Kraton to construct HSBC plant in Taiwan on a stand-alone basis

(plastemart) -- The US, Houston-based Kraton Performance Polymers Inc. has exited its joint venture deal with Taipei, Taiwan-based Formosa Petrochemical Corp. (FPCC), seeking instead to expand hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer (HSBC) manufacturing capability in Asia on a stand-alone basis.

Kraton opted not to extend the previously announced Framework Agreement with FPCC, which expired Sept. 30. The agreement had governed the formation of a proposed 50/50 joint venture to build, own and operate a 66 mln lb HSBC plant at FPCC’s petrochemical site in Mailiao, Taiwan, as MRC reported earlier this year.

The project was delayed, first by the wait for environmental permit approval, Kraton said. After the permit was finally approved in July, FPCC considered the conditions to be too restrictive and limiting on its overall operation in Mailiao. However, an Oct. 11 report from Taiwan’s Economic Daily said FPCC was going to file an appeal by Oct. 12, after the environmental protection authorities once again rejected FPCC’s proposal and indicated additional restrictions.

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. is a leading global producer of engineered polymers, including styrenic block copolymers (SBC). The company is the original inventor of styrenic block copolymer chemistry in the 1960s. The company has a broad portfolio of value-enhancing polymers that are used in a wide variety of applications including consumer and personal care items, adhesives and coatings, electronics, medical supplies, automotive components, and paving and roofing materials.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- This year, Russian companies have increased production of plastic products. Over the past nine months, the output grew by 10% year-on-year. The largest increase accounts for plastic pipes production, according to MRC ScanPlast.

As per Rosstat, the year-to-date production of plastic products increased by 10% year-on-year. Production of plastic pipes, hoses and fittings has been growing most rapidly this year.

In September, the production of plastic pipes, hoses and fittings made about 78,900 tonnes. In January-September, the total output of plastic pipes, hoses and fittings by Russian plants made about 528,4000 tonnes, up 26% year-on-year.

Last month, the production volume of plates, sheets, films and plastic strips fell to 74.600 tonnes, while in August this index made about 75,900 tonnes. Over the past nine months, 617,200 tonnes of plates, sheets, films and plastic strips were produced, up 10,6% year-on-year.

The production of windows and window profiles, plastic windowsills made about 2,7m m2 in September. In January-September, the total production volume of plastic windows and windowsills made about 17,1m m2, up 3,2% year-on-year.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) – The tightened supply of Permian and Asian expandable polystyrene (EPS) in the market resulted in an increase of price quotations from suppliers, as per MRC analysts.

Last week it was officially launched the second production line of expandable polystyrene in Perm, which increases annual production capacity of Sibur-Khimprom to 100,000 tonnes.

On expectations of the additional volumes of the Permian material in the market traders have significantly cut the import of Asian EPS in recent months. Thus, in September, the volume of imports fell to 6,700 tonnes, down 42% from July 2012.

At the same time, according to Russian buyers of Alfapor, in October, there were problems with shipments of material. Shipped volumes are below the agreed level, which contributes to the market speculations about possible technical problems at the production.

On the back of the low stocks of Asian feedstock, as well as the limited supply of the Permian EPS, the price of the material is increasing. Thus, traders have increased the cost of Asian EPS to Rb76,000-78,000/tonne. The price of 301 and 401 grades of Alfapor increased from Rb72,000/tonne in September to Rb74,000/tonne in October. More information you can find in ICIS-MRC Price Report.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Russian makers reduced the production volume of caustic soda to 84,400 tonnes in September, down 8% from August. The decline in production was caused by scheduled and unscheduled outages at two major production sites, according to MRC ScanPlast.
Last month, the total output of caustic soda (converted into 100% of the main substance) by Russian producers dropped by 8% compared to August level and made about 84,400 tonnes.

The reduction of caustic production in September was caused by a scheduled outage for maintenance at SayanskKhimPlast and unscheduled outage at Kaustik (Sterlitamak).

In Q3 2012, the total output of solid caustic soda made about 52,000 tonnes, while Kaustik (Volgograd) and Kaustic (Sterlitamak) produced about 33,300 tonnes and 18,700 tonnes, respectively.

In general, in January-September, the total output of caustic soda in Russia made about 806,000 tonnes, up 5,5% year-on-year.

MRC

(gantdaily) -- The authorities on Wednesday evacuated workers from a BP’s refinery in Texas City in Texas and issued a Level 3 alert for the plant amid reports of leak of sulfur dioxide.

The leak, which lasted only for a few seconds, happened at 10 a.m. local time, spokesman for Texas City Emergency Management said. The alert was reduced to Level 1 within 40 minutes and workers returned to work.
According to Environmental Protection Agency, color-less toxic gas sulfur dioxide can cause respiratory problems even death. The toxic gas leaked out of a tall stack, the authorities said.

The Texas City refinery previously came in headlines in March 2005 when an explosion at the site killed 15 people and injured several dozens others. The leak incident happened just days after BP agreed to sell Texas City refinery to Marathon Petroleum Corporation in USD2.5 billion.

BP is a British multinational oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. BP Downstream's activities include refining, marketing, manufacturing, transportation, trading and supply of crude oil, petrochemicals products and petroleum.
Downstream is responsible for BP's fuels, lubricants and petrochemical businesses and has major operations located in Europe, North America and Asia.BP owns or holds a share in 16 refineries worldwide, of which seven are located in Europe and five are in the US.
MRC