Gazprom Neft and Total form JV to produce modified bitumen in Russia

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The St. Petersburg-headquartered Russian oil and gas company Gazprom Neft has signed an agreement with France-based Total to form a joint venture to produce and sell modified bitumen and bitumen emulsions on the Russian market, reported Hydrocarbonprocessing with reference to Gazprom Neft's statement.

Each partner will have a 50% stake in the joint venture, which will build a special production facility at Gazprom Neft's Moscow oil refinery.

The facility will have a capacity of 60,000 tonnes of polymer modified bitumens and 7,000 tonnes of bitumen emulsions per year.

We remind that, as MRC informed previously, in late 2012, Gazprom Neft and a Russian petrochemicals producer SIBUR with a head office in Moscow will collaborate in the polymer road materials production and marketing. SIBUR will deliver styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) polymers to the facilities of Gazprom Neft. The materials are applied in the polymer-bitumen binders (PBB) manufacturing to improve the quality characteristics of the road surface and extend its service life.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Russian polyvinyl chloride (PVC) producers are going to raise contract PVC prices in August, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

Negotiations on Russian contract PVC prices for August began this week. SayanskKhimPlast has already announced an increase in its August contract prices by USD1,000/tonne from July. Other Russian producers - Bashkir Soda Company (formerly Kaustik, Sterlitamak) and Kaustik (Volgograd) - intend to increase contract prices as well.

Russian producers (particularly, SayanskKhimPlast) explain the necessity of the growth of contract PVC prices by both increasing demand on the back of tight supply and higher prices for imported material (devaluation of the rouble has increased prices of imported PVC by more than 3%).
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- PET market players reported higher export prices of Chinese and Korean bottle granulate, an increase of USD25-40/tonne from last week, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

The spread of Chinese PET spot prices was heard at USD1,410-1,420/tonne FOB China. Spot deals were being concluded by major buyers at USD1,395-1,400/tonne FOB China.

Prices of Korean bottle PET grades were announced at USD1,440-1,450/tonne FOB Korea.

Feedstock price increases were a cause of the present PET price rise, said a Korean trader. Paraxylene prices went up because of a surge in oil prices in July. MEG prices also showed a rapid upward trend. Buying activity is going to grow in early August due to the end of the long holidays - Ramadan, a source added.
Major consumers of imported granulate in Russia and Ukraine said the growth of export prices in late July was predictable. Also, some market players expect an increase in purchasing prices by late August and a possible start of an upward price trend. Meanwhile, converters and traders said that the cost of procurement will be affected not only by higher export prices. An increase in an additional fee to the starting freight rate (GRI) will also affect pricec of the material brought to the CIS markets.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Sale of Russian PET granulate in the domestic market in the first half of 2013 rose on strong demand, an increase of 10% year on year, according to MRC ScanPlast.

Overall, 217,300 tonnes of domestic granulate were sold in Russia in just the first half of 2013, whereas the total output over the said period amounted to 230,700 tonnes. Meantime, about 13,000 tonnes of bottle grades were exported.

Strong buying activity in the domestic market, the current contractual obligations to major converters and weak demand for PET granules in Europe ensured an increase in domestic supplies.
The PET market capacity in Russia in January-June 2013 grew by 1.3%. Overall, PET consumption in Russia over the said period totalled 307,600 tonnes.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Deceuninck North America, a leading designer and manufacturer of high-quality systems for windows, doors, and outdoor living, has formed a marketing partnership with RENSON Ventilation NV, a trendsetter in natural ventilation and sun protection, to add even greater value to Deceuninck’s high-quality, energy-efficient vinyl windows for commercial applications, reported the company on its site.

"At Deceuninck North America, we are always seeking partners that can bring innovative solutions to the table, solutions that make our windows even more distinctive and better than what is available in the marketplace," said Filip Geeraert, president and CEO of Deceuninck North America. "We are pleased to partner with RENSON, and we think people will be impressed by what they see at AIA."

Deceuninck’s Revolution Tilt-and-Turn Windows feature a seven-chamber thermal structure and multifunctional operability in a window that has the capability of achieving an R-value of 7+, and a C-100 rating. Revolution tilts in and locks for secure, indirect ventilation. It has minimal frame and sash sightlines and features maximum daylight area to take full advantage of today’s high-performance glass technologies. The product offers installation accessories for the North American market, and it has complete compatibility with the most popular North American doorsystems.

We remind that, as MRC wrote previously, in late 2012, Deceuninck and Gealan, two European window makers, have developed uPVC window profiles that do not rely on tubular galvanised steel inserts for strength. While steel acts as an effective reinforcement, its heat-conducting properties impede energy efficiency.

Deceuninck NV is a Belgian designer and producer of PVC systems for windows and doors, interior, roofline & cladding and terraces. The company extrudes PVC and the single base material Twinson.
MRC