CJ CheilJedang and Arkema announce a project to build the world's first bio-methionine plant

(Arkema) -- CJ CheilJedang (CJ Group) and Arkema have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding to build a bio-methionine and thiochemicals platform in South East Asia (Malaysia or Thailand). This project entails the construction of the world's first world-scale methyl mercaptan integrated bio-methionine plant, which will enable CJ to respond to strong demand for methionine, a sulfur amino acid widely used for animal feed in Asia, and Arkema to better serve its Asian customers from a new industrial platform. The project represents overall investments of USD 400m split equally between both partners.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- One of the biggest North American suppliers of PVC to Russia declared force-majeure on 14 April. It will significantly reduce PVC export quotes for the Russian market, according to ICIS-MRC Price Report.

Georgia Gulf, one of the biggest North American PVC producers, declared force-majeure for PVC deliveries because of limited supplies of the feedstock for its production. The main supplier of ethylene for Georgia Gulf reduced deliveries that affected production process. Problems with production at the chlorine enterprise in Louisiana resulted in decreased production by 33% and, as a result, affected Georgia Gulf work. As per company's estimates, the present situation will limit PVC deliveries within a few next months.

The Russian market of PVC appeared among those who may suffer in a current situation. Supplies of PVC-S produced by Georgia Gulf to the Russian market in 2010 exceeded 20 KT, the indicator grew to 10.5 KT in QI. It should be obvious that other North American producers (Oxyvinyls, Westlake, Shin-tech, Formosa) will be forced to redistribute their export lines and the lack of PVC will cause the next leap in prices.

This week quotations for insignificant quotation stock volumes of North American PVC for the Russian companies in April grew to record USD 1.330 - 1.370/mt, CFR Saint-Petersburg.

MRC

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Celanese Corporation, a global technology and specialty materials company and a North American leader in Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) polymers, announced today that its subsidiary, Celanese EVA Performance Polymers Inc., will increase the price of all grades of Ateva EVA by USD 0.06/pound and all grades of LDPE by USD 0.05/pound effective May 1, 2011, or as contracts allow.

This price increase is in addition to the previously announced April 15, 2011, increase of USD 0.08/pound for all Ateva EVAs and USD 0.06/pound on all LDPEs.

Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production of specialty materials and chemical products which are used in most major industries and consumer applications. Based in Dallas, Texas, the company employs approximately 7,250 employees worldwide and had 2010 net sales of USD 5.9 billion, with approximately 72% generated outside of North America.

MRC

(PlasticsToday) -- It's a packaging merger for the ages as Silgan Holdings Inc. announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Graham Packaging Company Inc., one of the world's 3 largest blowmolders of plastics packaging. Silgan controls about 50% of the North American metal food container market, and also makes composite, glass and plastics packaging.

Silgan is headquartered in Stamford, CT and operates 83 facilities in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Graham Packaging operates almost 100 facilities in the same regions, processing polypropylene, polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate.

The combined company will have annual sales exceeding USD 6.2 billion, with more than 17,000 employees at 180 manufacturing facilities in 19 countries. The purchase will make Silgan a world leader in food and specialty beverage packaging, with combined revenues of approximately USD 4.6 billion in that space.

MRC

(Dow) -- The Dow Chemical Company, a leader in energy conservation, has been recognized for its excellence in energy efficiency by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The DOE awarded two Superior Energy Performance certifications to the Company for achievements in energy efficiency at its Texas City Operations facility.

The Superior Energy Performance program is a new American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited energy management certification program designed to help industrial facilities drive continual energy efficiency achievements while maintaining competitiveness. The project was developed by the DOE with support from the U.S. Council for Energy-Efficient Manufacturing (U.S. CEEM).

MRC