FRX Polymers and Americhem to start a multi-year cooperation

(FRX polymers) -- FRX Polymers and Americhem Inc. have announced that they had entered into a multi-year exclusive distribution agreement covering Western Europe and Turkey for FRX’s new non-halogen flame retardant polymer known as FRX 100. retardant plastic.

"We are pleased to be partnering with FRX Polymers in the fibers industry," said Dave Bouton, vice
president of business development at Americhem. “FRX Polymers produces a unique flame retardant
additive in that it is melt processable and sold in pellet form. This makes it especially well-suited for melt
spinning into fiber resins, such as polyesters. We see a big potential for FRX Polymers in this market, and we
are delighted to offer these products exclusively to customers in the European market.”

FRX Polymers was founded in 2007 following over five years of intensive research and development in the field of inherently flame retardant plastics. The company operates two pilot plants in Chelmsford, MA and a polymer pilot plant in Switzerland. FRX is in the growth phase of its evolution and is commercializing a novel family of non-halogen, transparent, high melt flowing, fire resistant plastics. FRX Polymers’ products are finding a
growing number of applications, including textiles and carpeting.

Americhem is one of the world’s leading solutions providers to the synthetic fibers industry. It produces a
range of masterbatches designed specifically for its synthetic fibers customers.
MRC

(plastemart) -- Global demand for emulsion polymers is forecast to rise 5.1% pa to 13.3 mln metric tons (dry basis) in 2016, as per Freedonia Group's report.

Advances will be fueled by increased production of water-based paint, coatings, and adhesives, which are displacing solvent borne formulations in virtually all parts of the world. In the developed world, where emulsion polymers are more mature, gains will benefit from a rebound in construction spending and manufacturing activity, as well as the adoption of more stringent regulations on the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In lower income nations such as China and India, emulsion polymer demand will arise from strong economic growth and increased penetration of waterborne technology in the coatings and adhesives industries.

Though emulsion polymers are highly versatile and used throughout the industrial economy, the market will remain closely linked to a relatively narrow group of products, most prominently water-based paint, paper and paperboard coatings, and general purpose adhesives. These three outlets accounted for over three-quarters of global demand in 2011. The most rapid gains through 2016 will be for emulsion polymers in paint and coatings, where water-based formulations are steadily increasing their share of the market.

Acrylics will remain the largest and fastest growing emulsion polymer product type through 2016, accounting for nearly 40% of the world market. Demand for acrylics will benefit from rapid growth in the paint and coatings market, where acrylic polymers are valued for their durability and wide range of applications.

Vinyl acetate emulsions will also see healthy increases in demand, with the most favorable opportunities expected for vinyl acetate-ethylene (VAE) copolymers in adhesives and coatings applications.

The slowest growth among major types will be for styrene butadiene latex, restrained by sluggish advances in the paper coatings market.

Driven by robust gains during the 2001- 2011 period, the Asia/Pacific region has overtaken North America and Western Europe to become the leading market for emulsion polymers. The Asia/Pacific region will continue to see above average gains in demand through 2016, fueled by strong growth in China and India, the two fastest-growing national markets for emulsions in the world.
MRC

(chemmonitor)– Solvay's results appeared to be quite satisfactory in Q2 2012. The company's year-on-year revenue increased by 69.2% to EUR 3,419m, gross profit declined by 6.6% and amounted EUR625m, operating income added 85.5% and equaled EUR434m, net income reached EUR222m, which is a 101.8% increase.

Plastics segment brought EUR998m of revenues, a 1% increase over the corresponding period of the last year.
Chemicals sales added 5% to its previous amount and comprised EUR760m.
Rhodia contributed EUR1,574m of revenues, and it’s a 1% decline.

The trends affecting Plastics performance were strong REBITDA margin, low demand, difficult market conditions, operational excellence. Chemicals segment was influenced by REBITDA improvement, successful performance of Epirerol plant in Thailand, fluorchemicals recovery.

Solvay SA is a Belgian chemical company with its head office in Ixelles, Brussels, Belgium. Founded in 1863 by Ernest Solvay to produce sodium carbonate by the solvay process, the company has diversified into two major sectors of activity: chemicals and plastics.
MRC

(plasticsinfomart) -- In Egypt, the former Industry and Foreign Trade Minister Mahmoud Essa had approved a decision imposing 15% or USD267/ton in protection fees, whichever was higher based on the total import sum, on homo-PP imports effective as of June 5 until December 22, 2012, for 200 days, upon the local PP producer EPPC’s request.

In return for imposing the duties, an agreement was signed between EPPC and the government as of June 27. According to the agreement, the local producer was required to provide all of the market’s homo-PP needs and they would have to keep their prices in line with monthly global price announcements. The agreement also required a minimum monthly order amount of 50 tons from local buyers purchasing from EPPC.

However, market players have since been complaining that the producer has not been able to meet the needs of the market apart from raffia grade and that they failed to provide film grade. A film and injection products maker had previously complained, “EPPC cannot make all of the grades needed in the market. The market remains short of material despite the producer’s promises.” Regarding PP injection, some converters were considering substituting HDPE injection for homo-PP injection in their manufacturing process since the new duties pushed PP injection to uncompetitive levels.
MRC

(plastemart) -- PetroLogistics LP , operator of the only dedicated U.S. propylene plant, is seeking permission to double the Houston factory’s output as supplies fall and competitors including Dow Chemical Co. plan similar facilities, as per Bloomberg. PetroLogistics wants to add six combustion units to the five currently producing propylene, an ingredient in plastics, nylon and detergents, the Houston-based company said in an application to the Environmental Protection Agency.

PetroLogistics has not arrived at a final decision on whether to invest in the project
Dow and Enterprise Products Partners LP are among companies planning to open similar facilities by mid-decade because of relatively low U.S. gas prices and tighter supplies of propylene. Annual U.S. propylene output has declined as much as 5 bln lbs since 2005 when ethylene makers began switching from oil to cheaper gas-based feedstocks that yield less propylene as a byproduct.
MRC