Bangladesh wants to become a major player in the global plastic market

(gv) -- Bangladesh could emerge as a major player in the global plastic market if it manages to increase its turnover to USD2 billion by 2015 and USD4 billion by 2020, according to a United Nations case study.

Thus, the government will reallocate plastic factories of Old Dhaka, where around 1,200 unplanned plastic facilities are situated, to a new industrial zone asap, industries minister Dilip Barua said 1 Oct. 2012. The move comes after the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific of the United Nations has recently asked the government to set up a separate economic zone for the plastic industry.

"A special industrial zone will be built to bring more discipline to the sector and to generate more exports," Barua said, "The government is ready to give any kind of policy support to the sector as it has enormous potential."

Plastic products represent a sizeable sub-sector in the chemical industry, with a market size of around USD1 billion, USD714 million of which is thanks to the domestic market. The growth rate for the last 20 years has averaged at more than 20 percent, said Jasim, also a first vice-president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).
MRC

(Businessnews Americas) -- The Brazilian economy is showing signs of recovery in the second half of the year, thus, Brazil's chemicals production rose by 7.12% year-on-year in August, following a 6.23% rise in July after a second quarter that was marked by declines in production, chemical industry association Abiquim said.

The economical recovery followed a series of economic stimulus measures from the government and central bank and was partly due to seasonal reasons. Abiquim said the industry was now increasing production at a similar rate to the beginning of the year. Abiquim said the third quarter was on course for record results.

In the first eight months of the year, production was 5.13% higher and domestic sales were 7.82% higher than in the same period in 2011. Capacity utilization rose by three percentage points in the first eight months, to 82%.

However, Abiquim said that it was still concerned by the potential impact of global economic problems, especially in Europe, China, Japan and the US, on the chemical industry in Brazil. It said excess chemical stocks from these markets could arrive in Brazil at unreasonably low prices.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Buying activity in the Asian market PVC is low. Many market participants expect the prices for November delivery to be reduced, as per MRC analysts.

Buying activity in the Asian market of PVC last week was very low mostly because of the national holidays in China. In the other Asian regions many market participants stop buying PVC because the prices are likely to be cut in the near future.

This week the key producers in the region are to voice their PVC prices for delivery in November. Many market participants believe that they will be lower than in October. Small deals were concluded at USD970/tonne, CFR, but it's hard to tell how seriously they affect the November prices.

The pessimistic sentiments prevail in the China's domestic market. The domestic prices of acetylene and ethylene PVC were in the ranged of Yuan6,600-6,700/tonne and Yuan6,850-7,250/tonne, FD, but the prices are expected to be changed this week.

The demand for PVC in Southeastern Asia is also low. Local company hopes to achieve the prices for November below USD1,000/tonne, CFR. The converters reported a decrease in demand for finished products made of PVC in the export markets and reduce their consumption.

MRC

(apic-online) -- Egypt is readying to welcome new local production of PS and PET. PS producer E-Styrenics is aiming to start their deliveries as of next month while the new PET producer, Egyptian Indian Polyester Company, S.A.E (EIPET), plans to deliver to the market in the first quarter of 2013.

According to earlier reports from a company source, E-Styrenics was initially planning to deliver GPPS and HIPS to the market as of October 1, 2012.

The new plant will have a total PS capacity of 200,000 tons/year and the production capacity is divided evenly by 100,000 tons/year for GPPS and 100,000 tons/year for HIPS. The company was initially aiming to run their plant at 40% capacity and expected to cover 60-80% of the market’s requests during the start up period.

In the PET market, a new domestic producer Egyptian Indian Polyester Company, S.A.E (EIPET) will have two production lines with a total PET capacity of 420,000-480,000 tons/year. Each line will have around 210,000-240,000 tons/year capacity, which means 600-650 tons of daily production.

The producer is aiming to deliver from their first line as of March 2013 and before that they will start test runs on this line in January 2013. The second line, which has the same production capacity, will come online three months later than the first line, around June- July 2013.

MRC

(plastemart) -- Eastman Chemical Company announces the addition of new PET polymer Aspir to its portfolio of resins.

As a new polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymer, it provides an optimal balance of recyclability, product performance, production efficiency and aesthetics versus alternative polyester resins available to the EBM market.

For bottle performance, the material offers robust toughness and is free of bisphenol A and halogens. The crystal-clear clarity of Aspira One allows consumers to see the contents of their packages, providing valuable product differentiation and shelf appeal.

The company also began shutting cracker number four at its Longview, Texas, facility last Wednesday as part of a planned turnaround.

The turnaround is expected to be completed by October 19, the company said. The cracker produces an estimated 272,000 mt/year of ethylene.
MRC