Ube to build additional nylon plant in Spain

(chemicals-technology) -- Ube Industries is planning to construct and add additional manufacturing capacity for nylon 6 at its subsidiary, Ube Engineering Plastics, in Castellon, Spain, in order to meet the growing demand for high added-value nylon in the European and North American markets.

"Ube Industries produces 53,000, 75,000, 20,000tpa of nylon 6 at its Japanese, Thai and Spanish plants respectively."

Currently, Ube's Japanese manufacturing plant produces nylon 6 copolymer resins and exports them to European and North American markets. The company, with the help of the Spanish facility, intends to serve the needs of European and North American customers in a more efficient way.

The additional nylon 6 manufacturing capacity will also enable Ube to capitalise on the demand for nylon used in packaging films in South America, eastern Europe and the Middle Eastern regions.

Ube Industries produces 53,000, 75,000, 20,000tpa of nylon 6 at its Japanese, Thai and Spanish plants respectively, making it the world's third largest manufacturer of nylon6, according to the company.

The growing demand for eco-friendly films has increased the market for nylon used in packaging films for products such as food, toiletries and detergents, as well as specifically to substitute polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) films.
The proposed facility will produce 10,000tpa of nylon and is expected to start its operation in March 2015.

Ube Industries, Ltd. is a Japanese chemical company. UBE Group is doing business worldwide, especially Thailand(Rayong Province) and Spain (Province of Castellon) are main sites for petrochemical business.
MRC

(ineos) -- Based on unaudited management information INEOS reports that EBITDA for the third quarter of 2012 was EUR432 million, compared to EUR371 million for Q3, 2011 and EUR308 million for Q2, 2012.

Petrochemical markets have continued to be subdued with industry sentiment remaining cautious, particularly in Europe and Asia. In contrast, business in North America has been strong with the benefit of its current feedstock advantage.

Demand for chemical intermediates has been mixed in the quarter. Product prices have adjusted in line with increased raw material costs, but volumes have remained subdued.

O&P North America reported EBITDA of EUR202 million compared to EUR126 million in Q3, 2011. Overall polymer demand was also strong with derivative exports remaining high as gas crackers continued to benefit from a significant global cost advantage. Domestic polymer demand continued to be relatively subdued though.

O&P Europe reported EBITDA of EUR53 million compared to EUR80 million in Q3, 2011. Demand for olefins in the quarter reflected the softening macro-economic environment. Polymer market sentiment remained weak with reduced levels of discretionary demand. The softness in the polymer markets has also resulted in low margins in the quarter.

MRC

(uhde-inventa-fischer) -- The plant engineering and construction company Uhde Inventa-Fischer is to build a PET plant for its Indian customer JBF Industries Ltd., a leading producer of polyester granules. The plant with a total name plate capacity of 432,000 tonnes a year will be located in Geel, Belgium, and will produce high-quality PET for bottling and packaging applications. Feedstock terephthalic acid will be produced by BP Chembel N.V. on the same site and supplied.

Based on Uhde Inventa-Fischer's state-of-the-art, energy-efficient, patented Melt-To-Resin (MTR) technology, the plant will enable JBF Industries Ltd. to produce top-quality PET pellets that are established in the market. Integration of a 54,000 tonne-per-year Flakes-To-Resin (FTR) recycling line will also allow 25% of the PTA required for the production of PET to be replaced with recycling material.

The detail engineering for the project will be carried out by Uhde Inventa-Fischer and Uhde India Private Ltd., thus bearing testimony to international cooperation within the ThyssenKrupp Uhde group network.

Uhde Inventa-Fischer is a leading engineering company located in Berlin, Germany, and Domat/Ems, Switzerland. Uhde Inventa-Fischer’s scope of services includes the development, engineering and construction of industrial plants for the production of polyester, polyamide and polylactic acid. On joining the ThyssenKrupp Uhde group in 2004, the company also became part of ThyssenKrupp AG.

MRC

(BASF) -- On 23 October, BASF officially opened its first Russian applications technology center for polyurethane systems in Vsevolozhsk, near St. Petersburg.

Like the System House in Nishnekamsk, which went into operation in 2000, this site will also be a part of the BASF joint venture Elastokam with the Russian company Nishnekamskneftechim (NKNC).

This center will provide comprehensive technical services and sales know-how for modern polyurethane systems to quickly and competently serve customers all over Russia and other CIS countries. Equipment installed will make it possible to test PU materials for a wide range of applications in the automotive and construction industries, as well as in CASE (coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers) related areas.

According to BASF press release, this investment is part of the systematic implementation of the company's worldwide strategy of having sites that are close to the customer which will strengthen BASF's leadership position in the polyurethanes market.

BASF is the largest diversified chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF's Polyurethanes business consists of diverse technologies and finished products. Urethane chemicals are raw materials used in rigid and flexible foams commonly used for insulation in the construction and appliance industries, furniture, packaging and transportation.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The negotiations on contract prices of Russian PVC for November shipments have begun this week. Local converters are going to get a significant price cut; converters, in their turn, do not see serious grounds for price-cutting, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

This week started for the Russian PVC market with the negotiations regarding the level of contract prices. Local converters are going to get a reduction of contract prices for Russian PVC for shipments in November by Rb4,000-5,000/tonne amid seasonal falling demand for the finished goods and drop of export prices in the USA.

Russian makers, in their turn, claim that they do not see any grounds for such a substantial reduction in PVC prices in November. The decline in demand is expected next month, but imports are going to slash in November as well. There is no surplus of PVC supplies in the market. Export prices of North American PVC for November shipments were reduced by USD80-100/tonne from October. However, the resin at such prices will arrive in Russia not earlier than in the second half of December. At the same time, North American PVC at the prices on average by USD50-70/tonne higher than in October will arrive in the market in November.

According to some market participants, Russian makers still intend to decrease prices in November, however, they are going to limit the price correction by Rb1,000-2,000/tonne.
MRC