Chevron reports fire at Pasadena, Texas facility

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Chevron Corp on Tuesday reported a fire at its 112,229-barrel-per-day (bpd) Pasadena, Texas facility, reported Reuters with reference to a community information line.

"At this time, flames, smoke may be noticeable to the community. We are coordinating with local officials, and working to resolve the issue as soon as possible," the company reported.

Chevron was not immediately available for a comment.

As MRC informed before,Chevron Corp restarted the 112,229 barrel-per-day (bpd) Pasadena, Texas, refinery night after completing a multi-unit overhaul that was extended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the entire refinery was shut from mid-April with the last units returning to production in mid-July.

We remind that US-based Phillips 66 remains open to developing another ethane cracker for its Chevron Phillips Chemical (CP Chem) joint venture, the refiner's CEO said in March 2018.

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

According to MRC's DataScope report, PE imports to Russia dropped in January-June 2020 by 7% year on year to 328,000 tonnes. High density polyethylene (HDPE) accounted for the main decrease in imports. At the same time, PP imports into Russia rose in the first six months of 2020 by 21% year on year to 105,300 tonnes. Propylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) accounted for the main increase in imports.

Headquartered in San Ramon, California, Chevron Corporation is the the second-largest integrated energy company in the United States and among the largest corporations in the world. Chevron is involved in upstream activities including exploration and production, downstream activities including refining, marketing and transportation, and advanced energy technology. Chevron is also invested in power generation and gasification processes.
MRC

FREP conducts turnaround at No. 1 PP unit in China

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Fujian Refining & Petrochemical (FREP) has been conducting a planned maintenance at its No. 1 Polypropylene (PP) unit, according to Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in China informed that, the company started turnaround at the unit on July 1, 2020.

Initially, the unit was to remain off-line for about one month. However, the company postponed its restart until further notice.

Located in Fujian province, China, the No.1 PP unit has a production capacity of 120,000 mt/year.

As MRC informed before, FREP undertook an unplanned shutdown at its No. 3 PP unit on June 1, 2020. The unit was to remain shut for about one week. Located in Fujian province, China, the No. 3 PP unit has a production capacity of 220,000 mt/year.

The company also operates No. 2 PP unit with the capacity of 360,000 mt/year at the same site.

According to MRC's DataScope report, PP imports into Russia rose in the first six months of 2020 by 21% year on year to 105,300 tonnes. Propylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) accounted for the main increase in imports.

FREP is a joint venture between Fujian Petrochemical Co. (50%), ExxonMobil China Petroleum and Petrochemical Co. (25%) and Saudi Aramco Sino Co. (25%). Fujian Petrochemical is a 50:50 JV between Sinopec and the Fujian provincial government.
MRC

Chemtrade CEO to step down in 2021

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund (Chemtrade; Toronto, Ontario, Canada) says president and CEO Mark Davis intends to retire in 2021. Scott Rock, currently chief operating officer, will take his place, said Chemweek.

"I am extremely proud of the organization and business portfolio that my team built over the last 20 years,” says Davis. He has been president and CEO of the company since it was founded in 2001. “Since joining Chemtrade [in September 2019], Scott has demonstrated genuine leadership and deep knowledge of our businesses. I will be leaving Chemtrade in good hands."

As MRC informed earlier, Chemtrade Logistics has announced force majeure circumstances for the supply of caustic soda, chlorine and hydrochloric acid from its plant in North Vancouver (North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada). In a statement, the company said that the force majeure was caused by a technical failure of the equipment.

As MRC informed earlier, Russia's output of chemical products rose in June 2020 by 2.6% year on year. However, production of basic chemicals increased year on year by 4.9% in the first six months of 2020. According to the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, polymers in primary form accounted for the greatest increase in the output in January-June. Production of benzene was 106,000 tonnes in June 2020, compared to 110,000 tonnes a month earlier. Overall output of this product reached 721,000 tonnes over the stated period, up by 3.9% year on year.

Chemtrade operates a diversified business providing industrial chemicals and services to customers in North America and around the world. Chemtrade is one of North America's largest suppliers of sulphuric acid, spent acid processing services, inorganic coagulants for water treatment, liquid sulphur dioxide, sodium nitrite, sodium hydrosulphite and phosphorus pentasulphide. Chemtrade is a leading regional supplier of sulphur, sodium chlorate, potassium chloride, and zinc oxide. Additionally, Chemtrade provides industrial services such as processing by-products and waste streams.
MRC

Sinopec Qilu shuts LLDPE unit in China for unscheduled maintenance

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Sinopec Qilu Petrochemical, part of Sinopec Group, has undertaken an unplanned shutdown at its No. 3 linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) unit in Shandong, according to Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in China informed that, the company halted operations at the unit on August 11, 2020. Further details on duration of shutdown could not be ascertained.

Located at Shandong province in China, the LLDPE plant has a production capacity of 140,000 mt/year.

As MRC reported earlier, Sinopec Qilu Petrochemical shut its No, 3 LLDPE unit for scheduled turnaround from 2 to 11 June, 2020.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, June LLDPE shipments to the Russian market rose to 38,600 tonnes from 31,290 tonnes a month earlier, production increased. Russia;s overall LLDPE shipments totalled 191,700 tonnes in the first six months of 2020, down by 7% year on year. Production increased by 89% year on year, whereas exports grew by several times.

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

Formosa starts turnaround at its largest cracker in Taiwan

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Formosa Petrochemical Corporation (FPCC) has undertaken a planned shutdown at its No.3 cracker in Mailiao, according to Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in Taiwan informed that, the company started maintenance at the cracker on August 11, 2020. The cracker is expected to remain off-line till end-September, 2020.

Located at Mailiao in Taiwan, the No. 3 cracker has an ethylene production capacity of 1.2 million mt/year and propylene production capacity of 600,000 mt/year.

As MRC wrpte previously, Formosa took off-stream its No.2 cracker in Taiwan on 1 June, 2020. No reason for unplanned closure was given. The cracker was idle until 4 June. Located at Mailiao in Taiwan, the No.2 cracker has an ethylene production capacity of 1.03 million mt/year, propylene production capacity of 515,000 mt/year and butadiene production capacity of 162,000 mt/year.

Formosa, Asia's top naphtha importer, operates three naphtha crackers in Mailiao. These units have a total capacity of 2.93 million tpy of ethylene.

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

According to MRC's DataScope report, PE imports to Russia dropped in January-June 2020 by 7% year on year to 328,000 tonnes. High density polyethylene (HDPE) accounted for the main decrease in imports. At the same time, PP imports into Russia rose in the first six months of 2020 by 21% year on year to 105,300 tonnes. Propylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) accounted for the main increase in imports.

Formosa Petrochemical is involved primarily in the business of refining crude oil, selling refined petroleum products and producing and selling olefins (including ethylene, propylene, butadiene and BTX) from its naphtha cracking operations. Formosa Petrochemical is also the largest olefins producer in Taiwan and its olefins products are mostly sold to companies within the Formosa Group. Among the company's chemical products are paraxylene (PX), phenyl ethylene, acetone and pure terephthalic acid (PTA). The company"s plastic products include acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) resins, polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP) and panlite (PC).
MRC