RusVinyl shut PVC production

MOSCOW (MRC) -- RusVinyl, joint venture of SIBUR and Solvay, has shut down its polyvinyl chloride (PVC) production for a scheduled turnaround, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

The plant's customers said RusVinyl took off-stream its production capacities for maintenance, as planned, on 14 July. The outage will be short and will last for about two weeks. This is virtually the last shutdown at Russian PVC plants in this year.

As reported earlier, SayanskKhimPlast shut its PVC production for a 30-day turnaround on 8 July, whereas Kaustik Volgograd idled its production capacities in May-June. Bashkir Soda Company does not plan to shut its production for maintenance works this year.

RusVinyl was put into operation in the second half of 2014. The plant's design capacity is 300,000 tonnes/year of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) and 30,000 tonnes/year of emulsion polyvinyl chloride (EPVC). Its caustic soda production capacity is 225,000 tonnes/year.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall polyethylene (PE) imports into the Ukrainian market rose in the first six months of 2020 by 4% year on year to 136,400 tonnes. Imports of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) increased, according to MRC's DataScope report.

Last month's PE imports to Ukraine grew to 23,700 tonnes from 21,800 tonnes in May, local companies increased shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers partially because of easing of the quarantine in a number of regions. Thus, overall PE imports reached 136,400 tonnes in January-June 2020, compared to 131,100 tonnes a year earlier. HDPE and LDPE imports increased, whereas imports of other PE grades decreased.

The supply structure by PE grades looked the following way over the stated period.

Last month's HDPE imports into the country were 7,800 tonnes versus 7,900 tonnes in May, Ukrainian companies reduced their purchasing of film grade PE, whereas purchases of other HDPE grades increased. Overall HDPE imports exceeded 54,300 tonnes in the first six months of 2020 versus 48,800 tonnes a year earlier.

June LDPE imports were slightly over 7,700 tonnes, compared to 6,000 tonnes a month earlier, local companies raised their purchasing amid easing of the quarantine and under the pressure of seasonal factors. Overall LDPE imports reached 39,200 tonnes over the stated period, compared to 37,300 tonnes a year earlier.

Last month's linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) imports were 7,100 tonnes versus 6,400 tonnes in May, with stretch films producers accounting for stronger demand for PE. Overall LLDPE imports reached 36,400 tonnes in January-June 2020, compared to 38,900 tonnes a year earlier.

Imports of other PE grades, including ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA), totalled 6,500 tonnes in the first six months of 2020, compared to 6,200 tonnes a year earlier.

MRC

1.PTTGCA moves forward on Ohio project as Daelim pulls out

MOSCOW (MRC) -- PTTGC (Bangkok) said it is moving forward with its much-delayed Ohio petrochemical project without its partner, Daelim Chemical USA (DCA), said Chemweek. Toasaporn Boonyapipat, PTTGC America (PTTGCA) president and CEO, said, “The Ohio petrochemical facility continues to be a top priority for PTTGC America. We are in the process of seeking a new partner whilst working toward a final investment decision [FID]. We look forward to making an announcement by the end of this year or early next year on this transformative project for the Ohio Valley Region." In a joint statement issued by PTTGCA and DAC, the companies said, "The COVID-19 pandemic and recent oil price volatility have caused significant impacts on businesses around the world. As a result of these factors, the Ohio petrochemical complex project being developed by PTTGC America… and Daelim Chemical USA…[would have encountered] a delay of about six to nine months compared to the previously announced timeline…Under this market situation, PTTGCA and DCA have been assessing the impact for major investment projects to ensure that our portfolio is well positioned for the future of petrochemical Industry. While we continue to believe in the long-term strategic importance of this project, DCA has taken the difficult but necessary decision to withdraw as equity partner from the project.



MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Enterprise Products Partners (Houston, Texas) co-loaded olefins and natural gas liquids (NGLs) twice in July, the first time such cargoes have been loaded for export from the US, said Chemweek.

A VLGC (very large gas carrier) received propane and polymer-grade propylene (PGP) simultaneously into separate compartments at the Enterprise Houston Ship Channel terminal. Another vessel took on ethane and ethylene simultaneously at the company’s Morgan’s Point facility in Houston.

"This landmark accomplishment was made possible by our integrated midstream network, as well as the creativity and determination of our employees,” says AJ Teague, co-CEO of Enterprise’s general partner. “Loading ethylene and propylene on larger vessels from the US Gulf Coast substantially lowers freight costs and allows US Gulf Coast producers to supply distant markets, such as Asia, more competitively."

The Morgan’s Point terminal, a joint venture between Enterprise and Navigator Holdings (London), shipped its first cargo of ethylene in January. Earlier this month, Navigator said the terminal had gotten take-or-pay offtake commitments for about 95% of its 2.2-billion pounds/year (1-million metric tons/year) nameplate capacity.

As MRC informed earlier, Enterprise Products is expected to restart its propane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit in Mont Belvieu, Texas, from maintenance this week. This PDH unit has the capacity of 750,000 mt/y of propylene.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, PP shipments to the Russian market was 457,930 tonnes in January-May 2020 (calculated by the formula production minus export plus import). Deliveris of exclusively PP random copolymer increased.
MRC

MOSOCW (MRC) -- Zhong Tian He Chuang, a joint venture of Sinopec and China Coal Energy Group, is likely to restart its No. 2 low density polyethylene (LDPE) unit on 23 July, 2020, after a scheduled maintenance, as per Apic-online.

The company started maintenance at this unit in early-June, 2020.

The company has earlier planned turnaround at No. 2 LDPE unit for about 4 weeks, which was further extended to 7-8 weeks.

Located at Ordos in Inner Mongolia, China, the No. 2 LDPE unit has a production capacity of 120,000 mt/year.

Zhong Tian He Chuang also operates No. 1 LDPE unit with a production capacity of 250,000 mt/year at the same site.

As MRC reported earlier, Zhong Tian He Chuang took off-stream its No. 2 LDPE unit in early-April, 2019, owing to a technical glitch. Further details on duration of an unplanned outage could not be ascertained.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, May estimated LDPE consumption in Russia decreased to 45,490 tonnes from 51,180 tonnes a month earlier. Kazanorgsintez reduced its PE output due to a shutdown for a scheduled turnaround. Russia's estimated LDPE consumption rose to 236,020 tonnes in January-May 2020, up by 3% year on year. Russian producers raised their production, and LDPE imports also increased.

Sinopec Corp. is one of the largest scale integrated energy and chemical company with upstream, midstream and downstream operations. Its principal business includes: exploring, developing, producing and trading crude oil and natural gas; producing, storing, transporting and distributing and marketing petroleum products, petrochemical products, synthetic fiber, fertilizer and other chemical products. Its refining capacity and ethylene capacity rank No.2 and No.4 globally. Sinopec listed in Hong Kong, New York, London and Shanghai in August 2001. Sinopec Group, the parent company of Sinopec Corp., is ranked the 5th in Fortune Global 500 in 2012.
MRC