Arkema appointed Megafarma as its exclusive distributor for coating applications in Mexico

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Arkema Inc., a manufacturer of specialty polyamide coating additives, has appointed Megafarma, the Mexican affiliate of Azelis Americas, LLC as its exclusive distributor for coating applications in Mexico, effective Jan. 1, 2022, said the company.

The Orgasol and Rilsan® D polyamide products are high performance coating additives designed for liquid and UV coatings. Based on Arkema’s specialty polyamide chemistries and proprietary processing, these additives improve multiple performance aspects of coating formulations such as abrasion, stain and chemical resistance while also providing gloss control and texture. These advanced materials are utilized extensively across a wide range of high performance market segments including coil, wood, flooring, automotive, electronics and transfer paper. The Orgasol® product line includes polyamide 6, polyamide 12 and polyamide 612 powders and are designed with an exceptionally narrow particle size distribution. The range of polyamide 11 powders is marketed under the Rilsan® trademark, a completely bio-circular polymer derived from renewable and sustainable castor oil.

"Since 2016, the Azelis team has done a terrific job promoting these products in Canada,” said Steve Serpe, North American market manager at Arkema Inc. “The technical and commercial expertise of the Megafarma team ideally positions them to penetrate the high performance coatings industry in Mexico."

Arkema recently commissioned a new production line for Orgasol® polyamide powders at the Mont plant in France, increasing its global capacity by over 50 percent to support the increased market demand for these materials in fast-growing industrial applications.

As per MRC, Arkema is further increasing its fluoropolymer production capacities in Changshu, China, by 35% in 2022. The increase in capacity is scheduled to come on stream before the end of 2022, the company said in a statement. Financial and overall capacity details of the expansion project were not disclosed.

As per MRC, Arkema has brought on stream new Kynar PVDF capacities in its Calvert-City plant in the United States. With this 20% increase in its US production capacities, Arkema will further support its customers’ strong demand in the region. Through this investment and following the successful start-up of a similar expansion at its Changshu, China plant in 2017, Arkema, which operates fluoropolymer production facilities on the three major continents - Europe, North America, and Asia, further consolidates its world-leading position in PVDF.

Arkema is one of the world's leading chemical manufacturers headquartered in Colombes (near Paris, France). Founded in 2004 as a result of the restructuring of the French oil company Total, Arkema, with a turnover of EUR6.5 billion, has operations in 40 countries, 10 research centers around the world, and 85 factories in Europe, North America and Asia.
MRC

1. Crude oil prices rise on consumer demand, inventory declines

MOSCOW (MRC) -- :Oil prices edged higher on Wednesday, rebounding from early losses after US inventory data showed strong consumer demand and as the Federal Reserve said it would end its pandemic-era bond purchases in March to slow rising inflation, reported Reuters. Prices had been pressured most of the day due to ongoing concerns that supply growth will outpace demand next year and worries that COVID-19 vaccines may be less effective against the spreading Omicron variant. Brent crude futures settled up 18 cents, or 0.2%, to USD73.88 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude ended up 14 cents to USD70.87 a barrel. The Federal Reserve said it would end its pandemic-era bond purchases in March and begin raising interest rates as unemployment remains low and inflation has risen.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Polyethylene (PE) imports into Kazakhstan fell in the first ten months of 2021 by 15% year on year to 131,500 tonnes. At the same time, high density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) accounted for the decrease in shipments, said MRC analysts.

October PE imports to Kazakhstan reached 14,000 tonnes versus 12,100 tonnes a month earlier, Russian producers and Uzbek manufacturer increased their PE shipments to the local market after scheduled shutdowns for maintenance. Overall PE imports totalled 131,500 tonnes in January-October 2021, compared to 154,000 tonnes a year earlier. Purchases of low density polyethylene (LDPE) grew significantly, whereas HDPE and LLDPE imports decreased.

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

October HDPE imports rose to 10,500 tonnes from 9,900 tonnes, Uzbek producers increased their export sales. Overall HDPE imports totalled almost 103,800 tonnes in the first ten months of 2021, down by 19% year on year.

October LDPE imports grew to 2,600 tonnes from 1,300 tonnes a month earlier, a Russian producer raised its shipments to the local market after a turnaround. Overall LDPE imports reached 18,700 tonnes over the stated period, up by 18% year on year.

October LLDPE imports virtually remained at the previous month's level and were slightly over 900 tonnes. Overall LLDPE imports reached 9,000 tonnes in January-October 2021, down by 17% year on year.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- MEGlobal has announced its Asian Contract Price (ACP) for monoethylene glycol (MEG) to be shipped in January 2022, according to the company's press release.

Thus, on 14 December, the company said ACP for MEG would be at USD850/MT CFR Asian main ports for arrival in January 2022, down by USD50/tonne from the previous month.

The January 2022 ACP reflects the short term supply/demand situation in the Asian market.

As MRC reported earlier, MEGlobal announced its December ACP for MEG at USD900/MT CFR Asian main ports, down by USD120/tonne from November.

MEG is one of the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

According to ICIS-MRC Price report, next month's contract prices of PET chips are expected to fall down in the Russian domestic market on lower Asian prices, on the basis of which PET prices are calculated for the vast majority of formula customers. However, appreciation of the dollar against the rouble will significantly reduce the amount of the decrease.

MEGlobal is a fully integrated supplier of monoethylene glycol (MEG) and diethylene glycol (DEG), collectively known as ethylene glycol (EG).
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - Imports of polypropylene (PP) in Kazakhstan grew to 37,300 tonnes in first ten months of this year, up 12% compared to the same period of 2020. PP exports increased more significantly by 34%, reported MRC analysts.

October PP shipments to Kazakhstan grew to 3,600 tonnes from 4,600 tonnes a month earlier, local converters increased their purchasing of homopolymer PP in Russia. Overall PP imports into the country exceeded 37,300 tonnes in the first ten months of the year, compared to 33,300 tonnes a year earlier.

At the same time, the stable operation of the local producer during this period of time allowed to increase export sales of polypropylene by almost one and a half times. October imports of homopolymer PP and propylene copolymers increased to 2,300 tonnes and 1,300 tonnes, respectively, versus over 3,800 tonnes and 800 tonnes a month earlier, local companies significantly increased their PP purchases in Russia, while purchases of homopolymer PP declined.

Overall imports of homopolymer PP and propylene copolymers reached 26,500 tonnes and 10,800 tons, respectively, in January-October 2020, compared to 26,300 tonnes and 7,000 tonnes a year earlier. The October volume of PP exports from Kazakhstan fell to 800 tonnes against 6,000 tonnes a month earlier, such a significant drop was due to both a scheduled maintenance works of a local producer and a decrease in demand.

Kazakhstan's PP exports over the first ten months increased to 26,500 tonnes, whereas this figure was 19,800 tonnes a year earlier.
About 92% of total exports accounted for Russia.


MRC