Celanese increases May polyethylene prices in China

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Celanese Corporation, a global technology and specialty materials company and a global leader in vinyl acetate ethylene (EVA) emulsions, has announced that it will increase the price of all GUR and GHR UHMW-PE grades sold in China, reported the company on its site.

This price increase will be 15% and come in force on 1 May, 2014, or as contracts allow.

As MRC informed earlier, Celanese Corporation will increase the price of vinyl acetate-based emulsions sold in Asia. PVAc homopolymer and (EVA) emulsions will increase by Yuan 240/tonne for China and USD40/tonne for Asia outside of China effective April 1, 2014, or as contracts allow. This price increase affects all applications including, but not limited to, adhesives, paints and coatings, building and construction, glass fiber, carpet and paper.

Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production of differentiated chemistry solutions and specialty materials used in most major industries and consumer applications. Based in Dallas, Texas, Celanese employs approximately 7,400 employees worldwide and had 2013 net sales of USD6.5 billion.
MRC

Deceuninck expanding in Turkey

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Deceuninck Group, the European vinyl profile extruder, plans to invest around 20 million euros (USD27.6 million) to expand its manufacturing operations in Turkey over the next two years, said Plasticsonline.

The group, which has seen steady sales growth in Turkey, despite national political crises there, will construct a new profiles plant with a capacity in the city of Izmir which will replace its existing Egepen Deceuninck plant in the city.
Deceuninck says it was prompted to invest in the new facility at this time because its current Izmir unit with a capacity of 50,000 metric tons per year has become too small for future expansion in the Turkish market. The new plant will be able to handle an additional 15,000 metric tons.

The company, based in Hooglede, Belgium, has made Turkey its export hub, feeding new emerging markets in Asia, Africa and Latin America. In 2012, it launched a warehouse in India and recently opened another in Santiago, Chile.
Deceuninck expects to complete the move to the new plant in Menemen near Izmir by the end of next year. The vacated plant buildings will then be put up for sale, a spokesman told EPN.

Deceuninck estimates the warehouse and foiling manufacturing section of the new plant will be finished in 2014 with its extrusion and compounding sections to be completed in 2015.

The Belgian group operates a second smaller plant in Turkey at Kocaeli. It manufactures Deceuninck’s Winsa brand window system and opened in 2007.

In Turkey, Deceuninck states, it has made a good start to 2014 although it expects the weak Turkish lira to continue to weigh on its revenues and earnings in the region.

In 2013 Turkish sales represented 23% of the group’s world sales, with Western Europe representing 33 percent, Central and Eastern Europe 30 percent and North America 14%.

Deceuninck reported it cut its debt and doubled its net profit in 2013 to EUR8.4 million (USD11.5 million) "in spite of the challenging economic environment." This resulted from stable volumes, strict working capital management and cost control, the group’s CEO Tom Debusschere said.

At the same time Deceuninck saw its overall sales dip 3.7% to EUR536.5 million (USD740.2 million) with European construction markets depressed after a harsh winter. Even so, stable volumes resulted from growth in the U.S., Germany, Italy and England as well as Turkey and the emerging markets, said the group.

As MRC informed before, Deceuninck North America recently added three PVC lineal lamination lines to its existing lamination capabilities to meet consumer demand for a wider variety of color customization options.

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. Founded in 1937, with its headquarters in Hooglede-Gits, the Deceuninck Group operates in more than 75 countries and has 35 subsidiaries across Europe, North America and Asia, including the United States, United Kingdom, Russia and Turkey.
MRC

Paccor increases PET sheet capacity in Poland

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Paccor International, part of the global Coveris packaging group, has expanded PET sheet capacity with the introduction of a new high output Battenfeld-Cincinnati extrusion line in Poland, said Plasticsonline.

The leading rigid containers producer is already operating the complete 3-layer coextrusion line, including an in-line lamination station, with a 1.1 metric ton per hour capacity at its production plant in Skierniewice, Poland.
Paccor, based in Zell/Mosel, Germany, chose the equipment partly because of its versatility capable of turning out a sheet thickness range from 0.2 millimeters to 1.2 millimeters.

The laminating unit allows the new line to produce multi-layer sheets as easily as barrier sheet and sealing sheet made from different polymers and regrinds, according to Bad Oeynhausen, Germany-based Battenfeld-Cincinnati.
The line can, for example, provide the sheet with a barrier layer to extend the shelf life of the packaging or with a polyethylene sealing layer to offer subsequent peelable and/or weldable capability.

Paccor said it was pleased with the new extrusion line’s capacity to turn out a variety of different sheet products and fully satisfied with its energy efficiency.

"Another decisive argument in favor of this purchase was the high output of 1.1 per hour with a net sheet width of 900 millimeters, which enables us to optimally cater to the growth market of food packaging," said Marcin Antos, managing director of Coveris’s Polish subsidiary.

Coveris was formed by the May 2013 merger of U.S. packaging firm Exopack with four European packaging companies owned by the American private equity group Sun Capital Partners: Britton Group, Kobusch, Paccor and Paragon Print & Packaging.

As MRC wrote before, PACCOR Packaging Solutions has announced further investment plans as part of its development strategy to become a major player in rigid food packaging in both the Food Service and the Consumer Goods market sectors. This investment, worth GBR9.4 million (EUR11 million), in both Standdaarbuiten and Nijkerk highlights the ambition and growth strategy of PACCOR’s Food Service division, based in the Netherlands.

PACCOR Food Service products include rigid packaging for the food packaging industry, notably salad bowls, meat and fish trays, beer and beverage cups and vending cups for the disposable packaging industry.
MRC

Output of polymer products in Belarus decreased by 14.4% in January and February 2014

MOSCOW (MRC) - The output of polymer products in Belarus decreased by 14.4% in the first two months of this year, according to MRC analysts.

The greatest decline in production occurred for the plastic windows, widow boxes, sills, plastic doors and door boxes.
According to the National Statistics Committee of Belarus, February production of windows, window boxes and sills declined to 19,500 square meters, down 16.5% from the January level. Total production of these products in the first two months of this year was 42,800 square meters, down 27.9% compared to the same period in 2013.

February production of plastic doors and boxes was 1,500 square meters, down 11.9% from the January level. Total production of these products decreased by 22.9% to 3,300 square meters in January and February 2014.

February production of polymers plates, films and sheets was 5,800 tonnes, down 10.9% than in the previous month. Total production of these products decreased by 12.4% to 12,300 tonnes in the first two months of the year .

February production of polymer boxes, crates, trays was about 58.9 million units, from 61.6 million units in January.
Total production of these polymers products increased to 120.5 million units in In January and February this year, up 11.8% year on year.

February production of polymer pipes, hoses and fittings fell to 915 tonnes (946 tonnes in January). Total production of these products was 1,900 tonnes in the first two months of the year, up 23.1% year on year.
MRC

Imports of HIPS and GPPS in Russia fell by 36 % in January and February 2014

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) fell in January- February 2014 by 36% year on year on the back of the national currency devaluation and increased polystyrene (PS) production in Russia, according to MRC DataScope.

The overall HIPS and GPPS imports totalled 7,700 tonnes in January and February 2014. GPPS accounted for 4,500 tonnes of the total imports (down by 40% year on year), while HIPS accounted for 3,200 tonnes of the total imports (down by 28% year on year).

Market players attributed the decline in imports by devaluation trends of the rouble, which had led to a substantial increase in the feedstock cost for local converters. In their turn, in the search for alternatives, Russian companies switched their attention to the domestic material. Russian producers said there was stronger demand for HIPS grades, which were in short supply.

Styrolution remained among the leaders, which supply GPPS and HIPS to Russia. The company accounted for 46.5% of the total imports in January and February.

GPPS imports is expected to fall further in the coming months because of the increased production and a launch of new grades by Nizhnekamskneftekhim.
MRC