Turkish Petkim cuts polypropylene, PVC prices by USD20-25/mt

(Petkim) --Turkish petrochemicals group Petkim has reduced polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride prices by USD20-25/mt this week on the back of weakening demand.

List prices for polypropylene were lowered by USD25/mt to USD1,650-1,660/mt FCA Aliaga, and for PVC by USD20/mt to USD1,140-1,170/mt. Polyethylene prices were unchanged.

Petkim Petrokimya Holding AS is a Turkey-based petrochemical company. The main product groups are Low-density polyethylene (LDPE); High-density polyethylene (HDPE); Polyvinyl chloride (PVC); Polypropylene (PP); Masterbatches; Olefins; Fibers, and Aromatics.

As MRC wrote earlier, Petkim Petrokimya Holding AS, Turkey"s biggest petrochemicals maker, plans to invest as much as USD8 billion by 2016 on projects including a refinery, a new port and power plants.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- In September, production of PET granulate by Russian plants grew by 4% and made about 38,000 tonnes. In January-September, the total output of bottle PET in Russia made about 341,000 tonnes, according to MRC ScanPlast.

The increase in the final performance of the domestic plants in September was due to the normalization of PET granulate production at Polief plant.

We remind that due to a long-term maintenance in July, the plant produced about 5,500 tonnes of PET, the production volumes of the material in August made 9,300 tonnes. After reaching the stable capacity utilization in September, the plant produced about 11,800 tonnes of PET granulate, which also resulted in the growth of the total indices of production in Russia.

The total capacity utilization of the domestic plants increased by 3% last month and made about 87% in September. It should be noted that Kaliningrad plant capacity remains significantly underutilized.

In the first three quarters of 2012, the increase in PET production in Russia made 11%. The total production volume increased by 33,800 tonnes and amounted to 341,000 tonnes.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The year-to-date HDPE output in Russia dropped by 22% to 502,300 tonnes. In September, the production volume of HDPE by Russian makers slashed to 36,300 tonnes, according to MRC ScanPlast.

In September, Russian makers reduced the production volumes of HDPE to 36,300 tonnes, down 39% from August. The reduction of HDPE output last month was due to a scheduled monthly shutdown for maintenance at Kazanorgsintez from 11 September and the reduction of production capacity at Nizhnekamskneftekhim due to a scheduled outage for maintenance at the production of ethylene.

Production cutbacks affected all grades of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with the exception of film material. As a result, September turned out to be a difficult month for the Russian market. Expectedly, prices in the domestic market and HDPE import rose to record levels.

Over the past nine months, the total HDPE output by Russian makers made about 502,300 tonnes, down 22% year-on-year, due to a long-term outage at Stavrolen. At the same time, it is worth noting that Kazanorgsintez and Nizhnekamskneftekhim partially made up for the shortage of Budenovsk material. The plants increased production this year by 29% and 33%, respectively.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - Imports of general-purpose polystyrene (GPPS) to Russia increased by 50% in the three quarters of 2012, according to MRC DataScope.

In September 2012, Russia’s imports of GPPS made 7,937 tonnes, up 34%, from August 2012.

Year to date Russia’s imports of PP exceeded 47,000 tonnes of material, up 50% year on year.

The bulk of GPPS supplies, namely 58%, was supplied by Styrolution – 27,605 tonnes.

Such a significant increase in deliveries in September resulted from the increase in prices from Russian producers, that cut the difference between GPPS price from Russia’s Nizhnekamskneftekhim and European Styrolution respectively.


MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- In September, imports of PET in the domestic market of Ukraine rose to 10,200 tonnes. Over three quarters of 2012 the total imports of PET made 125,000 tonnes, up 2.5% year on year, according to MRC DataScope.
In September, imports of PET to Ukraine increased by 50%, from August to about 10,200 tonnes of granulates, whereas in the previous month, the converters purchased only 6,800 tonnes.

In August, many companies worked using their stock inventories, but by September the residues had come to the end.

The Chinese PET dominated in September imports, having reached about 6,300 tonnes. The most popular brand among Ukrainian consumers was brand Skypet by SK Chemicals production. South Korean PET was not delivered at all in September, due to high prices of PTA and MEG.

In general, in January - September the total imports of PET to Ukraine amounted to 125,000 tonnes, up 2.5% year on year. While this year many Ukrainian converters reported good demand for finished products from the bottlers. The imports are not expected to grow in Q4. A slight increase in imports can be seen in November-December, on the eve of the New Year holidays.

MRC