Russian producers announce increases in February PE and PP prices

Russian producers announce increases in February PE and PP prices

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Contrary to many market participants' expectations, some Russian producers have announced an increase of Rb2,000-7,000/tonne from January in polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) prices for February deliveries, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

Spot PE and PP prices in the Russian market peaked in December, and all producers announced a price reduction of Rb5,000-10,000/tonne for January shipments. On the back of weak demand and oversupply in January, many converters expected further price cuts for February deliveries as well. But contrary to their expectations, on Tuesday, some producers announced a price increase of Rb2,000-7,000/tonne depending on the polymer.

Butene linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE C4) accounted for the greatest price rise in the PE segment, prices of polymer with melt flow index (MFI) went up by Rb7,000/tonne from January. High density polyethylene (HDPE) prices grew by Rb2,000-3,000/tonne, whereas low density polyethylene (LDPE) prices virtually remained unchanged, with shrinkable film LDPE being the exception.

Prices of propylene homopolymers (homopolymer PP) rose by Rb5,000/tonne, and prices of propylene copolymers - by Rb2,000-3,000/tonne.

The increase in PE and PP prices is partially caused by the current depreciation of the rouble against the dollar and the euro.
MRC

Ineos Styrolution gets ISCC certification for two petrochemical sites in Belgium and Germany

Ineos Styrolution gets ISCC certification for two petrochemical sites in Belgium and Germany

MOSCOW (MRC) -- INEOS Styrolution (Frankfurt, Germany), a global leader in styrenics, has announced that two of its European production sites, namely Antwerp, Belgium and Ludwigshafen, Germany have received the ISCC PLUS certification from ISCC (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification), according to Chemical Engineering.

The certification announced paves the way for the audited production of recycling- and bio-attributed styrenics materials using a mass balance approach.

The ISCC PLUS certificate for Antwerp addresses bio-attributed and recycled-attributed ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), SBC (styrene-butadiene copolymers) and polystyrene (PS).

The respective certificate for Ludwigshafen addresses bio-attributed and recycled-attributed SMMA (styrene methyl methacrylate), SAN (styrene acrylonitrile copolymer) and ABS.

This announcement follows a recent announcement for ISCC PLUS certification of several INEOS Styrolution sites in the Americas. Further certifications for other European INEOS Styrolution production sites are expected soon.

Dr. Eike Jahnke, Vice President Specialties EMEA comments: “We are excited to receive the ISCC PLUS certifications since we will now be able to offer our customers sustainable styrenics solutions that meet all the stringent ISCC requirements. I am looking forward to having sustainable ECO solutions for our broad range of styrenics Specialty products.”

ISCC is an independent multi-stakeholder organization providing a globally applicable certification system for the sustainability of raw materials and products. It has been developed to meet the high demands regarding the implementation of environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable production.

As MRC reported earlier, in August 2021, INEOS Styrolution joined the US Plastics Pact in their support for collaborative, solution-driven initiatives intended to drive significant system change in the design, use, and reuse of plastics. The US Plastic Pact unites cross-sector approaches, setting a national strategy, and creating scalable solutions to create a path forward toward a circular economy for plastics in the United States by 2025.

We remind that in April 2021, INEOS Styrolution, Recycling Technologies and Trinseo announced that they had reached a significant milestone in their plans to build commercial polystyrene (PS) recycling plants in Europe. Recycling Technologies has been selected as the technology partner.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's overall estimated consumption of PS and styrene plastics was 518,560 tonnes in January-November 2021, up by 14% year on year. November estimated consumption of PS and styrene plastics rose by 7% year on year, totalling 48,620 tonnes.

INEOS Styrolution is the leading global styrenics supplier, with a focus on styrene monomer, polystyrene, ABS Standard and styrenic specialties. With world-class production facilities and more than 90 years of experience, INEOS Styrolution helps its customers succeed by offering solutions, designed to give them a competitive edge in their markets. At the same time, these innovative and sustainable best-in-class solutions help make the circular economy for styrenics a reality. The company provides styrenic applications for many everyday products across a broad range of industries, including automotive, electronics, household, construction, healthcare, packaging and toys/sports/leisure. In 2020, sales were at 4 billion euros. INEOS Styrolution employs approximately 3,600 people and operates 20 production sites in ten countries.
MRC

PE imports to Russia dropped by 6% in 2021

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of polyethylene (PE) into Russia decreased by 6% year on year to 602,500 tonnes in January-December 2021.
High density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) accounted for the greatest decrease in imports, according to MRC's DataScope report.

December LLDPE imports practically remained at the previous month's level and were slightly over 57,900 tonnes. Overall imports of ethylene polymers totalled 602,500 tonnes in 2021, compared to 638,700 tonnes a year earlier. HDPE and LLDPE accounted for the main reduction in imports, whereas shipments of ethylene copolymers and low density polyethylene (LDPE) increased.

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

December HDPE imports rose to 26,400 tonnes from 24,800 tonnes a month earlier, PE shipments from Europe an Uzbekistan increased.
Overall HDPE imports in the country grew to 229,100 tonnes in 2021, down by 11% year on year. Film grade and blow moulding HDPE accounted for the main reduction in shipments.

Last month's LDPE imports did not exceed 11,000 tonnes, whereas this figure was at 10,600 tonnes in November. Shipments from Belarus grew. Overall LDPE imports to Russia reached 120,700 tonnes in 2021, up by 8% year on year.

December LLDPE imports reached 12,400 tonnes, compared to 13,400 tonnes a month earlier, purchases of film grade PE in South Korea and Saudi Arabia decreased. Overall LLDPE imports totalled 147,400 tonnes in 2021, down by 14% year on year.


Last month, external deliveries of other ethylene polymers, including ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), amounted to 8,100 tonnes against 8,900 tonnes in November. Overall imports of other ethylene polymers reached 97,200 tonnes over the stated period versus 89,500 tonnes a year earlier.

MRC

PetroChina-invested new crude unit in Guangdong province to start up in Q1 2022

PetroChina-invested new crude unit in Guangdong province to start up in Q1 2022

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Jieyang Petrochemical, part of Asia's largest oil and gas producer- PetroChina, may begin trial runs at its greenfield 400,000-bpd plant in southern Guangdong province in the third quarter of 2022, reported Reuters with reference to market sources.

PetroChina didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

As MRC informed previously, PetroChina, Asia's largest oil and gas producer,aims to have oil, gas and green energies to each account for a third of its portfolio by 2035, as the Chinese oil major shifts toward a lower-carbon future.

We remind that in August, 2021, PetroChina Liaoyang Petrochemical Co Ltd , part of PetroChina, successfully started up its new polypropylene (PP) plant last week. Based in Liaoning City, Liaoyang Province, China, the new PP plant has a production capacity of 300,000 tons/year.

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.

PetroChina Company Limited, is a Chinese oil and gas company and is the listed arm of state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation, headquartered in Dongcheng District, Beijing. It is China's biggest oil producer.
MRC

Phillips 66 reports Q4 2021 financial results

Phillips 66 reports Q4 2021 financial results

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Phillips 66, a diversified energy manufacturing and logistics company, announces fourth-quarter 2021 earnings of USD1.3 billion, compared with earnings of USD402 million in the third quarter of 2021, as per the company's press release.

Excluding special items of USD25 million, the company had adjusted earnings of USD1.3 billion in the fourth quarter, compared with third-quarter adjusted earnings of USD1.4 billion.

Midstream fourth-quarter 2021 pre-tax income was USD593 million, compared with USD629 million in the third quarter of 2021. Midstream results in the fourth quarter included asset retirement costs of USD70 million related to the shutdown of the Alliance Refinery in connection with plans to convert it to a terminal, USD4 million of hurricane-related costs and USD1 million of pension settlement expense. Third-quarter results included a USD10 million impairment and USD3 million of pension settlement expense.

Transportation fourth-quarter adjusted pre-tax income was USD273 million, compared with USD254 million, mainly reflecting the recognition of deferred revenue.

NGL and Other adjusted pre-tax income was USD284 million in the fourth quarter, compared with USD357 million in the third quarter. The decrease was primarily due to lower unrealized investment gains related to NOVONIX Ltd., partially offset by inventory impacts. The increase in value of the company’s investment in NOVONIX was USD146 million in the fourth quarter, compared with USD224 million in the third quarter.

The company’s equity investment in DCP Midstream, LLC generated fourth-quarter adjusted pre-tax income of USD111 million, an USD80 million increase from the prior quarter. The increase was mainly driven by favorable hedging impacts.

The Chemicals segment reflects Phillips 66’s equity investment in Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC (CPChem). Chemicals fourth-quarter 2021 pre-tax income was USD436 million, compared with USD631 million in the third quarter of 2021. Chemicals results in the fourth quarter included a USD14 million benefit from insurance proceeds associated with winter-storm-related damages, partially offset by a USD2 million reduction to equity earnings for pension settlement expense. Third-quarter results included a USD2 million reduction to equity earnings for pension settlement expense and USD1 million of hurricane-related repair costs.

CPChem’s Olefins and Polyolefins (O&P) business contributed USD405 million of adjusted pre-tax income in the fourth quarter, compared with USD613 million in the third quarter. The USD208 million decrease was primarily due to lower polyethylene margins, reduced sales volumes, as well as increased utility costs. Global O&P utilization was 97% for the quarter.

CPChem’s Specialties, Aromatics and Styrenics (SA&S) business contributed fourth-quarter adjusted pre-tax income of USD36 million, compared with USD37 million in the third quarter.

Refining had fourth-quarter 2021 pre-tax income of USD346 million, compared with a pre-tax loss of USD1.1 billion in the third quarter of 2021. Refining results in the fourth quarter included USD122 million of asset retirement and exit costs related to the shutdown of the Alliance Refinery in connection with plans to convert it to a terminal, as well as USD30 million of hurricane-related costs and USD5 million of pension settlement expense. These costs were partially offset by an USD88 million reduction in estimated RIN obligations for the 2020 compliance year and other tax benefits of USD11 million. Third-quarter results included a USD1.3 billion impairment of the Alliance Refinery, USD12 million of pension settlement expense and USD10 million of hurricane-related costs.

Refining had adjusted pre-tax income of USD404 million in the fourth quarter, compared with adjusted pre-tax income of USD184 million in the third quarter. The increase was primarily due to higher realized margins and improved volumes, partially offset by higher costs. Fourth-quarter realized margins were USD11.60 per barrel, up from USD8.57 per barrel. Impacts from lower market crack spreads were more than offset by lower RIN costs from a reduction in the estimated 2021 compliance year obligation and lower RIN prices, as well as favorable inventory impacts and improved clean product differentials.

Pre-tax turnaround costs for the fourth quarter were USD106 million, compared with third-quarter costs of USD81 million. Crude utilization rate was 90% and clean product yield was 86% in the fourth quarter.

Phillips 66 generated USD1.8 billion in cash from operations in the fourth quarter of 2021, including cash distributions from equity affiliates of USD757 million. Excluding working capital impacts, operating cash flow was USD1.4 billion.

During the quarter, Phillips 66 funded $597 million of capital expenditures and investments, paid USD403 million in dividends and repaid USD450 million of floating rate senior notes due 2024. Additionally, Phillips 66 closed its public offering of USD1 billion in senior unsecured notes due 2052 and used the proceeds to redeem USD1 billion in senior notes due April 2022.

In 2021, Phillips 66 generated USD6.0 billion in cash from operations, funded USD1.9 billion in capital expenditures, distributed USD1.6 billion to shareholders and paid down USD1.5 billion in debt.

As of Dec. 31, 2021, Phillips 66 had USD8.8 billion of liquidity, reflecting USD3.1 billion of cash and cash equivalents and approximately USD5.7 billion of total committed capacity under revolving credit facilities. Consolidated debt was USD14.4 billion at Dec. 31, 2021, including USD3.9 billion at Phillips 66 Partners. The company’s consolidated debt-to-capital ratio was 40% and its net debt-to-capital ratio was 34%.

As MRC reported earlier, in December 2021, Six Pines Investments LLC, a wholly-owned, sustainable investment subsidiary of CPChem, announced its equity investment in two leading circular plastics recyclers, Nexus Circular LLC (Nexus) and Mura Technology Ltd. (Mura).

We remintd that Chevron Phillips Chemical will make a final investment decision on a new cracker in far southeast Texas in 2022, followed by an FID in 2023 on an USD8 billion joint venture petrochemical complex along the US Gulf Coast in 2023, said Phillips 66 CEO Greg Garland in early August.

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 2,265,290 tonnes in the first eleven months of 2021, up by 14% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, 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.

Phillips 66 is a diversified energy manufacturing and logistics company. With a portfolio of Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties businesses, the company processes, transports, stores and markets fuels and products globally. Headquartered in Houston, the company has 14,000 employees committed to safety and operating excellence. Phillips 66 had USD56 billion of assets as of Dec. 31, 2021.
MRC