HIPS and GPPS imports to Belarus grow by 13% in Jan-Nov 2019

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) to Belarus rose in the first eleven months of 2019 by 13% year on year to 35,500 tonnes, according to MRC's DataScope report.

This figure was at 31,400 tonnes in January-November 2018.

GPPS and HIPS imports from Russia into the country accounted for 82% of the total imports in the first eleven months of 2019 or 29,200 tonnes, up by 3,800 tonnes year on year.

Imports of material to the Belarusian market did not change significantly in November 2019, totalling 3,300 tonnes, as a month earlier. November GPPS and HIPS shipments into the Republic of Belarus increased by 24% year on year (2,700 tonnes a year earlier).

November 2019 imports of Russian material into Belarus grew by 34% year on year to 3,000 tonnes from 2,200 tonnes a year earlier, October 2019 shipments were 2,800 tonnes.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Houston pipeline operator Enterprise Products Partners has started operations at two new natural gas processing plants last week, reported Oil&Gas360.

The company announced on Thursday morning that it had started its Bulldog cryogenic natural gas processing plant in the Haynesville Shale of East Texas.

Located in Panola County, the plant, can process 200 million cubic feet of natural gas per day and extract up to 12,000 barrels of natural gas liquids per day.

The East Texas announcement comes two days after Enterprise started its Mentone cryogenic natural gas processing plant in the Permian Basin of West Texas.

Located in Loving County, the plant can process 300 million cubic feet of natural per day and extract more than 40,000 barrels of natural gas liquids per day.

Founded in 1968 with a pair of propane delivery trucks, the Houston pipeline operator has more than 7,000 employees across the United States.

Enterprise, the largest exporter of crude oil and natural gas liquids in the US, reported a USD4.2 billion profit and USD36.5 billion in revenue in 2018.

As MRC informed before, Enterprise Products Partners and LyondellBasell Industries said in September 2019 they had executed long-term contracts to support construction of EPD's second propane dehydrogenation plant at the Mont Belvieu, Tex. complex. The decision to build the PDH 2 plant stems from recently executed long-term polymer grade propane (PGP) supply contracts between Enterprise and LyondellBasell Industries N.V.

Besides, we remind that Enterprise Products Partners' Mont Belvieu PDH in Texas restarted from planned maintenance in the first week of December, 2019. The PDH unit went offline for maintenance on November 13, 2019. That day, the company said in a filing with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality that the RAC "B" turbine shut down, which resulted in flaring. The flaring was estimated to last 72 hours. The unit has a capacity of 750,000 mt/year.

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.

Enterprise Products Partners L.P. is an American midstream natural gas and crude oil pipeline company with headquarters in Houston, Texas. It acquired GulfTerra in September 2004. The company ranked No. 105 in the 2018 Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by total revenue
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- The French federation of port and dock workers, part of the CGT labor union, has called ports to suspend operations on Wednesday as protests against the government's pension reform continue, reported S&P Global.

A day of protests across France has also been called by the unions for Wednesday.

The federation, along with the CGT and other French labor unions called for renewed protests last week when industrial action and demonstrations last Wednesday and Thursday were followed by a nationwide strike on Friday.

There have been protests at most refineries and ports in France since December 5, 2019 over the pension reform plans, with staff at refineries blocking product shipments and staff at ports suspending operations. However, the industrial action appeared to be gradually easing off at refineries, with no plants closed.

Tugs operations at a number of French ports are likely to be disrupted Wednesday with disruptions expected to continue until Saturday, according to shipping sources. The industrial action is expected to affect the ports of Rouen, Brest, Lorient, Donges, St Nazaire, the Fluxel-operated Fos and Lavera oil terminals and Le Havre. But others ports, such as La Palllice and Bordeaux are not expected to be affected.

We remind that, as MRC wrote before, France's CGT union said on Friday, 10 January, it would continue a strike over the government's planned pension reform at refineries and petrol depots until 16 January, extending by almost a week a four-day action that started on 7 January. The decision came the day after new nationwide protest marches that failed to break the stalemate between government and unions after a more-than month-old public sector strike.

French oil major Total said earlier that strikes against the government’s pension reform were having no impact on its fuel supply and distribution ahead of a four-day nationwide strike in French oil refineries.

We also remind that in November 2019, Total disclosed that it is evaluating construction of a new gas cracker at its Deasan, South Korea, joint venture (JV) with Hanwha Chemical.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,904,410 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.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Milliken & Company, a global diversified manufacturer with more than a century and a half of materials science expertise, has formally acquired Borchers Group Limited, a global specialty chemicals company known for its innovative high-performance coating additives and specialty catalyst solutions from The Jordan Company, L.P., reported BusinessWire.

The transaction officially closed on Tuesday, January 28, 2020.

"When great teams come together, big things happen," stated Halsey Cook, Milliken & Company president and CEO on closing the deal. "I’m excited to combine Borchers’ capabilities with Milliken’s long-term view and focus on innovation and sustainability."

"Borchers brings expertise, products and customer knowledge in the paint and coatings industry," commented Russ Rudolph, senior vice president, Milliken’s Coating Additives Business. "Combined with Milliken’s commitment to investment in long-term sustainable innovation and specialty chemicals global reach, this acquisition will accelerate solutions for the markets and customers we serve."

As Borchers integrates into Milliken, daily operations will continue without interruption, including relationships with existing suppliers and customers.

Headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, Borchers carries a respected portfolio of additives for the coatings, inks and adhesives markets with a comprehensive range of cobalt-free driers, dispersants, rheology modifiers, wetting agents, polymerization catalysts and adhesion promoters.

Jones Day represented Milliken in the transaction. Moelis & Company LLC acted as financial advisor, and Mayer Brown LLP acted as legal advisor to Borchers and TJC.

As MRC informed before, in August 2019, Milliken & Company unveiled plans to construct a new, state-of-the-art chemical manufacturing plant and knowledge center in Asia. Expected to begin operations in Q1 2021, the facility expands Milliken’s chemical manufacturing footprint to support increasing demand across Asia, including rapidly growing markets in India and China. The company currently operates an applications lab and technical service and sales office in Singapore, and recently celebrated its 20-year presence in the region.

We also remind that at Hispack 2018 trade fair in Spain, Milliken Chemical showcased containers of NX UltraClear polypropylene (PP) made using its Millad NX 8000 clarifier, and highlighted why that material is the preferred solution for packaging.

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.

Milliken is an innovation company that has been exploring, discovering, and creating ways to enhance people’s lives since 1865. The company creates coatings, specialty chemicals, and advanced additive and colorant technologies that transform the way we experience products from automotive plastics to children's art supplies.
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