French Arkema plans to start up its two new plants in China

(ICIS) -- French specialty chemicals firm Arkema said on Wednesday it plans to start up its two new plants in Changsu, China, and is eyeing new projects to expand its presence in Asia. "Two new plants will be brought on stream in China, the first in March for fluoropolymers and the second in mid-year for specialty acrylic polymers," Arkema said in a statement. The capacity of the plants were not disclosed.


Meanwhile, the company said that among its priorities this year would be building an emulsions plant and expanding its capacity in polyamides and fluoropolymers in Asia.


Arkema said it would also prepare longer-term projects in the thiochemicals and acrylic monomers sectors in Asia.


Arkema reported a record net profit of ┬347m ($475m) last year, with sales jumping 32.9% to ┬5.91bn. In the fourth quarter of 2010, it swung to a net profit of ┬58m on the back of a 32.4% year-on-year surge in sales to ┬1.43bn.


MRC

Dow formed Performance Plastics Division

(Dow) -- Howard Ungerleider, vice president for Investor Relations, has been named senior vice president for Dow, and President for the newly formed Performance Plastics Division.


The Performance Plastics Division will be comprised of all Dow plastics including Solution Polyethylene, Wire & Cable, Elastomers, Films and Packaging Resins and will include the Packaging and Converting Unit that is currently part of the Advanced Materials Division.


Its focus will be on high value market driven solutions in applications such as Packaging, Hygiene, Food and Telecommunications. The Division's formation reflects Dow's active portfolio management over the last two years that has resulted in the de-emphasis of its commodity plastics products, especially following the divestment of Styron.
MRC

Tetra Pak unveiled three new closures

(Tetra Pak) -- Tetra Pak, the world leader in food processing and packaging solutions, unveils three new closures designed to meet the diverse needs of the global beverage market: DreamCap, an ergonomically designed closure specially for on-the-go consumption; LightCap, designed to keep plastic use and cost to a minimum and HeliCap, which combines one-step easy opening with distinctive tamper evidence.


Benefits are possible because of Tetra Pak's industry-first combination of Pre-Laminated Hole (PLH) and Direct Injection Moulding Concept (DIMC) technologies. DIMC technology ≈ already used by Tetra Pak customers for milk ≈ allows the base of the cap neck to be moulded as flat as possible to the underside of the packaging material, providing the maximum pouring area.


DreamCap, LightCap and HeliCap are cost effective solutions, which can be integrated with existing packages and Tetra Pak lines.


MRC

Russian producers increased PVC-S output in January

MOSCOW (MRC) -- In January Russian producers increased PVC-S output to 52.5 KT which was 15% more compared to December 2010. Considerable gain in production was marked at Kaustik (Sterlitamak), according to MRC ScanPlast. The second biggest producer of suspension resin in Russia increased output to 16.9 KT.


Long-term conflict with Gazprom neftechim Salavat concerning ethylene price didn't allow Kaustik to reach 100% utilization of capacities.


During modernization of Bashkir production in 2009 capacities of VCM-PVC output were increased to 200 KTa. Total volume of investments made RUB 2.6 bln.


In January production was also increased at Plastkard (Volgograd) and Sibur-Chimprom - up to 8.2 KT and 3.1 KT, respectively. On the contrary, Sayanskchemplast, the biggest PVC producer in Russia, decreased output to 24.3 KT.


MRC

Production shutdown at Libya

(Plastemart) -- Brent crude settled at US$111.72 after rising past US$114, while light, sweet crude on the Nymex settled at US$96.89. Earlier in the day, oil prices rose by 2% on news of shutdown of oil production in Libya and on fears that the unrest might spread to Saudi Arabia. However, prices recoiled on an announcement by Saudi state oil company Saudi Aramco that all demands for extra oil had been met coupled with news that Tobruk port in East Libya had reopened and a Chinese tanker was being loaded.


MRC