European thermoplastic composites are projected to grow

(Marketwire) -- Attributes of light weight and performance are pushing the use of composites in public transportation. Due to safety issues and rising gasoline prices, public transportation including buses, trains and trams are being used extensively. This is having a positive ripple effect on the uptake of composites. While the resins used in public transportation have different properties, strength and resistance to heat and chemicals are the major factors underpinning their appeal.

According to Frost & Sullivan Strategic Analysis of the Composite Resins Market in Public Transportation, European thermoset plastic composites for public transportation earned revenues of EUR 70.72 million in 2010 and estimates this to reach EUR 114.94 million in 2017. European thermoplastic composites are projected to grow from EUR 3.46 million to EUR 5.71 million over the same period. The following products are covered in this research: unsaturated polyester resins, Epoxy resins, phenolic resins, polyurethane resins, polyamide resins and polypropylene resins.

The general economic revival is set to be accompanied by the growth of the composite industry. Composites offer a weight reduction of around 30 to 40 per cent compared to materials such as steel. As a result, steel is rapidly being substituted by composites.

MRC

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- NOVA Chemicals Corporation signed a long-term agreement with a subsidiary of Williams for a feedstock supply of an ethane/ethylene mix to be extracted from off-gas produced at oil sands upgrading facilities located at Fort McMurray and Redwater, Alberta.

Under the terms of the agreement, Williams will produce, for NOVA Chemicals, up to 17.000 barrels per day (bpd) of an ethane/ethylene mix which will be transported via the Joffre Feedstock Pipeline to NOVA Chemicals' Joffre, Alberta petrochemical facilities. This feedstock source will enhance and diversify NOVA Chemicals' feedstock supplies beyond traditional sources derived from Alberta-based natural gas exports.

NOVA Chemicals develops and manufactures chemicals, plastic resins and end-products. NOVA Chemicals, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is a wholly owned subsidiary of The International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

MRC

(Plastemart) -- Oil futures eased at the end of last week, but continued to linger around USD 106 as political tensions continued to blaze in the Middle East. One of the latest developments in the Middle East crisis has seen members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), reportedly reach an agreement to take over enforcement of the United Nations-sanctioned no-fly zone over Libya.

Expectations of oil demand from Japan bouncing bounce back also provide some support to oil prices. However, Japanese oil imports are estimated at less than pre-quake levels of 4.2 mln bpd, while data suggests an extra 0.7-1.2 mln tons of extra oil on the market currently.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Excessive offer of HDPE in the Asian market and price stability made the Asian companies turn their export stream. Now Asian material is actively offered in the markets of FSU, according to ICIS-MRC Price report. Last week the Chinese and South Korean companies offered HDPE for April delivery to the markets of FSU. The price offer was within the range of USD 1.380 - 1.420/mt, FOB. Also there are enough spot offers for North American HDPE re-exports from China.

Many market players refuse from such offers, despite a high level of prices from the part of European and Russian producers. The main argument of refusal is long-term logistics and
incomprehension of the situation in May when the first batches of HDPE are expected to arrive.

MRC

(ICIS) -- US propylene producers announced proposed increases of 10 cents/lb (USD 220/tonne, EUR156/tonne) and 11 cents/lb for April, market sources said on Friday, citing tight supply and firm demand as the drivers behind the initiatives. The nominations represent an increase of around 15% from March, when polymer-grade propylene (PGP) settled at 72.50 cents/lb and chemical-grade propylene (CGP) at 71.00 cents/lb.

US producers were expected to push for an increase next month, following a jump in propylene spot prices in recent weeks.

Refinery-grade propylene (RGP) for March traded on Wednesday at 72.50 cents/lb, up from 60.00-62.00 cents/lb four weeks earlier, while PGP spot prices gained 7.50 cents/lb in the same period.

Propylene spot prices rose on the back of rising energy values, including a 30 cent/gal spike in the price of gasoline and an 8% increase in crude oil prices.

MRC