reported Agraam.

The Flint Hills plant operates a 1.57 billion-pound-per-year ethylene cracker, a unit producing nylon component cyclohexane, and a network of pipelines and storage caverns.

Saudi Aramco, in its IPO prospectus, said the cash payment will be determined as per the project value at SAR 7.13 billion (USD1.9 billion). An independent advisor started assessing Flint Hills’ assets and liabilities to determine the purchase price.

In August, Motiva Enterprises signed an agreement to buy Flint Hills Resources chemical plant. The deal would extend Saudi Aramco's push to grow its petrochemical operations in Texas and elsewhere.

Moreover, as MRC informed earlier, in April 2019, Houston-based Motiva announced it would refurbish two empty, historic buildings in downtown Port Arthur for use as offices. It also has filed documents with the state to build a USD5 billion steam cracker that would produce ethylene.

Besides, the company is evaluating opportunities to build a new polyethylene (PE) line within its proposed steam cracker and aromatics project in Jefferson County, Texas. The new PE capacity will be located at the company’s Port Arthur Refinery Complex in Jefferson County, Texas. The planned capacity of the unit was not specified, while the value of the project is reportedly estimated at around USD3.1 billion.

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.

Motiva Enterprises, LLC, is a fully owned affiliate of Saudi Refining Inc. and headquartered in Houston, Texas, United States with revenue of USD24 billion. Previously, it was a 50–50 joint venture between Shell Oil Company (the wholly owned American subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell) and Saudi Refining Inc. (controlled by Saudi Aramco).
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Shanghai Golden Phillips Petrochemical Co, part of Sinopec, has brought on-stream its high density polyethylene (HDPE) plant, after a maintenance turnaround, as per Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in China, informed that, the company halted operations at the plant on October 22, 2019, and restarted this unit on November 13, 2019.

Located in Shanghai, China, the HDPE plant has a production capacity of 140,000 mt/year.

As MRC wrote before, in 2018, Shanghai Golden Phillips Petrochemical resumed operations at its HDPE plant in Shanghai on September 12, 2018. The plant was shut for maintenance turnaround on August 14, 2018.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's September estimated HDPE consumption fell to 70,570 tonnes from 108,320 tonnes a month earlier. Russian producers reduced their output due to maintenance works, whereas imports were high partially because of an increase in US shipments. The estimated HDPE consumption totalled 862,170 tonnes in January-September 2019, up by 7% year on year. HDPE imports increased by 47%, whereas production dropped by 5% due to a long period of maintenance works at three production capacities.

China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec Group) is a super-large petroleum and petrochemical enterprise group established in July 1998 on the basis of the former China Petrochemical Corporation. Sinopec Group's key business activities include the exploration and production of oil and natural gas, petrochemicals and other chemical products, oil refining.
MRC