Sanfanxiang restarted PTA plant in China

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Jiangsu Sanfangxiang has restarted its purified terephthalic acid (PTA) plant following maintenance turnaround, as per Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the plant restarted over the weekend. It was shut in late March 2014.

Located in eastern Jiangsu province of China, the plant has a production capacity of 1.2 million mt/year.

As MRC reported earlier, BP Zhuhai Chemical has deferred the startup of its new purified terephthalic acid (PTA) plant. The commissioning of the plant has been postponed to 2015. It was earlier scheduled to start in Q4, 2014. The reason for the delayed startup has been attributed to weak margins for PTA. To be located in Zhuhai, southern Guangdong province of China, the plant will have a production capacity of 1.5 million mt/year.

We remind that China based company Xianglu Petrochemical had started up its new purified terephthalic acid (PTA) plant in late November 2013. Located in Xiamen, China, the plant has a production capacity of 1.5 million mt/year.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Xinxiang Shenma Zhenghua Chemical has shut its polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plant for maintenance turnaround, reported Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the plant was shut on April 16, 2014. It is likely to remain off-stream for around one month.

Located in Henan province, China, the plant has a production capacity of 50,000 mt/year.

As MRC wrote previously, Erdos Chlor-Alkali Chemical took off-stream its PVC plant for maintenance turnaround on April 1, 2014. It is likely to remain off-stream for around one month. Located in Inner Mongolia, the plant has a production capacity of 300,000 mt/year.

Earlier this year, Japanese petrochemical producer - Taiyo Vinyl Corp., a subsidiary of Tosoh Group, has recently shut down its PVC plant for maintenance turnaround. It was shut down on March 13, 2014. The plant is likely to remain off-stream for around one month. Located in Yokkaichi, Japan, the plant has a production capacity of 310,000 mt/year.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Lubrizol is expanding its new global energy and water (E&W) business unit, said Hydrocarbonprocessing, citing the US-based specialty chemicals company press-release.

The announcement was made by John Uhran, vice president of Lubrizol's industrial specialties business group.
"We've always been active in the energy and water segments, but we were calling on these industries from different business groups within Lubrizol," said Uhran. "We pulled everything together to create the energy and water business unit in early 2013. This allowed us to focus on the oilfield, refinery process and industrial water treatment chemicals markets."

"The expansion and growth of this business unit exemplifies Lubrizol's commitment to making our chemical services customers' more competitive in their markets while creating safer working environments for their employees and the communities where they work," Uhran continued.

"Lubrizol's investment in the energy and water business unit will allow us to continue to provide innovative solutions for our customer's end-users."

Lubrizol says it is adding additional resources to grow the new business unit, with emphasis placed on hiring new scientists, along with additional sales and product management staff.

This will accelerate the delivery of Lubrizol innovations to the market to help make Lubrizol's specialty chemical-services customers more successful in their businesses.

The company noted that it has also added capital resources for the expansion o flaboratory facilities in Houston. The lab features testing equipment that enables a higher level of technical support to our customers. The new lab also increases R&D capability that will help Lubrizol develop a broader specialty additives portfolio, according to company officials.

As MRC wrote before, Lubrizol, an innovative specialty chemical company, is planning a four-year, USD400 million global expansion of its chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) resin and compounding manufacturing sites.

The Lubrizol Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is an innovative specialty chemical company that apart from its production develops and supplies technologies to customers in the global transportation, industrial and consumer markets. Lubrizol"s advanced polymer technology delivers exceptional performance for the plumbing, fire sprinkler, industrial and other building and construction related applications. Lubrizol is providing innovative solutions for its customers" high-performance application needs and remains committed to ongoing investment in its CPVC capabilities that support future growth.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Japanese production of ethylene fell 8.1% in March on the year to 510,900 tonnes, reported Reuters with reference to the data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Ethylene, made from naphtha, is a basic feedstock for petrochemicals that are made into products such as plastics.

As MRC wrote before, Japan-based Sumitomo Chemical will permanently wind up the operations of an ethylene plant at its Chiba Works in Ichihara, Chiba, in or before September 2015, following a decline in domestic demand for ethylene derivatives.

We also remind that, as informed previously, ethylene production from export-oriented steam crackers associated with advantaged gas-based feedstocks is set to alter the global ethylene markets, according to analysis from energy research firm Wood Mackenzie's new Chemical Markets Service.

Ethylene producing assets that have access to low cost gas feedstocks, such as the ones in North America, will lead the competition with total ethylene and derivative investment set to reach USD40-50 billion in the next decade. Over the same time period, global ethylene demand will grow by 3.3% per year, on average, according to Wood Mackenzie. The Dow Chemical Company, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and Exxon Mobil Corporation are among the leading companies engaged in the ethylene industry in North America.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Brand owners can now select Eastman Tritan copolyester and Eastar copolyester from Eastman Chemical Company for carbon filtration and reverse osmosis systems, reported the company on its site.

Brands that market point-of-use (POU) and point-of-entry (POE) water filtration systems and components know that the ability to clearly see the filter at work can result in more frequent filter media replacement - and greater sales.

Tritan and Eastar meet the requirements of the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) for water filtration units and deliver the benefits of transparent filter housings with excellent durability, improved chemical resistance and toughness. Unlike polycarbonate (PC), both materials are made without bisphenol A (BPA), a big advantage for brand owners looking to answer consumers’ needs for BPA-free products.

Growing consumer concerns about water quality and lack of confidence in municipality processes have led to a growing market for POE and POU water filtration products.

Opaque products are the most common material in the water filtration housing market. Clear or transparent housings make up less than 10 percent of the market because most clear materials fall short of NSF performance requirements for hydrostatic and burst pressure, and pressure fatigue. Consumers prefer a transparent housing that allows them to see the filter working and indicates filter replacement timing.

Eastman Tritan copolyester and Eastar copolyester meet NSF performance standards, a critical part of fitness for use. Tritan and Eastar provide a clear view of the filtration media, without the breakage and durability issues associated with some clear plastics, including styrene acrylonitrile copolymers (SAN). The glasslike clarity of Tritan and Eastar also allow for greater tinting flexibility, compared with the noticeable blue cast of SAN.

The toughness of Eastman Tritan copolyester and Eastar copolyester helps ensure longer filter housing life and can reduce issues related to breakage, cracking and product failure. Certain housings are designed with replaceable media, requiring the housing to be sanitized with each filter change, which is ideal for the dishwasher durability of Tritan.

In addition, when put up against two competitive materials - talc-filled polypropylene and SAN - in a rigorous drop-impact test, Eastman Tritan copolyester outperformed.

As MRC wrote previously, earlier this year, Eastman Chemical Company, a global specialty chemical company, enhanced its medical packaging portfolio with Eastalite copolyester, the company’s first opaque offering, which is styrene-free and can be a sustainable alternative to high-impact polystyrene (HIPS).

Eastman (headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA) is a global specialty chemical company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With a portfolio of specialty businesses, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. Its market-driven approaches take advantage of world-class technology platforms and leading positions in attractive end-markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables.
MRC