Royal DSM invests in new research facilities in the Netherlands

(engineeringnet) -- The Dutch Materials Sciences company DSM is going to invest about EUR100 million in three new R&D facilities in Delft and Sittard-Geleen (both in the Netherlands) over the next two years.

The investment in Delft concerns a new laboratory for biotechnological research as well as a DSM contribution to the recently formed consortium for the Bioprocess Pilot Facility (BPF) for bio-research.

In Sittard-Geleen a new materials sciences research building will be realized on the Chemelot Campus.

Maxime Verhagen, the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation, is excited about DSM investment’s: "This will strengthen the position of the Dutch knowledge-based economy and secure our position among the world leaders in sectors such as agro/food, chemicals and energy. Moreover, the investment will generate jobs and revenues in economically difficult times."

MRC

In April imports of PET to Ukraine increased by 26%

MOSCOW (MRC) -- In April, imports of PET granulate to Ukraine rose by 3,000 tonnes, which was up 26% compared to the March level and made about 14,000 tonnes, as per MRC analysts.

According to the market players, the increase in purchases of bottle PET resulted from seasonal factors and the growth of sales of PET performs in the domestic market. The expectations of further price hike of granulate also affected the purchases, on the back of the trend of rising prices of paraxylene and the components.

Chinese material dominated in the imports volumes. Ukrainian converters prefer the grade of PET CR-8816, produced by China Resources Chemicals. The total shipments of Chinese material in April grew twofold and made 5,200 tonnes.

The purchases of Pakistani PET and granulate from UAE reduced. The imports of Belarusian PET also decreased notably. In April, the traders delivered only 60 tonnes of PET by Mogilevkhimvolokno production. At the same time the supplies of the Germany's Invista (grade PolyShield 2300) tripled and exceeded 1,000 tonnes.

Over four months of 2012, the total imports of granulate made about 52,000 tonnes. This was up by 5,300 tonnes, or 11.4% more year on year.

MRC

US plastic resin production, sales down from 2011

(hydrocarbonprocessing) -- US production of major plastic resins totaled 6.1 billion pounds during April 2012, a decrease of 3.2% compared to the same month in 2011, according to new statistics released by the American Chemistry Council (ACC) trade group. Sales and captive use were down 8.8% from April 2011.

US production of major plastic resins totaled 6.1 billion pounds during April 2012, a decrease of 3.2% compared to the same month in 2011, according to new statistics released by the American Chemistry Council (ACC) trade group.

Year-to-date production was 25.3 billion pounds, a 1.5% increase compared to the same period in 2011.

Sales and captive (internal) use of major plastic resins totaled 5.8 billion pounds during April 2012, a decrease of 8.8% from the same month one year earlier.

Year-to-date sales and captive use was 24.4 billion pounds, a 2.1% decrease as compared to the same period in 2011, according to the ACC.

MRC

Huntsman to increase MDI and MDI-based systems prices in Europe

(chinatexnet) -- The Polyurethanes division of Huntsman Corporation announced today that it will increase the price of all MDI products and MDI-based systems by a further EUR 150/tonne in the European region, effective July 1, 2010 latest or as contracts allow.

Nick Webster, Vice President, Europe for the Polyurethanes division said: "This price increase is necessary to achieve re-investment economics and to address the ongoing high level of raw material costs for MDI and polyol products ".
MRC

Iran's new petrochemical complex to produce 1mln tons of ethylene by autumn


(english.farsnews) -- Iran will soon inaugurate another petrochemical complex to produce ethylene, Director of Pars Special Economic Energy Zone Ahmad Reza Heidarnia announced, adding that the complex is scheduled to surpass one-million-ton production capacity by autumn.

Ahmad Reza Heidarnia made the remarks on Friday, stressing that Kavian Petrochemical Complex will produce one million tons of ethylene by the end of the first half of the current Iranian year (started March 20, 2012).

The official which works for the National Iranian Petrochemical Company (NIPC) also said that Iran is set to inaugurate two major petrochemical projects in the country's Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (Assalouyeh).

The Kavian Petrochemical Complex (Olefin 11), as the world's largest ethylene producer, as well as the West Ethylene Pipeline will come on stream in the near future, Heidarnia said.

He added that the West Ethylene Pipeline, which will transfer ethylene from Assalouyeh in the Southern Iranian province of Bushehr to the petrochemical complexes in Iran's Western provinces, has a final capacity of 2.5 million tons per annum.

The project is expected to reduce the concentration of petrochemical industries in the southern parts of the country and shift it to western parts.

Since 2005, when President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ascended to power, 38 petrochemical plans have been launched leading to rising production of petrochemical products from 20 million tons to 54 million tons per year. Iran's petrochemical products are exported to more than 60 countries across the world.

MRC