Solvay introduces new next-generation shortstop inhibitor solution for safer acrylic monomer transportation and storage

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Solvay has developed Phenothiazine LVT 2330, a next-generation shortstop inhibitor solution available globally and designed to protect against runaway polymerization of acrylic and methacrylic acids, esters and other monomers in bulk storage facilities, transportation tanks and containers, as per the company's press release.

A runaway polymerization is potentially hazardous due to the reaction becoming uncontrollable and the heat that it produces may lead to a fire or an explosion or rupture of closed storage and transport containers. This uncontrolled polymerization can place people, property and the environment at significant risk.

Solvay’s Phenothiazine LVT 2330 is safer to handle than NMP containing solutions and it also has a lower freezing point, which is highly advantageous for facilities and transport in colder climates. Also, the high active PTZ concentration of Phenothiazine LVT 2330 permits deployment and storage of the efficient and economic shortstop in both large and small installations.

“We see a great market potential for this pioneering shortstop inhibitor with a non-toxic and non-volatile solvent for the acrylics markets in North America and Europe, where chemical toxicity is of increasing concern to the industry and authorities,” said Lars Fischer, Worldwide Technical Market Manager at Solvay. “However, Asia offers the greatest potential where shortstop inhibitors were not standard and have only recently been more widely accepted and used to help reduce the risk of accidents.”

As MRC reported earlier, in August, 2020, through the acquisition of the Solvay polyamide (PA) business, BASF enhanced its R&D capabilities in Asia Pacific with new technologies, technical expertise, and upgraded material and part testing services. BASF is planning to integrate the R&D centers from Solvay into its R&D existing facilities in Shanghai, China, and Seoul, Korea. The enhanced capabilities will boost BASF’s position as a solution provider to develop advanced material solutions for key industries.

We remind that Russia's output of chemical products rose in March 2021 by 5.4% year on year. Thus, production of basic chemicals increased year on year by 6.7% in the first quarter of 2021, according to Rosstat's data. production of polymers in primary form was 958,000 tonnes versus 861,000 tonnes in February. Overall output of polymers in primary form totalled 2,740,000 tonnes in the first three months of 2021, up by 8.5% year on year.

Solvay is a science company whose technologies bring benefits to many aspects of daily life. With more than 24,100 employees in 64 countries, Solvay bonds people, ideas and elements to reinvent progress. The Group seeks to create sustainable shared value for all, notably through its Solvay One Planet plan crafted around three pillars: protecting the climate, preserving resources and fostering better life. The Group’s innovative solutions contribute to safer, cleaner, and more sustainable products found in homes, food and consumer goods, planes, cars, batteries, smart devices, health care applications, water and air purification systems. Founded in 1863, Solvay today ranks among the world’s top three companies for the vast majority of its activities.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- LyondellBasell, the world's largest polyolefins producer, has shut its Equistar Chemicals polypropylene (PP) plant in Lake Charles, Louisiana, following a lightning strike, reported S&P Global with reference to LyondellBasell's statement July 16.

The lightning strike occurred July 13, LyondellBasell said in a letter to customers obtained by S&P Global.

"This unforeseen event caused utilities outages and a shutdown of all plant production lines," the company said. "We are currently evaluating the overall impact to the plant and are working towards restart; however, at this time, we do not have a complete timeline for startup."

There could be an update on operations by close of business on July 20, LyondellBassell said.

The plant has nameplate capacity totaling 509,000 mt/year of PP.

A LyondellBasell spokeswoman decline further comment.

As MRC informed before, LBI reported an equipment failure at its La Porte linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) plant, which forced the company to shut down the 355,000 tons/year unit without a return schedule, according to the company's official letter to its customers on 17 June 2021.

According to MR''s ScanPlast report, PP shipments to the Russian market were 607,8900 tonnes in January-May 2021, up by 33% year on year. Shipments of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased, whereas deliveries of PP random copolymers decreased.

LyondellBasell is one of the largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies in the world. Driven by its 13,000 employees around the globe, LyondellBasell produces materials and products that are key to advancing solutions to modern challenges like enhancing food safety through lightweight and flexible packaging, protecting the purity of water supplies through stronger and more versatile pipes, and improving the safety, comfort and fuel efficiency of many of the cars and trucks on the road. LyondellBasell sells products into approximately 100 countries and is the world's largest licensor of polyolefin technologies.
MRC

1. US Jan-Apr caustic soda exports drop by 2.4%

MOSCOW (MRC) -- US caustic soda exports in the first four months of 2021 declined nearly 2.4% compared with January-April 2020, reflecting continued fallout from production shutdowns forced by a deep freeze that hit the US Gulf Coast and much of the US in mid-February, reported S&P Global with reference to the latest US International Trade Commission (ITC) data. The US shipped out 1.878 million mt of caustic soda in the January-April period, down from 1.92 million mt in the year-ago span, the data showed. US chlor-alkali rates plunged to 59% in February, from 83% in January, when sustained subfreezing temperatures forced widespread petrochemical plant shutdowns, according to industry statistics. Caustic soda supply had been seen long before the freeze, but sudden shutdowns tightened supply. After the freeze, caustic soda demand that had been sluggish since mid-2019 began rebounding as buyers sought to boost low inventories and growth in US COVID-19 vaccination rates spurred more economic activity.


MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Yanbu National Petrochemical Company (Yansab), part of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic), plans to restart its cracker on 23 July, 2021, after an unplanned repairs, reported Agraam with reference to the company's statement in a bourse filing.

The cracker in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, which can produce 1.38 mln mt/year of ethylene and 400,000 mt/year of propylene, was temporary shut on 11 July, 2021, due to technical issues.

The petrochemical producer is currently working on repairs and necessary maintenance. Thus, the shutdown is expected to continue for 12 days.

As MRC reported earlier, in 2021, the company conducted a scheduled turnaround at this cracker from 5 to 15 February.

The company also has polyolefin plants at the same site with production capacity of 400,000 tons/year of polypropylene (PP), high density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) each. They were also taken off-line for maintenance at the same period as the cracker.

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 953,400 tonnes in the first five months of 2021, which virtually corresponded to the same figure a year earlier. High denisty polyethylene (HDPE) shipments decreased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 607,8900 tonnes in January-May 2021, up by 33% year on year. Shipments of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased, whereas deliveries of PP random copolymers decreased.

Yansab is the most recent SABIC, (Saudi Basic Industries Corp), affiliate in Saudi Arabia, and will be the largest Sabic petrochemical complex. It will have an annual capacity exceeding 4 million metric tons (MT) of petrochemical products including: 1.3 million MT (metric-tons) of ethylene; 400,000 MT of propylene; 900,000 MT of polyethylene; 400,000 MT of polypropylene; 700,000 MT of ethylene glycol; 250,000 MT of benzene, xylene and toluene, and 100,000 MT of butene-1 and butene-2.

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) ranks among the world's top petrochemical companies. The company is among the world's market leaders in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene and other advanced thermoplastics, glycols, methanol and fertilizers.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Crude oil futures declined during the mid-morning trade in Asia July 19, as the market participants were concerned over a rise in supply following an OPEC+ deal to an impending increase in production quotas, while the rapid spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus raised worries about the re-imposition of demand-sapping mobility restrictions, reported S&P Global.

At 10:53 am Singapore time (0253 GMT), the ICE September Brent futures contract was down USD1.20/b (1.63%) from the previous close at USD72.39/b, while the NYMEX August light sweet crude contract was down USD1.14/b (1.59%) at USD70.67/b.

"A cocktail of bearish factors are causing the fall in prices we are

The OPEC+ producer group, on July 18, reached a deal to increase its production quotas by 400,000 b/d each month starting in August, amounting to a 2 million b/d total increase by the end of the year. The agreement also involved an extension of the coalition's supply management pact through to 2022.

The OPEC+ resolution puts an end to an acrimonious spat between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which had arisen after the UAE had objected to Saudi Arabia's plan to tie OPEC+ production increases to a lengthening of the supply management pact, insisting that its baseline production level, from which its quota is determined, be raised first.

In an appeasement to the UAE, the country will receive a 332,000 b/d boost to its reference production level, from which quotas are determined, starting in May 2022. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and Russia will also be granted 500,000 b/d baseline increases, with Iraq and Kuwait getting 150,000 b/d rises.

While the compromise has brought more clarity to the supply-side of the equation in the market, it has failed to alleviate concerns of a potential breakdown in OPEC+ unity.

Meanwhile, analysts also said that the rapid spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus has also soured sentiment in the market, as countries around the world consider tightening or have tightened mobility restrictions.

As MRC informed earlier, OPEC stuck to its forecast for a strong recovery in world oil demand in the rest of 2021 and predicted oil use would rise in 2022 at similar to pre-pandemic rates, led by growth in the United States, China and India.

We remind that China's crude oil imports fell 3% from January to June versus a year earlier, in the first first-half contraction since 2013, as an import quota shortage, refinery maintenance and rising global prices curbed buying. Imports totalled 40.14 million tonnes last month, data released by the General Administration of Customs showed on Tuesday, equivalent to 9.77 million barrels per day (bpd).

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 953,400 tonnes in the first five months of 2021, which virtually corresponded to the same figure a year earlier. High denisty polyethylene (HDPE) shipments decreased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 607,8900 tonnes in January-May 2021, up by 33% year on year. Shipments of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased, whereas deliveries of PP random copolymers decreased.
MRC