Tianjin Bohai prolongs maintenance at PDH plant by 10 days

MOSCOW (MRC) -- China's Tianjin Bohai Chemical in northern China plans to extend maintenance period at its propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant by 10 days due to poor processing margin, reported S&P Global with reference to a company source.

"We have decided to shut down the PDH plant for 40 days now due to high propane feedstock price," the company source said.

The company originally planned to shut its 600,000 mt/year PDH plant for 30 days maintenance starting from December 28, 2019.

Located in Tianjin, China, the PDH plant has a propylene capacity of 600,000 mt/year.

As MRC informed earlier, the company last shut this plant for an unscheduled turnaround from 1 to 11 November, 2019.

Propylene is the main feedstock for the production of polypropylene (PP).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,904,410 tonnes in the first eleven months of 2019, up by 6% year on year. Shipments of all PE grades increased. PE shipments increased from both domestic producers and foreign suppliers. The PP consumption in the Russian market was 1,161,830 tonnes in January-November 2019, up by 7% year on year. Deliveries of all grades of propylene polymers increased, with the homopolymer PP segment accounting for the largest increase.

Tianjin Bohai is a state owned enterprise, with over 100 subsidiaries and 35,000 employees. It has joint venture relationships with a number of foreign partners, including: LG Chem, Solvay, Akzo Nobel, Clariant, Veolia, Air Liquide and Vopak.

Fujian Meide Petrochemical postpones start-up of its new PDH unit in Fujian to H2 February

MOSCOW (MRC) -- China's Fujian Meide Petrochemical, a wholly owned subsidiary of China Flexible Packing Group, plans to delay the startup of its newly built PDH plant in Jiangyin, southeastern Fujian province, to the second half of February, reported S&P Global.

The new PDH with the capacity of 660,000 mt/year was originally scheduled to start up in the first half of February, 2020.

High cost of feedstock propane was the cause of the delay.

Propylene is the main feedstock for the production of polypropylene (PP).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, the PP consumption in the Russian market was 1,161,830 tonnes in January-November 2019, up by 7% year on year. Deliveries of all grades of propylene polymers increased, with the homopolymer PP segment accounting for the largest increase.
MRC

Ukrainian PC imports up in 2019 by 9%

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of polycarbonate (PC) granules into Ukraine grew in twelve months of 2019 by 9% year on year, totalling 3,900 tonnes, according to MRC's DataScope report.

This figure was 3,600 tonnes in 2018.

Last month's imports of material to the Ukrainian market rose by 25% to 319 tonnes from 255 tonnes in November.

In terms of technology, the share of injection moulding PC grades decreased to 55% (2,100 tonnes) in 2019 from 65% (2,300 tonnes) a year earlier. The share of extrusion grade PC increased significantly: from 14% (500 tonnes) of the total imports to 27% (1,100 tonnes), with the share of blow moulding grades decreasing by 3% to 18%, totalling 682 tonnes.

Covestro and Sabic with the share of about 84% of the total imports were the key suppliers of resin to the Ukrainian market in 2019.


Thus, imports of Covestro's PC to the Ukrainian market grew last year by 39% year on year: from 2,000 tonnes in January-December 2018 to 2,800 tonnes. Covestro's material accounted for 71% of the total PC imports to the country in 2019 versus 56% in 2018. The company's shipments of material to Ukraine were 291 tonnes last month, compared to 160 tonnes in December 2018.

At the same time, Sabic's deliveries of material fell in January-December 2019 by 37% year on year: from 794 tonnes to 501 tonnes. Sabic's PC granules accounted for 13% of the total imports to the country last year versus 22% in 2018.

MRC

Ukrainian EPS imports remains the same in 2019

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Last year's expandable polystyrene (EPS) imports to the Ukrainian market virtually remained at the level of 2018, reaching 33,500 tonnes, according MRC's DataScope report.

This figure was 33,700 tonnes in January-December 2018.


Russian material accounted for 52% (17,400 tonnes) of the total shipments in the twelve months of 2019, compared to 57% (19,400 tonnes) a year earlier. Chinese EPS shipments reached 35% (11,800 tonnes) over the stated period, compared to 28% (9,500 tonnes) in January-December 2018.

December 2019 EPS imports into Ukraine were 1,700 tonnes versus 1,600 tonnes a month earlier and 1,000 tonnes in December 2018.

The share of Russian material grew to 72% (1,300 tonnes) last month from 69% (1,200 tonnes) a month earlier. The share of Chinese shipments dropped to 11% (190 tonnes) in December from 14% (2350 tonnes) in November.

MRC

Celanese raises January VAM prices in Asia

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Celanese Corporation, a global specialty materials company, has increased January list and off-list selling prices for Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) sold in Asia outside China (AOC), as per the company's press release.

The price increase was effective for orders shipped on or after 17 January, 2020, or as contracts otherwise allow, and is incremental to any previously announced increases.

Thus, January VAM prices rose by USD100/mt - for AOC.

As MRC reported earlier, Celanese also raised its January VAM prices in Europe, Middle East and Africa by EUR100/mt.

According to MRC's DataScope report, November EVA imports to Russia dropped by 8,9% year on year to 3,440 tonnes from 3,780 tonnes in November 2018, and overall imports of this grade of ethylene copolymer into the Russian Federation decreased in January-November 2019 by 18,9% year on year to 35,95 tonnes (44,330 tonnes in the first eleven 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