BASF presents innovations at interpack 2011

(BASF) -- BASF is to present once again at the international packaging fair, Interpack, in Dusseldorf from May 12 to 18. The company's solutions are presented in five neatly divided themed areas: cost reduction, sustainability, differentiation at the point of sale, content protection and convenience. Among the following BASF highlights Hexamoll Dinch, an innovative plasticizer made specially for sensitive applications such as toys, medical devices and food-contact products. Hexamoll Dinch is ideally suited for products such as cling film and O-rings for screw closures.

Aurora special effect film opens up a variety of optical effects for product designers, packaging and label manufacturers. The film is high-luster with intriguing reflections and comes in a wide range of colors. Aurora can be used for a variety of applications and in combination with a range of matrix materials such as paper and carton.

As the leading supplier of additives and pigments to the plastics industry, BASF offers its packaging customers a wide variety of products and solutions that enhance the appeal and functionality of packaging. With its unique industry platform approach, its broad product portfolio, and its extensive technical know-how, BASF is able to generate synergies and deliver extra value.

BASF offers a broad portfolio of light stabilizers such as Chimassorb, Tinuvin and Uvinul designed to protect not only the plastic packaging itself from rapid aging but also its valuable contents from the harmful effects of ultra-violet radiation.

With its high elasticity and resilience coupled with very high transparency and luster, BASF Styroflex, SBC block copolymer from the styrene plastics family, is used for applications including stretch hoods and thin film.

MRC

(ICIS) -- ExxonMobil Chemical is planning to increase development of new premium products for Asia by opening a USD 90m (EUR 64m) technology centre it completed over two years in fast-growing China, the company said on Wednesday. The Shanghai Technology Center (STC), inaugurated by ExxonMobil Chemical president Stephen Pryor, aims to help deliver innovative customer solutions, the company said in a statement.

The 27,000sqm facility contains advanced analytical and testing laboratory equipment and commercial-scale product processing equipment, including blown and cast-film extrusion, injection moulding, compounding, and packaging.

The facility is ExxonMobil Chemical's third-largest technology centre in the world. The company has two major technology centres in the US and Europe.

ExxonMobil sees China's petrochemical demand growth outpacing GDP expansion in the next five years. The company plans to continue to invest in the centre in Shanghai to meet future technology-growth needs in the region.

MRC

(Plastemart) -- Sidi Kerir Petrochemicals Co. and two Egyptian government companies plan to invest 7 billion Egyptian pounds (USD 1.18 bln) in an ethylene venture. Sidi Kerir has a license to build a plant with capacity to produce 460 KTa of ethylene, will hold a 20% stake in the new company. The project, scheduled for completion in three years, will be financed by local banks, including National Bank of Egypt, Banque Misr SAE, Commercial International Bank SAE, National Societe Generale Bank SAE, and Arab African Bank, the oil ministry said on its website.

MRC

(ICIS) -- India's Essar Energy has signed a $1.3bn (┬923m) deal to acquire Shell's 270,000 bbl/day Stanlow refinery in the UK, the companies said on Tuesday. The agreement follows Essar's formal offer from February to acquire the refinery near Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. The deal includes oil products and chemicals manufacturing and rights to certain distribution terminal assets, as well as commercial bulk fuels and local marine fuels businesses associated with the refinery.

Not included are Shell's higher olefins plant and alcohols units at Stanlow, a lubricant oils blending plant and Shell's lubricants marketing business.

Also excluded are Shell's UK retail sites; its aviation operations at airports; Shell's non-local marine business; marine lubricants; Shell's commercial road transport marketing businesses; its bitumen marketing business, and its technology centre at Thornton.

The companies expect to complete the transaction in the second half of 2011. Shell said the total consideration for the deal was expected to be $1.3bn. Essar said the purchase price for the refinery would be $350m. On completion, it would make a separate payment for crude oil, refined products and other inventory at the Stanlow refinery site, it said. In February, Essar estimated that payment at about $780m.

MRC

(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