Thumbs Up Ltd. to launch new colored PP containers

(Plastics Today) -- Leading British injection molder Thumbs Up Ltd. (Bury) has launched a new line of food and domestic storage containers using colored polypropylene (PP) random copolymer compounds that provide unparalleled clarity.


The compounds contain Milliken's (Spartanburg, SC) Millad NX8000 clarifying agent in combination with the company's ClearTint polymeric dyes. Containers range from 0.6 to 150 liters are now being molded for a major retailer in a variety of colors.


"The tuneable property of Millad NX8000 in polypropylene random copolymer enables a wide spectrum of solutions ranging from what we term Enhanced Quality, or EQ, through to Ultimate Clarity or UC," says Sami T.K Palanisami, Milliken's market manager for plastic additives for Europe and the Middle East.

Thumbs Up produces several ranges of storage containers as well as other housewares and garden items.


MRC


Borouge pioneers a trend of using large diameter pipelines for industrial projects

(Plastics Net) -- Borouge, a leading provider of innovative and value creating plastics solutions, is breaking new ground in the infrastructure markets of the Middle East. Pipe manufactures, industrial design consultants and investors in new plants in the Middle East can now specify increasingly larger diameter polyolefins (PO) pipes for their industrial projects.


The excellent chemical resistance and mechanical properties of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) pipes make them ideal for a wide range of applications including cooling water transportation, sea water intakes and outfalls and effluent disposal.


Borouge has tripled the production capacity of its plant to 2 million tonnes of PO per year and is currently expanding its manufacturing capacity to 4.5 million tonnes per year by the end of 2013, creating the world largest integrated polyolefins plant.


With the introduction of PP manufacturing capacity in its plant this year, Borouge is exploring enhanced solutions for the production of even larger diameter pipes.


Borouge is a leading provider of innovative, value creating plastics solutions. A joint venture between the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), one of the world's major oil and gas companies, and Austria based Borealis, a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions, Borouge is a groundbreaking international partnership at the forefront of the next generation of plastics innovation.


MRC


Thai Indorama to spend $1.2 bln on new plants in 2011

(Yahoo News) -- Thailand's Indorama Ventures, the integrated polyester chain producer, expects to spend $1.2 billion next year to build PET and PTA plants in the Middle East and India, Chief Executive Aloke Lohia told reporters.


Construction of the two plants expects to be completed in 2014. The two plants will have annual capacity to produce 500,000 tonnes of polyethylene terephthalate and 1 million tonnes of purified terepthalic acid plastic.


MRC


Maintenance schedule of crackers in Japan

(Plastemart) -- Japan's Mitsui Chemicals Inc plans to shut one of its two naphtha crackers in 2011 for minor maintenance. The 553,000 tpa ethylene cracker at Ichihara (Chiba) will be shut, while the 455,000 tpa Osaka cracker will not be affected.


Exxon Mobil's Japan unit, Tonen Chemical Corp, plans to skip scheduled maintenance at its 491,000 tpa naphtha cracker at Kawasaki in 2011. The next round of maintenance is likely to be in 2014.


JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corp, plans to skip scheduled maintenance at its sole naphtha cracker at its Kawasaki plant in 2011.


MRC


High prices for LDPE in Asia may affect the Russian market

MOSCOW (Market Report) -- Limited offer of LDPE in the Russian market restrains the seasonal reduction in price. At the same time price quotations in Asia get more attractive for the Russian polyethylene (PE) exports, according to MRC Price market reports.


Traditionally by the end of the year after all scheduled maintenance of the Russian producers , the prices for LDPE decrease. This year it may not repeat. The limited PE supplies from separate Russian producers have balanced the domestic market. The price offer within three months remains almost unchanged and is within the range 56.000 - 60.500 Rub./t, including VAT, FCA, for 158 LDPE.


At the same time PE price quotations in Asia continue their growth and last week they reached the level of USD 1.600 - 1.680/mt, CFR.The Asian market of LDPE is getting more and more attractive for the Russian producers. PE exports to China continues growing and in October it made up more than 10 KT. The main exporters are Tomskneftehim and Angarskiy polymers-producing plant.


Some marketers are afraid that high prices in Asia may condition the further growth of exports volumes and the exporters will be joined by Kazanorgsintez.


For more detailed information see the Price market reports ⌠Polyethylene in Russia


MRC