Bridgestone Corporation add a new production line for EVA

(Bridgestone) -- Bridgestone Corporation announced today that it will add a new production line for EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) film in the company's Polish subsidiary, Bridgestone Diversified Products Poland Sp. z o.o.(⌠BSDP). This will be Bridgestone's first EVA film production facility in Poland, and this additional production will help BSDP better respond to the growing international demand for EVA film, a product used in the manufacture of solar modules. An investment of 165 mln zloty will be used to fund the installation of this line, and production is scheduled to begin during the first half of 2013. At full capacity, the line will be capable of producing 1,080 tons per month.

Currently, EVA film is produced at Bridgestone's Iwata Plant in Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and additional production is scheduled to begin at the company's Seki Plant in Seki City, Gifu Prefecture in the second half of 2011. With expectations of rapidly increasing demand for solar modules around the world, Bridgestone is investing in additional EVA film manufacturing capacity to enhance its business in European markets.

MRC

(Mitsubishi Motors) -- Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has announced the development of a new interior surface material, combining PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) and cotton fibers as a new addition to the "Green Plastic" lineup, MMC's original plant-based material technology. It will first be used for vehicle seats and plans to be commercially produced this summer.


The material is able to be used not only for vehicle seats but also other areas such as in ceilings and trim surfaces. Due to the fact that cotton is an easily attainable fabric, this new material is expected in expanded usage through different car types from hereon.


Now, preliminary calculations showed that CO2 emission throughout the lifecycle (from attaining raw materials to disposal) has been reduced about 20% compared to conventional products (PET 100%).

MRC

(Asahi Kasei) -- Asahi Kasei Fibers will establish a subsidiary in Thailand for the manufacture and sale of spunbond nonwovens. The disposable diaper market in Asia is forecasted to continue to grow at a high rate, and the new subsidiary will enable Asahi Kasei Fibers to significantly expand business in the Asian market for materials for disposable diapers and other hygienic products, with a new 20,000 ton/year Eltas spunbond plant scheduled to begin production in September 2012.

Since launching its spunbond business in 1973, Asahi Kasei Fibers has developed a wide range of applications for its Eltas spunbond brand. These include hygienic products such as disposable diapers, automotive and other industrial applications, and general consumer products. With production sites in Moriyama, Shiga, and in Nobeoka, Miyazaki, Asahi Kasei Fibers has mainly focused on developing business in Japan.

As the market for disposable diapers in Asia continues to grow, Asahi Kasei Fibers will study the addition of further capacity in Thailand. The timing of subsequent expansions will be determined appropriately in line with market growth.
MRC

(Borealis) -- Borealis, a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions, celebrates the groundbreaking of a new semi-commercial plant for catalysts in Linz, Austria. With a total investment of approximately EUR 75 million the company is further expanding its innovation capabilities in plastics.

Based on this technology the new plant will be used to develop new types of catalysts as well as improve processes for catalyst production. The plant will not only serve research purposes but will produce commercial batches for Borealis' locations worldwide. Completion is scheduled for summer 2012.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Dynamical growth of prices for oil and its derivatives resulted in serious increase of prices for polyethylene (PE), in particular, HDPE, in Europe in March, according to ICIS-MRC Price Report.

Political and war conflicts in some countries of Africa and Middle East became one of the main reasons for high dynamics of oil prices. Over two weeks quotations for naptha rose more than by USD 100/mt. This resulted in growing contract price for ethylene by EUR 60/mt in Europe in March. At that some market players considered the possibility of month split-up to decades in order to define contract prices for ethylene each decade. Later they rejected this idea and the price was fixed for a month.

Prices for polyethylene in Europe grew not proportionally to the growing prices for ethylene. Export quotations for LDPE grew on average by EUR 40-80/mt, depending on producers, and were fixed within the range of EUR 1.420 - 1.500/mt, FCA. Prices for butene linear polyethylene increased on average by EUR 60-80/mt.

The biggest growth in prices was for HDPE, where European producers have the lowest
margin. Growth of contract prices for ethylene along with scheduled and non-scheduled shutdowns of some capacities allowed European producers to increase prices for HDPE in March by EUR 70-100/mt, depending on a grade. The most painful for converters from FSU became the growth of prices for pipe polyethylene. Export quotations for European colored PE100 increased to record EUR 1.340 - 1.400/mt, FCA.

MRC