Polyplastics selects Toyo for its POM plant in China

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Toyo Engineering Corporation has been awarded the project to construct a polyacetal (POM) plant in Nantong, China from a newly established Chinese subsidiary of Polyplastics Co., Ltd, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Upon the high demand of POM in the market of China and Asia, Polyplastics Co., Ltd has decided to invest for the new construction of POM plant in China. Toyo’s extensive experience in China, and established performance led to receiving the order from the client.

Toyo intends to continuously support the customer’s investment in China, especially for the petrochemical, specialty chemicals products and fine chemicals fields.

As MRC reported earlier, in January 2021, Toyo Engineering and SCG Chemicals in Thailand entered into a MOU relating to the joint collaboration for improving the process of turning mixed post-consumer plastics into recycled feedstock for petrochemical businesses. The process is owned by Circular Plas (CirPlas), which SCG Chemicals hold a 60% stake. CirPlas has already operated the demonstration plant for the advanced recycling process in Rayong province, Thailand.

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.
MRC

1. Evergreen acquires two more PET recycling plants and expands capacities to meet stronger demand

MOSCOW (MRC) -- To meet growing demand, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) reclaimer Evergreen has recently bought a pair of facilities and added another extruder to an expansion project, according to Plastics Recysling Update. A plastics recycling and manufacturing company owned by The Sterling Group, Evergreen had a single facility in Clyde, Ohio in January 2021. It bought CarbonLite’s first PET recycling facility in Riverside, Calif. in May 2021 after CarbonLite filed for bankruptcy. Evergreen announced Feb. 9 that it purchased UltrePET in Albany, N.Y. and Novapet in Amherst, Nova Scotia, in November 2021. UltrePET, now named Evergreen Albany, and Novapet, now named Evergreen Amherst, were acquired from wTe Corp. The acquisitions will allow Evergreen to expand its overall production capacity from about 40 million pounds a year to 147 million pounds of food-grade RPET.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) reached 87,100 tonnes in 2021, down by 3% year on year.
Three producers slightly decreased their output, according to MRC's ScanPlast report.

January output of unmixed PVC came close to the level of 87,100 tonnes against 89,800 tonnes and 88,400 tonnes in January and December a year earlier; three producers decreased production volumes. Overall output of polymer totalled 1,007,000 tonnes in 2021 versus 976,300 tonnes a year earlier.

The structure of PVC production by plants looked the following way over the stated period.

RusVinyl (joint venture of SIBUR and SolVin) produced a little less 30,700 tonnes of PVC in January, with about 2,500 tonnes of which accounted for emulsion polyvinyl chloride (EPVC), compared to 30,600 tonnes in January and 30,600 tonnes in December 2021. RusViny's overall PVC output reached 349,400 tonnes last year.

SayanskKhimPlast produced slightly less than 27,700 tonnes of suspension PVC (SPVC), compared to 27,900 tonnes in January and December last year. Total PVC production at SayanskKhimPlast in 2021 was 309,300 tonnes 2021.

Bashkir Soda Company (BSC) in the first month of the year produced about 21,300 tonnes against 23,500 tonnes and 22,900 tonnes in January and December last year. Total PVC production at Bashkir Soda Company in 2021 reached 268,200 tonnes.

Kaustik (Volgograd) last month seriously increased its capacity utilisation and produced slightly less than 7,500 tonnes of suspension PVC against 7,400 tonnes and 7,000 tonnes in January and December last year. The plant's overall output of PVC reached 80,300 tonnes in 2021.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Negotiations over prices of European polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for February shipments to the CIS countries began late last week. The price of ethylene rose significantly in the region. However, European producers rolled over their January export PVC prices for February shipments, and in some cases, there were even a slight reduction, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

The February contract price of ethylene was agreed up by EUR67,5/tonne from the previous month, which theoretically allows to talk about an increase of EUR34/tonne in the net cost of PVC production. But with global supply rising and prices falling in a number of the key export destinations, European suppliers are not considering price hikes. Most producers rolled over their January export PVC prices for February shipments, and only in a few cases, prices dropped by EUR10/tonne.

Since last November, the global availability of PVC has been gradually increasing. Suppliers of North American PVC began to enter the European and CIS markets more actively, whereas prices constantly decreased. Difficulties with maritime logistics remained, which negatively affected delivery times. But this factor faded into the background.

For a number of export destinations, it is increasingly difficult for European producers to maintain high prices, despite the growth in feedstock prices and electricity in the region. In February, European producers are trying to maintain their prices in the range of EUR1,640-1,710/tonne FCA for the CIS markets.

At the same time, it should be noted that PVC prices for shipments from the USA slumped again in February Thus, offer prices fell down to USD1,600/tonne CFR and lower.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- North American chemical railcar traffic came in flat year on year for the week ended 5 February, following four weeks of declines, according to the latest data from the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

A 1% increase in the US was offset by declines in Canada and Mexico. For the five weeks of 2022 ended 5 February, North American chemical rail traffic was down 2.4% year on year to 231,266 railcar loadings.

With the exception of coal and non-metallic minerals, shipments are down in all the major commodities categories so far this year.

In the US, chemical railcar loadings represent about 20% of chemical transportation by tonnage, with trucks, barges and pipelines carrying the rest. In Canada, producers rely on rail to ship more than 70% of their products, with some exclusively using rail.

As per MRC, North American chemical railcar traffic fell by 3.3% year on year for the week ended 15 January, as a small increase in US shipments was more than offset by declines in Canada and Mexico. The decline followed a 6.7% decline in the previous week, ended 8 January. For the first two weeks of 2022, ended 15 January, North American chemical railcar loadings were down 5.0% year on year to 91,437.

As per MRC, North American chemical railcar traffic for the week ended 8 January fell by 6.7% year on year to 45,325 loadings, with decreases in all three countries - the US, Canada and Mexico. In the US, chemical railcar loadings represent about 20% of chemical transportation by tonnage, with trucks, barges and pipelines carrying the rest. In Canada, producers rely on rail to ship more than 70% of their products, with some exclusively using rail.
MRC