Lanxess inaugurates nitrous oxide reduction plant at Antwerp site

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Lanxess has taken another major step on the road to climate neutrality: the specialty chemicals company inaugurated a nitrous oxide reduction plant at its site in Antwerp on February 10, Belgium, said the company.

The plant breaks down around 500 metric tons of nitrous oxide per year, which is equivalent to the climate impact of 150,000 metric tons of CO2. Lanxess has invested around EUR 10 million in its construction. A second plant is scheduled to start up in 2023 and is expected to eliminate a further 300,000 tons of CO2 equivalents (CO2e).

"We are committed to the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to less than two degrees Celsius. The new nitrous oxide reduction plant in Antwerp is a key building block in LANXESS becoming climate-neutral by 2040,” explained LANXESS Board of Management member Hubert Fink. At the same time, he highlighted the economic benefits of the climate protection measures, saying that “Climate protection is a business case for us. On the one hand, we are becoming an even more sustainable partner for our customers. On the other, we are reducing our costs because we need fewer certificates from the European Emissions Trading System and use less energy thanks to innovative technologies."

As per MRC, Lanxess is continuing the systematic expansion of its production for synthetic iron oxide pigments. The company is the only supplier worldwide to produce these pigments using the Laux process.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 2,220,640 tonnes in 2020, up by 2% year on year. Only shipments of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) increased. At the same time, polypropylene (PP) shipments to the Russian market reached 1 240,000 tonnes in 2020 (calculated using the formula: production, minus exports, plus imports, excluding producers' inventories as of 1 January, 2020).
MRC

Rohm warns of global feedstock crunch for methacrylates market

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Rohm (Darmstadt, Germany) says the methacrylates market is facing “a global shortage of several petrochemical raw materials” as a result of global business and service disruptions, which could lead to extended product lead and delivery times, reported Chemweek.

The company says its methacrylates monomer team is “currently addressing a number of challenges” and that it remains in close contact with its suppliers in order to “effectively manage supply and continue production” of its product portfolio for customers.

Rohm says in its latest market update it is monitoring and managing “external constraints in intercontinental logistics, including container shipping shortages, and limited availability of packaging materials.” Seasonal high water levels at the Rhine river in Europe have put “additional stress on the supply chain of raw materials and finished goods,” it says.

The company’s logistics and supply chain teams are “working hard to secure supply by accessing the resources of our global production network,” it says, adding that working closely with its customers and having open communication are “key to keeping the methacrylates industry supplied during these turbulent times.”

However, Rohm warns that “despite all efforts, extended lead and delivery times may occur. In such cases, details will be communicated as early as possible.”

Earlier this week Rohm announced a price increase for its polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) products in Europe due to a sharp rise in raw material costs. In January it also put methyl methacrylate (MMA) and all its other methacrylate monomer products in Europe on sales control with immediate effect due to a shortage of raw materials.

In December it also highlighted a tightening of the MMA market, with “prices surging in Asia and continuously firming in Europe” on strong demand, combined with production and supply issues and rising prices for feedstocks such as acetone.

“The most salient issue for the MMA industry is not demand but feedstock availability, which affects costs and operating rates. The European acetone market has gone through a volatile first few weeks of 2021, with acute tightness developing across Europe that has brought big spikes in spot pricing,” according to IHS Markit’s latest Global Acrylates and Superabsorbent Polymer monthly market report.

As MRC informed previously, Rohm plans to carry out a scheduled turnaround in September 2021 of its methacrylate monomers plant at Worms, Germany. No specific date or duration for the planned maintenance program has been given. The company announced in early January a series of scheduled shutdowns for four of its methyl methacrylate (MMA) and methacrylate monomer facilities in the first half of 2021, including one planned for 10–22 March also at its Worms plant. The other plants planned for turnaround in the first six months of the year are in Wesseling, Germany; Shanghai, China; and Fortier, Louisiana.

The principal application, consuming approximately 75% of the MMA, is the manufacture of polymethyl methacrylate acrylic plastics (PMMA). Methyl methacrylate is also used for the production of the co-polymer methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene (MBS), used as a modifier for polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

According to MRC's DataScope report, imports of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) into Russia totalled about 40,800 tonnes in 2020, down by 20% year on year. At the same time, exports decreased by 6%. December SPVC imports to Russia dropped to 0,600 tonnes from 1,600 tonnes in November. High PVC prices in foreign markets and a seasonal decline in demand in the last two months had put serious pressure on import purchases of PVC from Russian companies.
MRC

Acquisition of Turkish market leader for PVC foam sheets completed

MOSCOW (MRC) -- SIMONA AG has completed the acquisition of a 70 per cent interest in MT Plastik AS, Duzce, Turkey, by closing the transaction effective from 1 February 2021, said the company.

Due to the tragic death of one of the owners of MT Plastik, Tufan Kalkan, the closing process had been delayed (cf. release of 21 Dec. 2020).

In future, the company will trade under the name of SIMONA PLASTECH. In making this acquisition, SIMONA aims to become a market leader in the business segment of PVC foam sheets with regard to quality, breadth of product range and market share.

The acquisition of MT Plastik will add new and established products to the portfolio and unlock potential in the field of construction and advertising applications under the umbrella of the newly formed Advertisement and Building Industry business line.

As it was written earlier, on 9 November 2020, SIMONA AG had announced that it was planning to acquire the majority interest in the Turkish market leader for PVC foam sheets, MT Plastik AS, Duzce, Turkey, and that the transaction was to be closed by 31 December 2020.

Asc per MRC, negotiations over prices of European polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for February shipments to the CIS countries began last week. Traditionally for the past several months, European producers announced another increase in export PVC prices - by EUR60/tonne and higher - due to higher feedstocks prices.
MRC

Air Liquide earnings, sales beat estimates, flags energy-transition opportunities

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Air Liquide has reported an 8.6% rise year on year (YOY) in net profit to EUR2.435 billion (USD2.95 billion) for full-year 2020, on sales down 6.5% to EUR20.48 billion, beating analysts’ consensus estimate and the company's own most recent guidance provided in October 2020, said Chemweek.

Net earnings per share are EUR5.16, in line with the increase in net profit. The company’s sales in the fourth quarter declined 5.1% YOY to EUR5.23 billion but beat the consensus estimate of EUR5.18 billion as compiled by Vara Research on behalf of Air Liquide, and returned to growth sequentially over the third quarter’s sales of EUR4.98 billion. Air Liquide does not provide fourth-quarter net profit figures.

Revenue from the gas and services segment, representing approximately 96% of Air Liquide’s group sales, fell 5.8% in the quarter compared with the prior-year period to EUR4.96 billion, in line with consensus, but was up from EUR4.78 billion in the third quarter. Industrial merchant revenue fell 9.1% YOY to EUR2.23 billion, large industries sales declined slightly to EUR1.33 billion, healthcare sales fell 6.1% to EUR899 million, and electronics sales were almost flat at EUR497 million.

Air Liquide’s performance in 2020 was “outstanding in this environment,” according to chairman and CEO Benoit Potier. “Sales resilience, significant margin improvement, net profit growth, and investment decisions continued at a very high level,” he says. Sales were “back to growth in the fourth quarter” with gas and services revenue holding up well throughout the year, he says. “Geographically, the situation was extremely varied, with Europe faring well, driven by demand in healthcare, and a solid performance from the developing economies, particularly China, and Eastern European and Latin American countries,” Potier notes.

Investment decisions in 2020 totaled EUR3.2 billion, which is indicative of future growth, according to Potier. “In an environment marked by global recovery plans and commitment to energy transition, the group still has numerous investment opportunities, of which 44% are projects related to the fight against climate change, including the development of hydrogen energy,” he says. The company’s 12-month portfolio of investment opportunities stood at EUR3.1 billion at the end of December, with several new entries during the fourth quarter, he adds. Large industries projects for chemical customers represent the highest share of Air Liquide’s investment backlog, according to the company.

The investment opportunity type “has changed significantly,” most notably with low-carbon hydrogen production projects through electrolysis, as well as the capture and storage of carbon dioxide in the large industries segment, Air Liquide says. These energy-transition projects “may be subject to accessing subsidies,” it says. “Europe, where the majority of energy-transition projects are based, has therefore become the leading region in the portfolio, and has reached a record level with close to 40% of opportunities,” it says.

Given limited local lockdowns in the first half of 2021 and assuming a recovery in the second half of the year, Air Liquide is “confident in its ability to further increase its operating margin and to deliver recurring net-profit growth,” Potier says.

Gas and services sales in the Americas totaled €7.80 billion in 2020, down 3.7%, but with North American sales starting to improve sequentially in the third quarter, it says. Sales were “up markedly” in Latin America, driven mainly by a large industries start-up in Argentina and strong demand for medical oxygen. The industrial merchant segment saw a strong sequential recovery over the second half of 2020, it says. Healthcare posted annual sales growth of 7.7% and electronics recorded growth of 5.2%.

Sales in Europe rose 1.3% in 2020 to €6.83 billion, with industrial activities starting to recover from the beginning of May, and “markedly accelerated its recovery” during the second half of the year, according to the company. Large industries sales slipped 1.0% but saw good sequential growth from the third quarter, with chemicals and steel volumes improving toward the end of the year, “driven notably” by recovery in Germany’s automotive sector, Air Liquide says. The industrial merchant sector recovered in the second half of 2020 but saw full-year sales decline 5.6%. Healthcare activities posted sales growth of 9.7%.

Revenue in APAC was stable at €4.47 billion, with all industrial activities posting growth in the fourth quarter. China, with sales growth of 3.4%, “brought a strong contribution thanks to a quick recovery across all activities,” says Air Liquide. The recovery was slower in the rest of the region, it says. Sales in the Middle East and Africa declined 2.6% in 2020 to EUR564 million.

The additional contribution to sales from unit start-ups and ramp-ups totaled EUR191 million in 2020, with the contribution to 2021 sales from start-ups and ramp-ups expected to be about EUR250 million, the company says. A total of 16 units currently being acquired from Sasol in South Africa should bring an additional contribution of about EUR100 million in 2021, with sales expected to exceed EUR400 million/year once they are fully integrated, Air Liquide says.

As MRC wrote earlier, in September 2020, Air Liquide finalised an agreement with Sasol to acquire the biggest oxygen production site in the world with a plan to reduce its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 30%. After the announcement on July 29, the international major industry gas company has now entered into a business purchase agreement with Sasol to acquire the oxygen production site in Secunda, South Africa.

We remind that Sasol's world-scale US ethane cracker with the capacity of 1.5 mln tonnes per year reached beneficial operation on 27 August 2019. Sasol's new cracker, the heart of LCCP, is the third and most significant of the seven LCCP facilities that came online and will provide feedstock to the company's six new derivative units at Sasol's Lake Charles multi-asset site.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 2,220,640 tonnes in 2020, up by 2% year on year. Only shipments of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) increased. At the same time, polypropylene (PP) shipments to the Russian market reached 1 240,000 tonnes in 2020 (calculated using the formula: production, minus exports, plus imports, excluding producers' inventories as of 1 January, 2020).
MRC

February prices of European PVC rose by EUR60/tonne and higher for CIS markets

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Negotiations over prices of European polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for February shipments to the CIS countries began last week. Traditionally for the past several months, European producers announced another increase in export PVC prices - by EUR60/tonne and higher - due to higher feedstocks prices, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

The February contract price of ethylene was agreed up by EUR70/tonne from the previous month, which theoretically allows to talk about an increase of EUR3,5/tonne in the net cost of PVC production. But on the back of on-going force majeure shutdowns at several plants, European producers announced an increase of EUR60-100t/tonne in export prices for the CIS countries in February.

Demand for PVC from consumers from the CIS markets has remained weak so far because of seasonal factors, but demand for resin still increased from January. Moreover, manufacturers from the CIS countries have a shortage of resin with K=70, which local converters were trying to compensate for with purchases in Europe.

Overall, deals for February shipments of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) to the CIS markets were negotiated in the range of EUR985-1 025/tonne FCA, whereas the previous month's deals were discussed in the range of EUR875-965/tonne FCA.
MRC