Vietnam might become the world third-largest rubber producer

(GV) -- Vietnam is likely to become the world’s third biggest rubber producer in the future, thus, surpassing Malaysia, according to a recent report by the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries.

The association estimated that Vietnam would produce 955,000 tonnes of natural rubber this year, up 17% year-on-year.

Earlier, in its September report, the association projected that Vietnam's rubber output in 2012 would be 930,000 tonnes, taking it to the fourth position in the list of world’s biggest rubber producers.

We remind, as MRC informed previously, PetroVietnam, state-run Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, had announced earlier this year that it was going to construct the second oil refinery in the country. And Vietnamese government already made a step forward in its construction by allocating land for the Kuwaiti jointly-owned refinery and petrochemicals plant.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- With Styron's participation in a multi-collaborative development project, Ford managed to win the SPE innovation award for Safety, according to the company's press release.

With Styrons's INSPIRE long glass fiber polypropylene resin (LGF PP), Ford developed an industry first-integrated plastic bracket (for hood bump-stop and headlamp attachments) that significantly reduces the risk of head injuries. Styron's material greatly adds to absorbing the impact, consequently helping Ford to meet new US Safety regulations.

Ford used this innovation in production of the new Ford Fusion, which was launched late summer 2012. Besides, the new bracket has a new design, which consists of one part only and is entirely produced with plastics material. By using this integrated plastic bracket, the Head Injury Criterion (HIC) is reduced by approximately 30% of its original value, which enables Ford to meet the Pedestrian Protection (PedPro), a new requirement for the US automotive market.

As MRC reported earlier, Renault is now launching the New Renault Clio with a thermoplastic lift-gate made with Styron's material solutions, which consits of three parts, namely, Styron's polypropylene compound, long glass fiber polypropylene resin (LGF-PP), PP impact copolymer blended with different components.

Styron is a leading global materials company. Styron’s unique product portfolio brings together plastics, rubber and latex businesses.

Styron Automotive, a business unit of Styron Corporation LLC, delivers breakthrough innovative solutions for automotive interior and exterior components. ABS, Polycarbonate, PC/ABS, LGF PP, TPOs and elastomeric materials from Styron Automotive are helping advance applications like mid and upper consoles, instrument panels, blow molded seat backs, bumper fascias, trim, and more.
MRC

(bloomberg) -- PT Pertamina, Indonesia’s state oil company, is interested in a refinery in southern France that LyondellBasell Industries NV (LYB) threatened to shutter permanently, according to French Industry Minister Arnaud Montebourg.

The state pressured LyondellBasell to mothball the refinery after the company said last year it planned to shut the plant permanently and cut 370 jobs because it couldn’t find a buyer. "The minister and his team are fully committed to try to make a solution with future for the refinery and its employees," the ministry said Tuesday in a statement.

The LyondellBasell refinery is under reconstruction and its refining units are being mothballed through to the end of 2013 after the company was unable to find a buyer.

The refinery would be the third to stop operations in France over the past years as the whole business lost profitability because of low demand in the region, overcapacity and rising competition from refiners in the Middle East and Asia.

A fourth refinery is in trouble in Petit-Couronne on the country's northern coast after its owner, Swiss-based company Petroplus, filed for protection from creditors.

LyondellBasell is one of the largest suppliers of imported polyolefins in Russia.
MRC

(cnbc) -- LyondellBasell announced that the company will restore a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) line in Wesseling, Germany, that has been out of service since January 2012. Startup of the new line is targeted for mid-2013.

The Wesseling LDPE line has historically been used to produce LDPE grades for healthcare applications. Restoration of this LDPE line will enhance the company's ability to supply this important market. LyondellBasell also announced the creation of a new sales group within its European specialty polyolefins sales organization to further strengthen its commitment to, and support of, customers in the medical industry.

"The restoration of this LDPE production line at Wesseling and the increased focus we will obtain through our new sales organization will enable us to better serve our customers and help them to optimize their supply chain through our higher production capability," said Bob Patel, LyondellBasell's Senior Vice President, Olefins and Polyolefins for Europe, Asia and International.

LyondellBasell is one of the world's largest plastics, chemical and refining companies and a member of the S&P 500 Index. LyondellBasell manufactures products at 58 sites in 18 countries.

LyondellBasell products and technologies are used to make items that improve the quality of life for people around the world including packaging, electronics, automotive parts, home furnishings, construction materials and biofuels.
MRC

(Reuters) - Profit at MOL almost doubled in the third quarter thanks to a strong performance by the Hungarian oil and gas group's refining business due to improved product margins and inventory gains.

MOL's net profit jumped to 67.5 billion forints (USD299 mln) from 36.4 billion in the same period of 2011 while group operating profit, excluding special items, surged to 117.2 billion forints from 64.5 billion.

"Increasing profitability was mainly attributable to an improving downstream performance, which is due to better product margins, higher sales volumes and inventory gains," MOL said in its report published on Wednesday.

Helped by higher crack spreads and inventory gains, as well as higher refinery output, MOL's downstream business made an operating profit excluding one-off items of 54.3 billion forints versus a loss of 17 billion in the same period of 2011.

MOL Group is a leading integrated Central and East European oil and gas corporation with an extensive international Upstream and Downstream portfolio.

TVK is wholly owned by Hungary's MOL group. TVK is a significant player in market of polyolefins in Ukraine.
MRC