Linear PE imports to Russia exceeded 110 KT

Linear polyethylene is one of few large capacity polymers demand for which didn't fall even during the crisis. In pre-crisis 2008 total volume of linear PE imports made about 82 KT. In 2009 polymer supplies from external suppliers increased by 15%.

The main driver of demand for linear PE is films sector, particularly, sector of cast stretch-films production. At present in this sector about a dozen of producers work, whose total capacity exceeds 120 KT.

Recently demand for linear PE has considerably grown in the sectors of injection-molding and rotational molding production of overall products. Upcoming trend is the sector of pressure pipes production with the use of lineaк polyethylene PERT.

MRC

(Milliken) -- Milliken, a division of Milliken & Company, has overcome one of the toughest challenges in the plastics industry - successful nucleation of polyethylene (PE). Hyperform HPN-20E, currently the most efficient PE nucleation agent available globally enables higher peak crystallization temperatures that can cut cycle times and drive productivity improvements of 10 to 20 percent (depending upon processing and resin design).

It can also increase oxygen and water vapor barrier performance between 20 to 40 percent (depending upon processing and resin design) providing the possibility of extended shelf life of perishable contents such as dry foods, dairy products, vitamins and nutraceuticals. Hyperform HPN-20E and other upcoming Milliken nucleation solutions support sustainability by enabling broader use of PE, an easily recycled plastic, in diverse packaging applications.

This technology is appropriate for high-density polyethylene (HDPE) used in blown film, extrusion blow moulding and injection moulding, as well as in linear low density PE (LLDPE), especially C4 gas phase LLDPE.

MRC

(Bloomberg) -- Norwegian oil production will fall 6 percent this year, its 11th annual decline, as the world's seventh-largest crude exporter struggles to maintain output after 40 years of pumping from aging North Sea fields.

Production will fall to 98.3 million cubic meters in 2011, or 1.7 million barrels a day, from 104.4 million cubic meters in 2010, the Stavanger-based Norwegian Petroleum Directorate said. Gas output is expected to rise to 109.1 billion cubic meters from 106.4 billion cubic meters, the agency said.

⌠The fact that the companies on the Norwegian shelf are not able to achieve a maximum exploitation of our fields poses a challenge, said Bente Nyland, head of the agency, at a presentation in Stavanger. ⌠Although our recovery rate is among the best in the world, we are still not satisfied. If we manage to recover just 1 percent more, this would mean revenue in the hundreds of billions for Norway.

MRC

(Plastemart) -- A Rs 70,150 crore investment intent has been announced by Reliance Industries for the state of Gujarat- 40,000 crores in Jamnagar refinery project and 15,000 crores at petrochem complexes at Dahej and Hazira. Also part of the MoU is RIL's foray into cement sector with the signing of an agreement to invest in a 5 mln ton cement project in Kutch district of Gujarat.

MRC

(Plastemart) -- KBR and SK Innovation have announced the startup of their Advanced Catalytic Olefins (ACO) demo plant in Ulsan, South Korea. Operations to date have met the companies' expectations for high olefins production, particularly propylene, with improved economics relative to steam cracking due to the technology's higher total olefins yields and increased propylene/ethylene ratios approaching 1.0. The startup marks the first commercial demonstration of ACO.

The demonstration unit achieved design feed rate as scheduled in late October 2010. The ACO process provides a highly attractive alternative to naphtha steam crackers and in addition to offering higher olefins production, the process also produces a lower emissions footprint than a conventional cracker. The keys to this novel technology are the development of a proprietary catalyst and optimization of operating conditions by SK Innovation coupled with the know-how of KBR in the design of fluid bed reactors and the production of polymer grade ethylene and propylene.

MRC