ABS imports to Ukraine remained steady in Jan-June 2014

MOSCOW (MRC) - Ukraine's imports of acrylic-butadiene-styrene (ABS) remained steady in the first six months of the year, compared with the same time in 2013, despite the general instability in the country and the slowdown in economy, according to MRC DataScope report.

Total imports of ABS in Ukraine were 1,650 tonnes in January-June 2014, which was equal to the last year figures.
At the same time, according to Ukrstat data processing industry decreased by 7.2% in January-May 2014, compared with the same time a year earlier.

ABS in Ukraine is mainly processed by injection moulding. The main consumers of injection moulding ABS in Ukraine are producers of electrical goods.The share of electrical goods occurred for about 84% of recycled polymer in the country.

The rest volumes of ABS are used in the production of car components and other sectors. Key suppliers of imported ABS in Ukraine over the reported period were such brands as Starex SD-0150 and HG-0760GP by Samsung Cheil Industries production, as well as the HF380 from LG Chem.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Ufaorgsintez, owned by United Petrochemical Company, has announced an adjustment in its contract prices of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP) for shipments from 15 July 2014, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

The company raised its contract LDPE prices by Rb1,000-1,500/tonne, depending on the grade, from the price level as of 1 July 2014. PP prices grew by Rb2,000-3,000/tonne. Thus, prices of homopolymer of propylene (homopolymer PP) rose by Rb2,800-3,000/tonne, whereas prices of block copolymers of propylene (PP-impact) and statistical copolymers of propylene (PP-random) rose Rb2,000/tonne and Rb2,3,000/tonne, respectively.

Increases in contract polyolefins prices were caused by higher feedstock prices, strong demand and an upcoming outage for a long-term turnaround. As reported earlier, the shutdown is scheduled to be held in two phases. The first phase includes the outage at the plant's LDPE production (158 and 153 grades) and the whole PP complex for 30 days from 15 August 2014. The remained LDPE production will be shut down for 30 days from 1 September (108 grade PE).

Ufaorgsintez OAO was founded in 1956 and is based in Ufa, Russia. Ufaorgsintez OAO manufactures organic synthesis products in Russia and Europe. Its products include ethylene, propylene, ethanol, cumol, ethyl benzol, phenol, acetone, copolymer rubber, polyolefines, poly vinyl chloride and polyethylene items, thinners, and dilutants. The company was incorporated in 1984. Ufaorgsintez produced about 44,000 tonnes of PE and 64,100 tonnes of PP over the first six months of 2014.

United Petrochemical Company owns 87.76% of Ufaorgsintez's capital. Bashneft sold Ufaorgsintez to United Petrochemical Company in May 2013.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Eastman Chemical Company is increasing prices of a range of its products on 1 August, or as contracts allow, reported the company on its site.

Thus, prices will be increased for the following products, as mentioned below:

- EASTMAN ISOPROPYL ACETATE: offlist price increase of USD 0.04/lb (USD 0.09/kg) globa;
- EASTMAN N-PROPYL ACETATE: offlist price increase of USD 0.04/lb (USD 0.09/kg) globally;
- EASTMAN N-PROPYL ALCOHOL: offlist price increase of USD 0.04/lb (USD 0.09/kg) globally;
- EASTMAN ISOBUTYL ACETATE: offlist price increase of USD 0.04/lb (USD 0.09/kg) globally;
- EASTMAN DB SOLVENT, ALL GRADES: list price increase of USD 0.05/lb (USD 0.11/kg) globally, offlist price increase of USD 0.05/lb (USD 0.11/kg) globally;
- EASTMAN DB ACETATE: list price increase of USD 0.05/lb (USD 0.11/kg) globally, offlist price increase of USD 0.05/lb (USD 0.11/kg) globally;
- EASTMAN EB SOLVENT, ALL GRADES: offlist price increase of USD 0.05/lb (USD 0.11/kg) globally;
- EASTMAN EB ACETATE: list price increase of USD 0.05/lb (USD 0.11/kg) globally, offlist price increase of USD 0.05/lb (USD 0.11/kg) globally.

As MRC wrote previously, earlier this year, Eastman Chemical Company, a global specialty chemical company, enhanced its medical packaging portfolio with Eastalite copolyester, the company’s first opaque offering, which is styrene-free and can be a sustainable alternative to high-impact polystyrene (HIPS).

Eastman (headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA) is a global specialty chemical company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With a portfolio of specialty businesses, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. Its market-driven approaches take advantage of world-class technology platforms and leading positions in attractive end-markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Japan's NS Styrene Monomer aims to restart its two SM plants at Oita next week after shutting them Tuesday following a disruption in feedstock supply, reported Apic-online with reference to a source close to the company.

Feedstock supply to the two SM plants from parent company Showa Denko was disrupted, after the company shut its naphtha-fed steam cracker at Oita Tuesday due to a compressor problem.

The steam cracker was restarted earlier on Wednesday and runs are expected to reach full production later the same day, a Showa Denko spokesman said.

The cracker can produce 695,000 mt/year of ethylene and 425,000 mt/year of propylene.

Ethylene from the cracker is supplied to NS Styrene Monomer's two plants, which can produce 190,000 mt/year and 230,000 mt/year of SM.

NS Styrene Monomer is owned by Nippon Steel Chemical (51%) and Showa Denko (49%).

We remind that, as MRC wrote before, last year, Mitsubishi Corporation (MC), a major petrochemical producer, and Showa Denko K.K. (SDK) entered into a strategic partnership in the Fullerene business. As part of the arrangement, SDK acquired from Mitsubishi Corp a 50% stake in Frontier Carbon Corporation (FCC), a producer and marketer of Fullerene products, thereby making FCC a 50-50 joint venture between MC and SDK.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Huntsman and Shanghai Chlor-Alkali Chemical Co. Ltd. (SCAC) have announced plans to double the MDI (diphenylmethane diisocyanate) splitting capacity of their joint venture company, Huntsman Polyurethanes Shanghai Ltd. Co.(HPS), at the Shanghai Chemical Industrial Park (SCIP) in Caojing, as per Huntsman's press release.

With the new plant, MDI splitting capacity at the site will increase from 240,000 to 480,000 metric tons per year. Commercial operation is planned to start in 2017.

The facility will take MDI precursors and split them to create more differentiated, custom made products for downstream markets.

The announcement follows confirmation that Shanghai Lianheng Isocyanate Co. Ltd, (SLIC) - in which Huntsman and SCAC are shareholders - will build a new plant to produce 240,000 metric tons of crude MDI at SCIP, adjacent to its existing 240,000 metric tons plant. The crude MDI plant and MDI splitter are part of an integrated isocyanates complex that includes manufacturing facilities for the precursors aniline and nitrobenzene.

MDI-based polyurethanes are used in an extensive range of applications and market sectors – including construction, automotive, footwear and appliances – and provide key benefits of energy efficiency, comfort and well-being.

Huntsman owns 70% of HPSs’ shares; SCAC owns 30%.

Huntsman is a global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated chemicals. Our operating companies manufacture products for a variety of global industries, including chemicals, plastics, automotive, aviation, textiles, footwear, paints and coatings, construction, technology, agriculture, health care, detergent, personal care, furniture, appliances and packaging.
MRC