PP imports to Ukraine decreased by 2% in January-March

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Ukraine's polypropylene (PP) imports totalled about 31,000 tonnes in January-March of this year, down 2% year on year.
All PP grades accounted for the decrease in shipments, according to a MRC's DataScope report.

March imports of polypropylene to Ukraine actually remained at the level of the previous month and amounted to about 10,500 tonnes, local companies reduced the volume of purchases of propylene homopolymers (homopolymer PP) in favour of propylene copolymers. Overall imports of propylene polymers reached 31,000 tonnes in January-March 2020, compared to 31,500 tonnes a year earlier. The supply of homopolymer PP remained at the level of last year, while the need for propylene copolymers decreased.

The structure of PP imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period.

March imports of homopolymer PP to the Ukrainian market decreased due to weaker purchases of homopolymer PP raffia in Russia, the total import volume amounted to about 8,000 tonnes against 8,700 tonnes a month earlier. Total homopolymer PP imports were 24,500 tonnes in January-March, compared to 24,600 tonnes a year earlier.

March imports of PP block copolymers into the country amounted to a little more than 1,000 tonnes compared to 736 tonnes in February, local companies increased the volume of purchases of injection moulding polypropylene. Over the reporting period, about 2,700 tonnes of propylene block copolymers were imported against 2,900 tonnes for the same period in 2019.

March PP random copolymers imports increased to 1,300 tonnes from 1,000 tonnes a month earlier, local companies raised their purchasing of pipe PP grades. Overall PP random copolymers imports reached 3,400 tonnes in January-March 2020, compared to 3,500 tonnes a year earlier.

Overall imports of other propylene copolymers totalled slightly over 400 tonnes over the stated period.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Lyondell Basell Industries plans to restart the gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracker (FCC) at its 263,776 barrel-per-day (bpd) Houston refinery by early next week, reported Reuters with reference to Gulf Coast market sources.

Repairs to the 90,000 bpd FCC were completed by Monday and Lyondell plans to begin the restart process within a day or two, the sources said. The FCC was shut by a Feb. 16 fire that led to the discovery of multiple large cracks in the unit’s reactor.

As MRC informed before, Lyondell Basell Industries said maintenance operations were staffed at its Houston refinery to assure safety and reliability. Gulf Coast market sources told Reuters hundreds of contractors were home in mid-March to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading in the 263,776 barrel-per-day refinery. Those contractors work for companies hired by Lyondell to perform maintenance on units in the refinery. Lyondell employee operations and maintenance staff continue to work in the refinery, the sources said.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 383,760 tonnes in the first two month of 2020, up by 14% year on year. High density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) shipments increased due to the increased capacity utilisation at ZapSibNeftekhim. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 192,760 tonnes in January-February 2020, down by 6% year on year. Homopolymer PP accounted for the main decrease in imports.

LyondellBasell is one of the largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies in the world. Driven by its 13,000 employees around the globe, LyondellBasell produces materials and products that are key to advancing solutions to modern challenges like enhancing food safety through lightweight and flexible packaging, protecting the purity of water supplies through stronger and more versatile pipes, and improving the safety, comfort and fuel efficiency of many of the cars and trucks on the road. LyondellBasell sells products into approximately 100 countries and is the world's largest licensor of polyolefin technologies.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Independent U.S. refiner Valero Energy Corp said it was withdrawing its annual forecast and would defer or delay certain refining and ethanol related spending it had earlier planned for the year, said Reuters.

The company said in a filing its refining segment has suffered a drop in demand as the coronavirus outbreak and the resulting lockdowns "dramatically" reduced flights and usage of motor vehicles - important customers for Valero's refined products.

The refiner also said it estimates first-quarter revenue to be between USD20.1 billion and USD22.2 billion.

As MRC informed earlier, one worker was injured in a fire at Valero Energy Corp’s 125,000 barrel-per-day Meraux, Louisiana, refinery early Friday morning. Valero spokeswoman Lillian Riojas said the injured worker was taken to a local hospital. The extent of the person’s injuries was unknown. All other workers at the refinery were accounted for.

We also remind that Valero Energy Corp restarted the small CDU at its Port Arthur refinery after repairing a valve on 25 September 2019. And in late October 2019, Valero Energy Corp shut the small crude distillation unit (CDU) at its Port Arthur refinery. The 75,000-bpd AVU 147 CDU was shut to repair a heat exchanger.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 383,760 tonnes in the first two month of 2020, up by 14% year on year. High density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) shipments increased due to the increased capacity utilisation at ZapSibNeftekhim. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 192,760 tonnes in January-February 2020, down by 6% year on year. Homopolymer PP accounted for the main decrease in imports.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Company Limited, part of Sinopec Group, has announced the annual results for the twelve months ended 31st December 2019, reported Kemicalinfo.

Net sales of the company in 2019 amounted to RMB88.1 billion (USD12.45 billion), a decrease of 7.90% from the previous year’s RMB95.6 million (USD13.5 billion).

The decrease in sales was attributed to frequent security accidents, industrial zone closures and enterprises’ suspension and rectification. The performance of enterprises declined significantly as the market continued to be weak.

Net profit amounted to RMB2.2 billion (USD310 million), a decrease of 58.47% from the previous year’s RMB5.34 billion (USD750 million).

Fall in profit was due to decreasing margins under severe and complicated domestic and international economic situations. Price of petrochemical products fell under the sluggish market. As the demand for refined oil products slowed down and supplies increased, product competition became increasingly fierce.

Basic earnings per share amounted to RMB0.205 (USD0.029), and the Board proposed to distribute a dividend of RMB0.12 (USD0.017) per share (including tax).

In 2020, the company said it will continue to adhere to the market-oriented and efficiency-centered strategy, constantly improve the level of safety and environmental protection, further strengthen system optimization and cost reduction and promote industrial restructuring, reform and innovation.

The company will also establish leader teams to strive to overcome the impact caused by COVID-19, the pressure of the sharp decline of crude oil prices on the Company’s short-term performance and maintain stable production and operation.

The company plans to process a total of 15.30 million tons of crude oil and produce a total of 9.27 million tons of refined oil, 0.82 million tons of ethylene, 0.66 million tons of paraxylene, 0.92 million tons of plastic resin, 0.65 million tons of raw materials of synthetic fibers, 0.44 million tons of synthetic fiber polymers and 0.20 million tons of synthetic fibers.

As MRC informed before, Sinopec Qilu Petrochemical, another subsidiary of Sinopec, plans to shut the cracker unit in Tianjin in northeast China for scheduled repairs on 15 June, 2020. This cracking unit with a capacity of 900,000 tonnes of ethylene per year and 480,000 tonnes of propylene tons per year will be closed for scheduled repairs until 24 June, 2020.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 383,760 tonnes in the first two month of 2020, up by 14% year on year. High density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) shipments increased due to the increased capacity utilisation at ZapSibNeftekhim. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 192,760 tonnes in January-February 2020, down by 6% year on year. Homopolymer PP accounted for the main decrease in imports.

Sinopec corp. is one of the world's largest integrated energy and chemical companies. Business Sinopec Corp. includes oil and gas exploration, production and transportation of oil and gas, oil refining, petrochemical production, production of mineral fertilizers and other chemical products. In terms of refining capacity, Sinopec Corp. ranks second in the world, in terms of ethylene capacity - fourth.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- DuPont has launched “Operation Airbridge,” with the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and FedEx to speed production and delivery of medical garments made from DuPont’s Tyvek material, reported Chemweek.

Operation Airbridge will enable expedited shipping of Tyvek garments critical to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) relief via air, instead of sea. FedEx Express will transport Tyvek roll goods from DuPont’s Richmond, Virginia, production plant to garment manufacturers in Vietnam. They will then return to the US with finished Tyvek garments to be added to the US Strategic National Stockpile.

"Since the COVID-19 crisis began, DuPont employees have been working 24/7 to provide protection to those that are protecting us through the pandemic,” says David Domnisch, global business leader, DuPont Personal Protection.

As MRC informed earlier, DuPont, which operates one of the Richmond region’s largest manufacturing plants, confirmed last Monday that five local employees have tested positive for the coronavirus, but the company’s local manufacturing operations are still functioning.

We also remind that an employee at the Port Arthur Total refinery has tested positive for the coronavirus. The company confirmed Tuesday that the employee who tested positive is in self-quarantine and hasn't been at the site since March 26. Total says it has 'implemented its pandemic response in the case of a positive COVID-19 test, which includes disinfecting and sanitation of the potentially-affected areas.'

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 383,760 tonnes in the first two month of 2020, up by 14% year on year. High density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) shipments increased due to the increased capacity utilisation at ZapSibNeftekhim. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 192,760 tonnes in January-February 2020, down by 6% year on year. Homopolymer PP accounted for the main decrease in imports.
MRC