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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Addivant on Monday announced the completion of the first phase of capacity expansions at Gulf Stabilizers Industries (GSI), the company’s joint venture in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.
Once completed, the annual production capacity of hindered phenolic antioxidants, ANOX 20, ANOX PP18 and phosphite antioxidant ALKANOX 240 will double to 10,500 metric tons.
GSI's board of directors also announced that plans are underway to expand production capacity of the ANOX NDB product line to 24,000 tpy to meet growing customer demand for a range of new, higher performing products.
GSI is a joint venture between Addivant and Zamil ChemPlast, one of Saudi Arabia's leading industrial manufacturing companies.
"We have worked closely with our customers in the Middle East since 2001, when we were the first additive company to invest in the region," said Peter Smith, Addivant CEO and chairman of the GSI board. "Today, GSI remains the only local manufacturer of antioxidants and we are committed to support our customers with innovation, security of supply, and overall value.
'The rapid expansion of the Middle East polymer industry over the past two decades has been impressive and it will continue in the years ahead with the downstream markets playing an increasingly important role." Smith added. “With our breadth of specialty additives and formulation capabilities, we will continue to support our customers in the growth of applications in the automotive, packaging, agriculture, building and construction, and medical markets."
As MRC wrote before, new linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) polymer modifiers that allow halogen-free polyolefin compounds to efficiently replace PVC in flame retardant wire and cable solutions was intoduced as POLYBOND by Addivant USA, LLC in June 2013.
Addivant, the former Antioxidant and UV Stabilizer Solutions business of Chemtura Corporation, is the world’s largest producer of liquid phosphites, specialty antioxidants and materials in non-dust forms. The company is also known for its wide portfolio of specialty additives including light stabilizers, polymer modifiers, polymerization inhibitors and intermediates. With 11 plants on five continents as well as research, manufacturing and sales facilities around the globe, Addivant maintains global headquarters in Connecticut, USA, and regional headquarters in: Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia; Basel, Switzerland and Shanghai, China.
MRC
Addivant expands Al Jubail antioxidants complex
ExxonMobil shutdowns PE facility in Texas on possible leak
MOSCOW (MRC) -- US chemical producer ExxonMobil reported a shutdown at its Beaumont Polyethylene Plant in Texas, according to filing with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, said Plastemart.
The shutdown occurred Wednesday morning, when evidence of a leak was discovered, the filing said. About 584 lb of ethylene was released.
The Beaumont Polyethylene Plant produces 1.25 bln lb/year of high density polyethylene, 1.55 bln lb/year of linear low density polyethylene and 518 mln lb/year of low density polyethylene. The TCEQ filing did not indicate which units were affected by the shutdown.
As MRC wrote before, twelve contract workers were hurt when a fire broke out at a unit undergoing repairs at Exxon Mobil Corp's Beaumont, Texas, refinery in April 2013. The ExxonMobil Beaumont site is one of the larger refineries in the US, with a capacity of 344,500 bpd.
ExxonMobil is the largest non-government owned company in the energy industry and produces about 3% of the world's oil and about 2% of the world's energy.
MRC
PP imports to Russia decreased by 27% in January - February 2014
Russia's PP imports were 16,600 tonnes in February 2014 and 10,600 tonnes in January 2014. Total PP imports to Russia over the first two months of this year reached 27,200 tonnes, compared with 37,000 tonnes in January and February 2013.
The launch of two PP productions in Russia (Poliom and Tobolsk-Polymer) with total capacity of 680,000 tonnes was the main reason of the reduction of Russia's dependence of PP imports. Structure of total PP imports to Russia over the reported period was as follows.
Imports of homopolymer PP grew in February to 7,200 tonnes on the back of doubled imports volumes of raffia from Turkmenistan. Total imports of homopolymer PP to Russia in January and February 2014 decreased to 12,000 tonnes, from 18,100 tonnes in the same period of 2013.
Russia's imports of PP block copolymers in February was about 3,900 tonnes; the main increase in imports occurred for the local producers of pipes. Total imports of PP block copolymers over the first two months of the year decreased to 6,300 tonnes, down 22% from the same period in 2013.
Russia's imports of stat-propylene copolymers (PP-random) in February grew twofold in comparison with the January level due to the stronger demand from the Russian producers of BOPP films and pipes, and reached about 2,800 tonnes. Total Russia's imports of PP random copolymers in January-February 2014 declined to 4,100 tonnes, compared with 5,400 tonnes in the same period of 2013. Imports of other polymers of propylene in February 2014 was 2,700 tonnes.
MRC
Exports of Russian PC decreased by 19% in January and February 2014
Decline in exports is a traditional trend in this time of the year because of the seasonal increase in domestic demand in the spring. Russian PC producer Kazanorgsintez has shifted to the production for the domestic market.
The biggest growth in demand is expected in extrusion sector. Therefore, the producers have shipped almost all the volumes of extrusion PC to the domestic market.
That is why injection moulding grade PC prevailed in the Russia's PC exports. The share of injection moulding grade PC occurred for 86% of the total Russia's exports in January and February 2014, and reached 2,300 tonnes.
Exports of extrusion grade PC from Russia were 373 tonnes over the first two months of the year, which made 14% from the total Russia's PC exports in the reported period.
Prices for imported PC have increased because of rising exchange rate of the Euro and the dollar against the rouble. Traders said that an increasing number of converters began to switch to the Russian material.
MRC
PC imports to Russia rose by 3% in January and February 2014
MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of polycarbonate (PC) to the Russian market rose over the first two months of 2014 by 3% year on year and totalled 7,700 tonnes, according to MRC DataScope.
Buying activity was stable in the market, despite an increase in domestic prices for imported PC because of the rouble depreciation. Demand has begun to grow seasonally since late February, which traditionally lasts until late May. The current import quantities have met market needs so far, and hence there were no grounds for their reduction.
The extrusion grade sector accounted for the most significant growth in consumer activity. Imports to this sector have risen since the beginning of the year. 5,300 tonnes of extrusion grade PC were shipped to Russia in January andFebruary, up by 11% year on year. Overall, this material accounted for about 70% in the total imports for the stated period.
The main consumption sector of extrusion grade PC is production of PC sheets for their further usage in construction and agriculture. To date, there is a wide range of PC granules for sheets extrusion: pure polycarbonate, PC with light-scattering fillers, PC with UV protection, PC reinforced by fiberglass or PC with nonflammable additives. Prices of the material vary depending on the filler.
Extrusion grades without fillers or with UV filter are the most popular among the domestic converters. Both Russian PC of Kazanorgsintez and European PC (Bayer, Sabic) are in demand.
MRC