Unique System to provide diving systems for the Leighton Offshore project in Iraq

(Arabian oil and gas) -- Unique System FZE, a Unique Maritime Group company, has been awarded a US$5.2 million contract to supply a 12 MAN ABS Classed saturation system and 3 air diving systems for the Leighton Offshore diving project, based in the Middle East.


Unique Maritime Group will provide their 12 MAN ABS Classed saturation system, complete with SPHL for subsea construction work activities and will deploy its equipment, consumables and skilled diving personnel on board client-designated vessels for the project.


The Iraq Crude Oil Export Expansion Project (ICOEEP), Phase 1, is being undertaken for Iraq's South Oil Company, by international EPCIC contractor Leighton Offshore as part of an $799 million contract.


The ICOEEP Phase 1 includes the following scope of work on a full engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning basis: Installation and commissioning of two 48 parallel pipelines, 20km onshore and 120km offshore, Installation of three SPM systems (single point mooring systems) capable of receiving and loading VLCC tankers and the fabrication and installation of a 600MT Subsea Valve Manifold.


MRC

Chevron Phillips to invest $6bn in Basra

(Iraq-BusinessNews) -- The American petrochemical producer Chevron Phillips Chemical is to invest $6 billion (7.2 trillion Iraqi dinars) to create a new facility in Basra. The Company has obtained a licence to operate in the city, and that Basra Investment Commission has also voiced its support for the project and is now seeking to allocate a plot of land. Once launched, the project is expected to provide up to one thousand jobs for local people.


MRC

Russian prices of blow molding grade HDPE to cut back

(MRC) -- Last week the prices of blow molding grade HDPE in Russia began to decline on the back of slumping demand and sufficient supply, according to ICIS-MRC Price Report.


In early August, many Russian converters anticipated the deficit of blow molding HDPE during scheduled turnarounds of several producers in September - October. As a result, companies made polyethylene inventories as much as possible, and in late September on the back of demand growth the prices reached Rb61,500-66,000/tonne, VAT, CPT Moscow.


October did not keep the upward trend. Some converters report about a serious decline in demand for finished products. Some companies have sufficient inventories of blow molding HDPE since August. The resumption of PE production by Russian producers stabilized the situation.


By Monday, Stavrolen had resumed the production of HDPE after its turnaround on October 10. The deliveries of blow molding polyethylene to the domestic market has been planned on Wednesday. Gazprom neftechem Salavat had also resumed HDPE production by beginning of this week. Due to technical problems, the company stopped the capacities ahead of schedule on September, 1st. In October, Nizhnekamskneftechem resumed the deliveries of blow molding HDPE.


By the beginning of the week, a low demand and sufficient supply had resulted in falling of the prices of blow molding HDPE by Rb1,500/tonne to Rb61,500-64,500/tonne, VAT, CPT Moscow.


MRC

Brazilian group appoints Resin Trade exclusive distributor for masterbatches in UK and Ireland

(Plasteurope) -- Brazilian masterbatch and additive manufacturer Cromex (Sao Paulo) appointed Resin Trade (Burton on Trent / UK) the exclusive distributor of its black, white, colour and additive masterbatches in the UK and Ireland. The UK group already distributes fellow Brazilian manufacturer Braskem's (Sao Paulo) entire portfolio in the UK and Ireland.


Cromex operates two masterbatch plants in Brazil. At its headquarters in Sao Paulo, the group can turn out 18,000 t/y of coloured masterbatches, whereas its plant in Simoes Filho has a nameplate capacity of 82,000 t/y of white and black masterbatches as well as additives. Cromex products are exported to more than 60 countries.


Founded in 1993, Resin Trade distributed more than 45,000 t/y of polymer between the UK and Spain in 2010, and expects that number to rise to 60,000 t/y in 2011. Aside from Cromex and Braskem, the UK distributor also handles the sales of Equate Petrochemicals' (Safat / Kuwait) PE and from its office in Alicante / Spain also distributes Octal Petrochemicals' (Musqat / Oman) PET resins in Spain and Portugal.

MRC

Singapore's exports of petrochemicals in September fell 8% year on year

(ICIS) -- Singapore's exports of petrochemicals in September fell 8% year on year, as product prices declined in tandem with international crude values and amid weakening demand, an analyst at credit ratings firm Standard & Poor's said on Monday. Exports were valued at Singapore dollars (S$) 1bn ($794m), according to International Enterprise Singapore (IE Singapore).


Economic worries in the US and the eurozone depressed oil prices in September, forcing manufacturers in Singapore to lower product prices, said Andrew Wong, a Singapore-based petrochemical analyst at credit ratings firm Standard & Poor's.


Brent crude futures fluctuated between a low of $108.07/bbl to a high of $113.26/bbl in September, while NYMEX WTI futures hit a low of $84.47/bbl and a high of $88.33/bbl during the month.
Among petrochemical products, benzene almost had an 11% decline in average spot prices in September from August, while ethylene saw a 6.2% fall in average values over the same period, according to ICIS.


In Asia, the petrochemicals demand and supply situation is roughly balanced, with a softening of demand in China - the region's major importer of petrochemicals; Thailand in excess supply, and; Indonesia continuing as a net importer, Wong said.


Global energy majors Shell and ExxonMobil have petrochemical manufacturing sites in Singapore that serve the Asian market.


MRC