Treofan targets emerging markets, talks continue for Indian BOPP maker

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Treofan Group, a global leader in BOPP films headquartered in Raunheim, Germany, aims for considerable global growth in the coming years, said Treofan.

First of all, Treofan wants to further strengthen its traditional close relationships with leading brand manufacturers so that they can develop a shared understanding of future challenges and possible ways of solving them.

Building on this, the company wants to increase its pace of innovation – particularly in highervalue market segments. In packaging, these include items such as in-mold labels – labels integrated into injection-molded packaging. The Technical Films business unit also has significant expansion potential in promising electronic applications such as electric vehicles and alternative energy sources. To achieve this, Treofan will increase its annual investment in
research and development by approximately 20 %.

Thirdly, Treofan aims to become more international by implementing a new “intelligent structure”, according to Vanacker, that will look for the best ways to meet customer needs in each individual market. This can involve expanding production capacity, acquiring other companies, or entering into local partnerships. One example: Treofan is currently in talks about a potential acquisition of Max Speciality Films, an Indian film manufacturer.

As MRC wrote earlier, Max India has sold its 50,000 tpa profitable biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film facility, Max Speciality Films, to Treofan, a German global technology leader for BOPP film, for Rs 5.4 billion (USD97 mln).

In the medium term, Treofan wants to increase the proportion of business done outside Europe – currently around 40% of group turnover. “The most dynamic market growth is taking place outside Western Europe and the USA – particularly in Asia and Latin America,” comments Peter Vanacker. “Today, we’re active in 90 countries worldwide. We aim to use this expertise to further expand our global position.”

Treofan Group is a global leader in biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) films distributed under the brand names Treofan. Treofan offers the most comprehensive product portfolio in the industry, including solutions for the packaging and tobacco industries, labels, and technical films for electronic applications such as batteries and capacitors. The Group employs around 1,200 people, operates four production sites in Germany, Italy, and Mexico, and sells its products in more than 90 markets worldwide.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- In the Ukrainian market, the cost of polystyrene (PS) will increase in February after a rise in quotations of such producers, as concern Stirol, Nizhnekamskneftekhim and SIBUR-Khimprom, according to MRC Price report.

In late January, representatives of concern Stirol (Gorlovka) announced an intention to increase the price offers for February. As per the preliminary information, the cost of expanded polystyrene in early February was at the level of UAH19,400-19,600/tonne. However, market participants admit the possibility of a price growth for the material in February.

Russia's largest PS producer Nizhnekamskneftekhim raised its prices by Rb2,000/tonne for Ukrainian companies for February. According to MRC data, in 2012, 35% of GPPS and 78% of HIPS consumption accounted for Nizhnekamsk material.

In January, the cost of the material was at the level of UAH20,000-20,300/tonne for GPPS and UAH20,400-20,900/tonne for HIPS. The cost of the material in the domestic market is expected to grow proportionally.

In late January, SIBUR-Khimprom (Perm) rose its quotation for February by USD70/tonne, as a result, the cost of Alphapor reached the level of USD1,970/tonne, FCA Perm. However, this week there was information that the cost of the material for the companies that had not concluded contracts yet would increase to USD2,050/tonne, FCA Perm. This increase is of the deferred nature, as the producer preserved prices in late 2012-early 2013, while the cost of the alternative - Asian - material has increased considerably.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Experts of POLIEF (SIBUR group) has assembled the main equipment for food-grade PET, the company said in its press release.

The largest equipment of PET expansion project - a device of solid phase polycondensation - was installed as part of the "PET-210" project aimed at an increase of production capacities. The height of the device is more than 30 meters.

It is a key equipment for food-grade PET. In autumn 2012, the equipment was delivered to Blagoveshchensk to the company's production site (see MRC news).

According to this project, the production capacities of PET will be increased from 140,000 tonnes to 210,000 tonnes per year, which will allow SIBUR to become the largest producer of PET in Russia.

It is expected that "PET-210" project will be completed by the end of the year.

POLIEF (Blagoveshchensk, Bashkortostan) is Russia's largest producer of polyester, the only Russian producer of terephthalic acid (PTA), one of the leading Russian producers of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

SIBUR, the largest integrated gas processing and petrochemical company in Russia and the CIS countries, as well as Central and Eastern Europe, is a controlling shareholder of POLIEF.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- By January, the price situation in the Russian market of dioctylphthalate plasticizer (DOP) had stabilized after a sharp fall in prices in November. Some market participants do not exclude a price rise in the near future, according to MRC Price report.

By early February, prices of Russian DOP had remained in the range of Rb62,000-65,000/tonne, FCA, including VAT. But, according to some market participants, they are likely to grow in the near future.

In November, 2012, the change of the managing company of Perm plant (Kamteks-Khimprom) resulted in a serious drop in prices in the market. Thus, in October prices of Russian DOP were on average in the range of Rb82,000-84,000/tonne, FCA, including VAT, but in November, prices fell to the level of Rb70,000/tonne, FCA, including VAT.

Gazprom neftekhim Salavat has suspended production of DOP, and now it is shipping the remains of the material as per the January contract obligations. Some market participants do not exclude that with the resumption of production of plasticizer, Gazprom neftekhim Salavat will announce a price increase.
MRC

MOSCOW (ICIS-MRC) - European makers in February were forced to cut export prices of polypropylene for the CIS countries, according to a ICIS-MRC Price Report.

Despite the increase in the contract price of propylene in Europe, which was agreed by EUR10/tonne up from the January level, European producers were forced to reduce export prices of polypropylene for the CIS countries by EUR20-40/tonne. It resulted from the low demand and the strengthening of the euro.

The negotiation on February prices of European PP for CIS markets continued last week. Many market participants reported that they managed to get price reductions. The deals for February homopolymer of polypropylene (PP-homo) were discussed at EUR1 ,170-1, 230/tonne, FCA. The prices of block copolymers of propylene (PP-block) started from EUR1, 240/tonne, FCA.

However, many market participants are in no hurry to buy polypropylene in Europe. February's decline in the price of the European polypropylene was almost completely offset by the growing of the euro against the dollar. Since early January, the European currency has grown against the dollar by 4%.

In addition, market players refere to the prices in Asia and the Middle East. Offers for March shipments of Asian and Middle Eastern PP were voiced at USD1 ,560-1, 600/tonne, FOB.


MRC