PVC production in Russia down by 1% in January-April 2021

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) reached 346,100 tonnes in the first four months of 2021, down 1% year on year. All producers decreased production volumes over the reported period, with the exception of the Bashkir Soda Company, according to MRC's ScanPlast Report.

April production of unmixed PVC in Russia was 79,400 tonnes from 90,200 tonnes a month earlier, RusVinyl decreased capacity utilisation.
Total PVC production in Russia reached 346,100 tonnes in January - April 2021 against 350,800 tonnes a year earlier, a decrease in production volumes was seen from all producers, the only exception was the Bashkir Soda Company, which showed a minimum increase.
The structure of PVC production by plants looked the following way over the stated period.

RusVinyl (JV of SIBUR and SolVin) produced about 29,100 tonnes of PVC in April, with emulsion polyvinyl chloride (EPVC) accounting for 2,400 tonnes, compared to 31,000 tonnes a month earlier. Total SPVC production at RusVinyl decreased to 117,300 tonnes in the first four months of this year, compared to 119,200 tonnes in the same period in 2020.

SayanskKhimPlast kept high level of capacity utilisation in April, having produced about 26,500 tonnes of suspension PVC (SPVC) compared to 27,400 tonnes a month earlier. The Sayansk plant managed to produce about 107,000 tonnes of PVC in January-April, compared to 109,600 tonnes a year earlier.

Baskhir Soda Company produced about 23,800 tonnes of SPVC in April, against 24,500 tonnes a month earlier. The Baskhir plant's overall production of PVC reached 93,500 tonnes in January-April 2021, up 1% year on year.

Kaustik (Volgograd) produced about 7,200 tonnes of SPVC in April, compared with 7,400 tonnes in March. The plant's overall production of PVC reached 28,300 tonnes in January-April versus 29,100 tonnes a year earlier.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Topsoe has been chosen as the licensor and supplier of basic engineering, proprietary equipment, catalyst, and technical services for Seaboard Energy’s renewable fuels complex in Hugoton, Kansas, US, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The project is based on HydroFlex, a world-leading, industry-proven Topsoe technology to produce renewable fuels from a wide variety of renewable feedstocks.

“We chose Topsoe after a very thorough investigation into the technologies available in the market. Topsoe’s solution does not only promise the highest yield; it was also the least complicated and most efficient to implement. The fact that Topsoe can deliver the integrated hydrogen unit along with the hydroprocessing unit was important for us as well. Finally, our visit to Topsoe’s R&D facilities emphasized to us that we are working with a world-leader in the field,” says Gary Louis, President and CEO, Seaboard Energy.

With HydroFlex, customers can convert low value feedstocks to renewable fuels that qualify for the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credit. The innovative HydroFlex process layout offers lower capital expenditure (CAPEX), but also a lower energy consumption during operation, resulting in a lower Carbon Index (CI). Topsoe’s HydroFlex can be deployed in both grassroots units and revamps for co-processing or stand-alone applications.

As MRC wrote before, in January, 2021, Haldor Topsoe technology was also selected for revamp to another renewable diesel production. The project will convert an existing hydrocracker for the production of low-carbon renewable diesel from soybean oil, resulting in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions compared to hydrocarbon diesel. The renewable diesel is expected to meet the ASTM D975 diesel specification and qualify for programs such as the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard.

We remind that earlier this month, US refiner Marathon Petroleum Corp said its board had approved the conversion of the Martinez refinery in California to a renewable diesel plant. Besides, the company made a final investment decision regarding this project. Martinez, once complete, will be one of the largest renewables facilities in the country.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 576,270 tonnes in the first three month of 2021, up by 4% year on year. Low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) shipments increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market totalled 410,890 tonnes in January-March 2021, up by 56% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased.

Haldor Topsoe is a global leader in supply of catalysts, technology, and services to the chemical and refining industries. Topsoe aims to be the global leader within carbon emission reduction technologies by 2024. By perfecting chemistry for a better world, we enable our customers to succeed in the transition towards renewable energy. Topsoe is headquartered in Denmark and serves customers around the globe.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Asahi Kasei has decided to discontinue its businesses for Polydurex and Polytlon acrylic latexes and for photocatalyst coating, and to close its Wakayama plant which manufactures these products, as per the company's press release.

Acrylic latex has been manufactured at the Wakayama plant since 1970 and supplied to customers around the world for 51 years, while photocatalyst coating has been manufactured at the same plant since 2009 and supplied in Japan for 12 years.

Recently, however, demand has declined especially in the domestic Japanese market, resulting in lower shipment volumes and diminished profitability. Although various efforts have been made to enable both businesses to continue, the decision was made to discontinue the businesses and to close the Wakayama plant considering the difficulty of devising a strategy for future expansion.

As MRC informed before, in July 2019, Asahi Kasei decided to expand its plant for the artificial suede LamousTM in Nobeoka, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, by four million m2/year, increasing the total production capacity to 14 million m2/year upon completion in 2021.

We remind that Asahi Kasei’s net profit for the fiscal year ending March 2021 slumped by 23.2%, weighed down by weakness in its materials business, and as the company booked a one-off loss for the period. The materials segment was hit by global economic deterioration amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Asahi Kasei Corporation is a multinational Japanese chemical company. Its main products are chemicals and materials science. It was founded in May 1931, using the paid in capital of Nobeoka Ammonia Fiber Co., Ltd, a Nobeoka, Miyazaki based producer of ammonia, nitric acid, and other chemicals. Now headquartered in Tokyo, with offices and plants across Japan, as well as China, Singapore, Thailand, USA and Germany.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- DuPont is to invest around USD 5 m at facilities in Germany and Switzerland to increase capacity for automotive adhesives, said Chemengonline.

The investment will expand capacity to support growing demand for advanced mobility solutions for vehicle electrification. New equipment has been delivered and installed that will increase manufacturing capacity as well as accelerate delivery of product samples to customers.

"As we see continued recovery of the global automotive market, we’re closely collaborating with our customers in Europe to deliver innovative advanced mobility solutions to meet their business needs,” said Tina Wu, Vice-President and General Manager, Advanced Solutions, DuPont Mobility & Materials. "This investment reinforces our commitment to increase capacity and accelerate growth in hybrid and fully-electric vehicles."

The facilities produce materials that assist in thermal management for electric batteries, bonding and structural adhesives for cars and batteries, and windshield adhesives.

This capacity increase in Europe follows recent announcements the company has made reinforcing its ability to produce and supply customers with advanced adhesives solutions in the Asia-Pacific region. DuPont Mobility & Materials business has manufacturing operations and R&D capabilities globally in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

It was erlier reported, DuPont is investing USD400 million in the production capacity of Tyvek nonwoven fabric made from high density polyethylene (HDPE) at its site in Luxembourg. A new building and a third work line at the production site will be constructed. The launch of new facilities is scheduled for 2021.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 576,270 tonnes in the first three month of 2021, up by 4% year on year. Low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) shipments increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market totalled 410,890 tonnes in January-March 2021, up by 56% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased.

The DuPont Corporation, founded in the USA in 1802, operates in more than 70 countries. The company produces specialty chemicals, offers goods and services for agriculture, food production, electronics, communications, security and protection, construction, transport and light industry. In Russia, DuPont has 100% control over the DuPont Khimprom plant since 2005, and in 2006 established a joint venture between DuPont - Russian Paints and Russian Paints.
MRC