Chevron Phillips expands Belgium mercaptan plant

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Chevron Phillips Chemical (CPChem) is expanding its Tessenderlo facility in Belgium, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The expansion includes an on-purpose hydrogen sulfide (H2S) unit and additional sulfur-based products capacity to better serve customers and meet their growing demands, according to CPChem officials.

Construction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2014. In preparation for the upgrade, the Tessenderlo plant added a new control room in September 2013.

The expansion will allow Chevron Phillips Chemical to better serve its worldwide customer portfolio, according to company officials, as the demand for synthetic rubbers and plastics increases. Production capacity at the site will increase by more than 40% as a result of this expansion.

"Demand for organosulfur products is expected to continue to grow, particularly for those materials used as chain transfer agents like tertiary dodecyl mercaptan or TDM," said Peter Bastemeijer, product line manager for specialty chemicals in Europe. "Chevron Phillips Chemical is increasing capacity in order to respond to customer needs throughout the world, especially in Europe and Asia."

The Tessenderlo facility produces chemical intermediates, including mercaptans, sulfides, polysulfides and Scentinel gas odorants that are used in agricultural chemicals, pharmaceuticals, modifiers in rubber and plastics and the odorization of propane and natural gas.

Chevron Phillips Chemical also produces a similar line of products at its facility in Borger, Texas.

As MRC wrote before, Chevron Phillips Chemical and refiner Phillips 66, has finalized the sale of its Chinese polystyrene business to Grand Astor Ltd.In the deal, Chevron Phillips is selling its affiliate company Chevron Phillips Chemical (China) Co. Ltd., which owns a polystyrene plant located in Zhangjiagang, China.

Chevron Phillips Chemica, headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas (north of Houston), US,l is one of the world’s top producers of olefins and polyolefins and a leading supplier of aromatics, alpha olefins, styrenics, specialty chemicals, piping, and proprietary plastics. Chevron and Phillips 66 each own 50% of Chevron Phillips Chemical.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Solvay has completed the acquisition of the specialty chemical assets of ERCA Quimica, Ltda. in Brazil, enabling the Group to more than double its surfactant production capacity in the country and to expand its access to one of the world’s largest personal care and agrochemicals markets, said the producer in its press release.

The acquisition’s conclusion comes one month after the Brazilian competition authority CADE cleared the transaction between Solvay's global business unit Novecare and ERCA, based in Itatiba city in the state of Sao Paulo.

The transaction includes ERCA’s local specialty chemical assets, its portfolio of agrochemicals as well as home & personal care products, which strengthens Novecare’s commercial network, closeness to customers and innovation pipeline.

We remind that following further discussion, the European Commission has decided to market test an alternative remedy package submitted by Ineos and Solvay for evaluation of the proposed 50/50 joint venture between the parties in a Phase II investigation.

Solvay S.A. is a Belgian chemical company founded in 1863, with its head office in Neder-Over-Heembeek, Brussels, Belgium. The company has diversified into two major sectors of activity: chemicals and plastics. Solvay supplies over 1500 products across 35 brands of high-performance polymers – fluoropolymers, fluoroelastomers, fluorinated fluids, semi-aromatic polyamides, sulfone polymers, aromatic ultra polymers, high-barrier polymers and cross-linked high-performance compounds.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Mogilevkhimvolokno announced an increase in its export prices of bottle grade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) this week. The plant's prices for export shipments rose from 1 April by EUR12/tonne from March, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

The plant's new April export prices were heard at EUR1,092/tonne FCA Mogilev, excluding VAT. Traders said price increases were not expected, however, they were accepted normally by end-users of PET chips.

Open Joint Stock Company "Mogilevkhimvolokno" is the only Belarusian major producer of dimethyl terephthalate, PET polyester chips, food grade PET, polyester fibers and yarns and the main feedstock supplier for consumer industry of Belarus.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- European producers of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) have maintainув March prices for April shipments to the CIS markets, despite lower ethylene prices in the region, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

April contract ethylene prices in Europe were agreed by EUR15/tonne lower than the March level, which gives an average reduction of EUR7,5/tonne in costs of PVC production. However, European producers mostly maintained March prices for April shipments to the CIS markets, only few companies reduced prices by EUR5/tonne.

Negotiations over April delivery of European PVC already began last week. Delas are considered in the range of EUR725-770/tonne FCA.

Many market participants announced their plans to increase PVC purchasing in Europe on the back of seasonally stronger demand for finished products.
MRC