The Indian petrochemicals industry will continue to surge in 2013

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The Indian petrochemicals industry will continue to surge in 2013 as the market becomes increasingly self-sufficient and domestic producers benefit from a weak rupee and a revised tariff structure, as per Pastemart with reference to a report by Business Monitor Index (BMI).

However, a poor business climate, exacerbated by chaotic government policies and land disputes, is undermining progress and could prove detrimental in the long term. The possible collapse of Haldia Petrochemicals in West Bengal, amid a dispute between the main private shareholder and the state government, underlines the problems facing the sector, in spite of the growth potential that India is beginning to realise.

BMI believes that India's demand for polymers will grow at around 10% in 2013 and 2014, spurred by the stronger consumption of polyolefins. As a result, polymer demand should rise to 9.86 mln tons in 2013 and 10.84 mln tons in 2014. Growth is slightly down on the 13% reported in 2013 due to lingering weakness in global demand as well as a more subdued economic environment.

Over the last quarter BMI has revised the following forecasts/views:
- Much of the growth in 2013 will be served by growing domestic capacities. A 50% leap in PE capacity is anticipated. Around 60% of the 1.88 mln tpa rise in polyethylene (PE) capacity will come from linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). At the same time, polypropylene (PP) capacity is set to increase by a quarter to 4.72 mln tpa in 2013.

- India implemented an increase in duties on imports of all polymers and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) from 5.0% to 7.5% in May, a move that helped domestic producers but hit converters with higher costs. BMI believes that it will lead to higher domestic list prices of polymers in the domestic market as well as lower imports. At the same time, domestic producers will benefit from a lower import duty of 5% on feedstocks - such as naphtha, ethylene, EDC and VCM - in which India suffers from some under-supply. BMI does not believe that a consequent increase in domestic prices will hit demand, which remains strong due to robust demand and tight supply.

We remind that, as MRC informed earlier, The Supreme Court (SC) has not granted a stay on the stake sale process in eastern Indian biggest petrochemical company - Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd (HPL) - and set the stage for the West Bengal government to call price bids by August 31.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- PPG Industries has announced that Kevin Braun was appointed vice president of industrial coatings, Americas, effective immediately, replacing Richard Zoulek, who has left the company, reported the company on its site.

Braun was most recently appointed vice president, global raw materials and Americas purchasing.

"Kevin is a superb leader who combines excellent product and manufacturing experience with a keen awareness of the industry and market trends," said Viktor Sekmakas, PPG executive vice president.

Braun, who joined PPG in 1991, also has served as PPG’s general manager, silica products, and general manager, architectural coatings, Australia/New Zealand. Previously, he held roles of increasing commercial responsibility in industrial coatings, fiber glass and architectural coatings in the United States.

As MRC wrote previously, in early 2013, PPG Industries announced the successful closing of the previously announced separation of its commodity chemicals business and merger of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Eagle Spinco Inc., with a subsidiary of Georgia Gulf Corporation.

PPG Industries Inc. is an Americain international company that produces paints, chemicals, optical components, specialty materials, glass and fiber glass. The company consists of more than 150 production units and offices in more than 60 countries. PPG industries is in the list of the top 500 US corporations in terms of sales. The company's sales in 2012 were USD15.2 billion. As MRC reported previously, PPG Industries plans to open its first factory in Russia near Tver. As of today, PPG Industries has no production facilities in Russia.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- JX Nippon Oil and Energy is in plans to restart a cracker in Japan, informed Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in Japan informed that the cracker is likely to restart on August 29, 2013. The cracker was shut on August 18, 2013 owing to power problem.

Located in Kawasaki, Japan, the cracker has an ethylene production capacity of 404,000 mt/year and propylene production capacity of 260,000 mt/year.

As MRC reported earlier, JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corp. is considering shutting down oil refinery operations at its Muroran plant in Hokkaido by the end of March 2014. JX Nippon will keep the Muroran refinery as a manufacturing plant for petrochemical products and keep its employees through job displacement.

The Nippon Oil Corporation, or NOC or Shin-Nisseki is a Japanese petroleum company. Its businesses include the exploration, importation, and refining of crude oil; the manufacture and sale of petroleum products, including olefines (ethylene, propylene) and aromatics.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Technip was awarded by Trunkline LNG Export the front end engineering and design (FEED) contract for the potential expansion of the existing LNG import terminal located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The potential expansion project includes a LNG liquefaction plant, with a total export capacity of up to 15 Mtpy, so that a portion of the vast additional supplies of natural gas produced from shale gas fields across the US can be exported to international markets.

The total liquefaction capacity could be achieved hrough up to three identical trains, with associated utilities and offsite facilities as well as the re-use f the existing LNG offloading, storage and marine facilities.

Air Products has been selected to supply its 3MR liquefaction process technology for this FEED study.

Technip’s operating center in Houston, Texas will execute the contract with the support from the Group’s enter in Paris, France. It is scheduled for completion during the first half of 2014.

As MRC wrote previously, global capital expenditure in the liquefied natural gas sector will more than double to around USD228 billion in the 2013-2017 period, compared to the previous five years, according to consulting firm Douglas Westwood. It said the increase in capital expenditure includes onshore and offshore projects to liquefy gas for export, import terminals to regasify LNG and LNG carriers for transporting the fuel, with Australasia and North America bringing most of the new supply in to the market.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Xuzhou Hiatian Petrochemical has shut a polypropylene (PP) plant, reported Apic-online.

A Polymeruodate source informed that the plant was shut on August 26. The duration of the closure could not be ascertained.

The closure has been attributed to non-availability of feedstock propylene.

Located in Jiangsu, China, the plant has a production capacity of 200,000 mt/year.

As MRC informed previously, in October 2012, Xuzhou Haitian Petrochemical started commercial production at a new PP plant with the capacity of 200,000 tpa in Jiangsu Province.The new plant will produce PP chips for the production of yarns, copolymers and pipe grades.
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