Japan quake, Middle East turmoil to impact US energy, trade

(ICIS) -- The disaster in Japan and rapidly unfolding political upheaval in the Middle East will have significant and perhaps profound influence on US energy supplies and policies, along with near-term trade impact, a top chemicals sector analyst said on Tuesday. Gary Adams, president of Chemical Market Associates Inc (CMAI), told industry executives at the International Petrochemical Conference (IPC) that events in the Middle East and the Japan earthquake and tsunami have raised still more concern among consumers worldwide, and those consumer uncertainties will impact manufacturing.

In the Middle East, Adams noted that the region accounts for 34% of global oil supply, and while the outcome of developing political changes in various countries there cannot be predicted, he said that ⌠the implications for long-term oil prices range from negligible to severe.

He noted that world oil prices were already trending up on the global recovery before the first eruption of political change in Tunisia on 17 December last year. While there was little initial impact on oil prices by that uprising, they did jump $10/bbl when turmoil and revolution began in Egypt on 25 January, driven by worries over possible closing of the Suez Canal.

The 15 February outbreak of revolution in Libya has added still more impetus to the price of crude, with the US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude at around $107/bbl as of Tuesday. Depending on how the political processes unfold in the Middle East, Adams said it could result in more access to the region's energy resources - or a shutdown of some oil and gas assets.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The prices for titanium dioxide pigment have started growing sharply in the external markets. There are now offers of old volumes as well as new ones, but for higher prices in the Russian market, according to ICIS-MRC Price forecast.

Early March price offer for the Ukrainian titanium dioxide grew, on average, by 25% to 100 RUB/t. Chinese producers raised the prices for white pigment in April, on average, by USD 400-500/mt. In the Russian market old volumes of titanium dioxide are offered, on average, for 120 RUB/kg but future supplies are offered, on average, by 10 RUB/kg higher.

In large, difference in prices for titanium dioxide is comparatively big in the Russian market. The white pigment form Middle East is offered, on avergae, for 145 RUB/kg, price offer for raw materials from Cronos Titan is within the range 180-210 RUB/kg.

According to market players, this year deficit of titanium dioxide is hardly possible as it was last year. Insufficient offer from Ukrainian, European and American suppliers is expected to be covered at the expense of growing imports from China. On average, only in polymers conversion more than 15 KT of white pigment are used; final consumers are PVC converters.

MRC

(BASF) -- BASF and Petronas will commence a feasibility study for a new plant for superabsorbent polymers. The companies have also decided to look into the expansion of the existing production capacities of their joint venture BASF Petronas Chemicals Sdn Bhd.

⌠Our joint venture BASF Petronas Chemicals plays an important role for us in achieving our Asia Pacific Strategy for 2020. With this investment in high-growth specialty chemicals, we will position ourselves even better to serve our customers in Asia, said Dr. Martin Brudermuller, Member of the Board of Executive Directors, BASF SE, responsible for Asia Pacific. ⌠With this capacity expansion and extension into superabsorbent polymers we extract further potential of our acrylics value chain in BASF PETRONAS Chemicals.

The new investment will be part of BASF Petronas Chemicals Sdn Bhd, founded by BASF and Petronas in 1997. The company currently operates an integrated complex situated at the Gebeng Industrial Zone, Pahang. The company's share of capital is 60% held by BASF and 40% by Petronas with a total investment of about RM3.4 billion for production facilities for acrylic monomers, oxo products and butanediol.

MRC

(ICIS) -- US ethylene capacity could increase by 4% if Chevron Phillips Chemical moves forward with a plan to build a new steam cracker in the US Gulf, a market source said on Monday. The planned unit could have as much as 1m tonnes/year of capacity, the source said on the sidelines of the International Petrochemical Conference (IPC) in San Antonio. US ethylene capacity is estimated at around 27m tonnes/year.

Chevron Phillips Chemical on Monday announced it was conducting a feasibility study to build a cracker, saying that it would be a world-scale unit using ethane as a feedstock. The new facility will utilise the advantaged feed sources expected from development of shale gas reserves, the company said.

The company's feasibility study is expected to be complete by the end of 2011. If Chevron Phillips Chemical decides to go ahead with the project it would likely take around 3-4 years to finish construction and bring the unit online, the source said.

MRC

(The Nation) -- PTT Group will further consolidate its downstream petrochemical businesses later this year after completing the merger of its upstream units, CEO Prasert Bunsumpun said yesterday.
He said the merger of PTT Aromatics and Refining and PTT Chemical should be finalised just before he completes his term as chief executive in September. A new upstream petrochemicals unit will then be listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Afterwards, PTT Group will go ahead with consolidation of its downstream businesses, namely the merger of HMC Polymers and PTT Phenol.

HMC Polymers, which produces polypropylene, is 41.44 per cent owned by PTT. PTT Phenol, which is 40 per cent owned by the company, produces and distributes phenol and acetone.

A new company will be set up as part of the consolidation process so that PTT Group can further boost its efficiency and competitiveness in the downstream sector.

MRC