PVC imports to Russia up by 44% in 2021, exports down by 5%

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) into Russia totalled about 64,500 tonnes in 2021, up by 44% year on year. At the same time, exports decreased by 5%, according to MRC's DataScope report.

December SPVC imports to Russia increased to 4,400 tonnes from 4,300 tonnes in November. A slight increase in supplies accounted for producers from South Korea and Uzbekistan.

Total PVC imports in the country were 64,500 tonnes in January-December 2021, compared with 44,800 tonnes year on year, the share of producers from China amounted to 85%.
Since the end of the third quarter, some Russian producers have significantly increased their export sales. 9,100 tonnes were shipped to foreign markets in December (excluding deliveries to the countries of the Customs Union) versus 13,600 tonnes a month earlier.

Overall exports were 184,300 tonnes in January-December 2021 versus 195,000 tonnes a year earlier.


MRC

BASF and Innospec partner to bring increased value to ethanol producers

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF Enzymes LLC and Innospec Fuel Specialities LLC have entered into a distribution agreement to increase the overall value to the customers and to show their commitment to the ethanol yield industry, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.

As part of this collaboration, BASF will be the distributor of DCI-11 Plus ClearTrak - a concentrated corrosion inhibitor - to ethanol plants located within the United States.

“We are excited to partner with Innospec and to add an industry leading technology to our enzyme and chemistry portfolio. This partnership allows BASF to broaden our portfolio and offer DCI-11 Plus ClearTrak along with our industry leading Sales and Technical Support,” said Jeffrey Carver, Sales Manager, BASF Enzymes LLC.

As MRC reported earlier, Air Liquide and BASF plan to develop world largest cross-border CCS value chain. The goal is to significantly reduce CO2 emissions at the industrial cluster in the port of Antwerp. The joint project Kairos@C has been selected for funding by the European Commission through its Innovation Fund, as one of the seven large-scale projects out of more than 300 applications.

We remind that BASF aims is to electrify its production processes for basic chemicals, which are currently based on fossil fuels.

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 1,868,160 tonnes in the first nine months of 2021, up by 18% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 1,138,510 tonnes in the first nine months of 2021, up by 30% year on year. Supply of propylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of injection moulding PP random copolymers decreased significantly.

BASF is the leading chemical company. It produces a wide range of chemicals, for example solvents, amines, resins, glues, electronic-grade chemicals, industrial gases, basic petrochemicals and inorganic chemicals. The most important customers for this segment are the pharmaceutical, construction, textile and automotive industries.
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Evonik launches new latest generation plasticizer for durable products

Evonik launches new latest generation plasticizer for durable products

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Evonik has launched another latest generation plasticizer, the ELATUR DINCD, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The new product, a cyclohexanoate, is characterized by a combination of much sought-after properties, such as excellent low-temperature flexibility, and high UV resistance; thus contributing significantly to the weather resistance and durability of the products made from it. ELATUR DINCD is easy to process due to its low viscosity and is particularly suitable for demanding exterior and interior applications, such as textile fabrics, roofing membranes, floor coverings, adhesives and sealants, as well as paints and coatings.

This portfolio expansion is part of Evonik's long-term strategy to expand its portfolio of plasticizers, based on specific customer needs.

"The addition of ELATUR DINCD to our portfolio ideally complements our existing and proven product family," says Dr. Janina Fischer, Director Marketing Plasticizers, who is responsible for marketing the new plasticizer. "Our customers' needs are as diverse as ours. We can now offer them an even wider range of products from which to choose the one that best suits their individual requirements."

The portfolio expansion strengthens the Group's global business with innovative plasticizers: Evonik has offered ELATUR CH, another new-generation plasticizer, in addition to VESTINOL 9 since 2013. As a fast fuser for special PVC applications, ELATUR DPT completes the portfolio and is particularly effective in combination with ELATUR CH.

The new product is to be manufactured at the Group's largest site in Marl. An initial production campaign for the new plasticizer ELATUR DINCD has already been successfully carried out. Production will be expanded step by step, in response to market demand.

As MRC reported before, Evonik is investing a three-digit million-euro sum in the construction of a new production plant for bio-based and fully biodegradable rhamnolipids. The decision to build the plant follows a breakthrough in Evonik's research and development. Rhamnolipids are biosurfactants and serve as active ingredients in shower gels and detergents. Demand for environ-mentally friendly surfactants is growing rapidly worldwide.

We remind that in February, 2020, Dow and Evonik entered into an exclusive technology partnership. Together, they plan to bring a unique method for directly synthesizing propylene glycol (PG) from propylene and hydrogen peroxide to market maturity.

Propylene is the main feedstock for the production of polypropylene (PP).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, PP shipments to the Russian market were 1,363,850 tonnes in January-November, 2021, up by 25% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of injection moulding PP random copolymers decreased significantly.

Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The company is active in more than 100 countries around the world and generated sales of EUR12.2 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of EUR1.91 billion in 2020. Evonik goes far beyond chemistry to create innovative, profitable and sustainable solutions for customers. About 33,000 employees work together for a common purpose: to improve life today and tomorrow.
MRC

New rules for the sale of packages in stores will come into force in Ukraine in February

MOSCOW (MRC) -- On February 1, the norms of the law on limiting the circulation of plastic bags, which involve the sale of large bags at established minimum prices, come into force in Ukraine, Finance.ua reports.

Now, in stores, catering establishments and services, packages for packaging or transportation will be sold at prices starting from 2 hryvnia. We are talking about large plastic bags in the form of a sleeve with a bottom and an open mouth with walls more than 50 micrometers thick.

The minimum prices, according to the decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of December 20, will be:
UAH2 - for a package without handles and side folds;
UAH2.5 - a package without handles, but with side folds or with handles without side folds;
UAH3 - a package with handles and side folds.

At the same time, shops can sell packages more expensive, but not cheaper, than the government has set.

The next phase of the law will take effect in the spring of 2022. “From March 10, the distribution of ultra-thin (with walls less than 15 micrometers thick), thin (with walls from 15 to 50 micrometers) and oxo-degradable plastic bags in stores and catering establishments will be prohibited,” wrote Kyiv City Council deputy Konstantin Yalovy.

The indicated packages and “t-shirts” are now sold in Ukraine mainly for 10 kopecks. a piece. Their free distribution is prohibited from December 10, 2021.

As MRC reported, according to the UN, about 80 countries have already banned disposable bags. In October last year, the European Parliament, as part of the fight against pollution of the oceans, voted to ban single-use plastic products - disposable tableware, drinking straws, thin plastic bags and others. In July this year, the Republic of Belarus also began to consider the issue of banning free plastic bags in stores and limiting the use of disposable plastic tableware in catering establishments.

According to a MRC's DataScope report, last month's PE imports to Ukraine were 30,500 tonnes versus 26,400 tonnes in November, local companies raised their purchasing of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE). Thus, overall PE imports reached 177,300 tonnes in 2021, compared to 165,900 tonnes a year earlier. Only HDPE imports decreased, whereas imports of other PE grades increased. The structure of PE imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period.
MRC

PepsiCo to eliminate virgin plastics from crisp packets by 2030

MOSCOW (MRC) -- PepsiCo Europe will cease using virgin fossil-based plastic in crisp and chip bags and switch to a mix of recycled and bio-based polymers by 2030, said the company.

PepsiCo has committed to eliminating virgin fossil-based plastics across all of its European brands of crisps and chip bags by 2030. This will apply to well-known brands such as Lay’s, Doritos and Walkers. Consumer trials of the new packaging will begin later this year. The recycled content in the packs will be derived from previously used plastic and the renewable content will come from by-products of plants such as used cooking oil or waste from paper pulp.

According to PepsiCo, the change in packaging could deliver an emissions reduction of up to 40% per tonne of packaging material. PepsiCo Europe’s chief executive Silviu Popovici said: “Flexible packaging recycling should be the norm across Europe. We see a future where our bags will be free of virgin fossil-based plastic.

"They will be part of a thriving circular economy where flexible packaging is valued and can be recycled as a new packet. We’re investing with our partners to build technological capacity to do that. We now need an appropriate regulatory landscape in place so that packaging never becomes waste."

The new packaging forms part of PepsiCo’s Making Bags Better initiative that focuses on improving the recyclability of flexible plastics across Europe. The new bags will use more plastics that PepsiCo believes are easier to recycle, like Polypropylene. The company claims that the new designers meet guidelines from the Circular Economy for Flexible Packaging (CEFLEX).

More broadly, PepsiCo is working to reduce virgin plastic usage by 50% per serving by 2030.

Earlier it was reported that Frito Lay Manufacturing LLC (a division of PepsiCo) on August 28, 2019 put into operation the fifth line for the production of snacks at its plant in the city of Azov, Rostov Region, worth more than 400 million rubles.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, PP shipments to the Russian market were 1,363,850 tonnes in January-November, 2021, up by 25% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of injection moulding PP random copolymers decreased significantly.

MRC