PolyOne expands special effects offerings for PET

MOSCOW (MRC) -- PolyOne Corp. has added a new line of shimmer and frost-effect colorants to its InVisio line of color services and solutions, said Plasticsnews.

The new liquid color concentrates aimed at PET containers produce effects such as iridescent color movement and unique surface appearance that help in brand differentiation in beverage, personal care and household product containers.

The new concentrates, made using PolyOne’s ColorMatrix liquid color dispersion technology, are available in ten standard formulations as well as custom colors and can be processed on conventional gloss preform molds and blow molds. The different ColorMatrix grades provide various degrees of reflection, translucency and apparent texture.

As MRC wrote before, PolyOne GLS Thermoplastic Elastomers has announced that Versaflex CE TPE materials for consumer electronics are now available in combination with Percept Authentication Technologies. This material innovation has been developed to help brand owners combat counterfeiting and reduce the risks associated with fraudulent goods such as phone cases, smart watches, headphones, earbuds and other wearable electronics.

PolyOne’s head office is in Avon Lake, Ohio. PolyOne Corporation, with 2013 revenues of USD3.8 billion, is a global provider of specialized polymer materials, services, and solutions. PolyOne is a provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions with operations in specialty polymer formulations, color and additive systems, polymer distribution and specialty vinyl resins.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - Consumption of expandable polystyrene (EPS) and general purpose polystyrene (GPSS), actively used in the insulation sector, grew by 25% and 11% in Ukraine in the first seven months of 2014, compared with the same time in 2013, according to the Monthly report of MRC.

Fearing disruptions in heating and electricity in the cold season, Ukrainians actively insulated their homes. Imports of EPS, used for the production of EPS-boards, in Ukraine increased by 26% and exceeded 16,000 tonnes in January-July 2014.

Strong demand for imported brands also showed producers of XPS-boards. Imports of GPPS from producers of thermal insulation materials increased by 11% to 4,500 thermal protection in January-July 2014.

Buying activity in the market was high, despite the rapid rise in prices, said traders. All polystyrene in this sector is imported into the country.
Because of the conflict in the east of Ukraine, Stirol, the only Ukrainian producer of EPS and GPPS, completely stopped working and supplies to the domestic market this year.

Prices for finished goods have also grown sharp, following the devaluation of the national currency. Prices for the brand of polystyrene, used for the production EPS and XPS-boards have increased in hryvnyas by 60-70% since the beginning of the year.

Demand for other styrene plastics has fallen. For example, January-July imports of high-impact polystyrene (HIPS), which is used in the production of refrigerators, electrical and plastic containers, fell to 6,600 tonnes, down 18% compared to the same time a year earlier.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - Russia's production of polycarbonate (PC) was 41,000 tonnes in January-July 2014, up 9% year on year, as per MRC ScanPlast.

The only national PC producer, Kazanorgsintez shut its capacities for scheduled maintenances from 21,July to 17, August.

The producer's PC output in July was about 4,000 tonnes. More than 90% of this volume, as usual, were extrusion grades, in line with the current needs of the market.

As previously reported, Kazanorgsintez has adopted a policy to support national converters in the extrusion sector, and therefore reduced the production volume of injection moulding grades to 200-300 tonnes per month. Other volumes were allocated for sheet extrusion PC.

The producer, working at 100% capacity utilisation, can each month produce about 6,000 tonnes of PC-granules. The producer's representatives said that following the resumption the company plans to produce the half of the monthly PC output until the end of August.

Another surge in demand for extrusion PC is expected to be in September on the back of high season of construction work (mainly civil engineering).

Converters do not feel shortage of PC in August, although it is possible to be in September.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Romanian plastics manufacturer Teraplast SA has unveiled plans to invest 1.3 million euros (USD1.7 million) this year to expand its output capacity and launch new products, said Plasticsnews.

The announcement accompanies the release of the company's financial results for the first half of 2014, in which Teraplast managed to double its net profit to about 1.5 million Romanian new leus (USD450,000). This was achieved despite a decrease reported in the firm's sales.

"In the first half of this year, we delayed some of the investments," Traian Simion, the company's director general, told local daily Adevarul.

From January to June 2014, the company invested some 850,000 euros (USD1.1 million) to purchase new machines and develop new products at its plant in Saratel. In the second half of this year, Teraplast is aiming to invest a further 450,000 euros (USD593,000).

Teraplast Group claims to be the largest PVC processor in the Romanian market, and operates five production facilities. The manufacturer makes a wide range of PVC windows, doors and pipes, PP fittings and pipes, external sewage systems, drainage systems and other products made with the use of various plastics, according to data released by the firm.

The Romanian group also comprises Plastsistem, manufacturer of thermo-insulating panels, and structures for the construction industry, and Politub, producer of PE pipes for gas and water networks.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- August scheduled outages for maintenance at Russian producers of low density polyethylene (LDPE) led to further price increases, despite weak demand from converters. Prices of 158 grade LDPE were very close to Rb80,000/tonne in late August, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

A series of scheduled shutdowns for a turnaround at Russian LDPE producers began in July 2014. Outages for maintenance continued in August, Kazanorgsintez also operated at a reduced capacity utilisation. All these factors in August, despite weaker demand for polyethylene (PE) from most converters, led to a further price rise. LDPE prices broke all historical records at the end of the month.

This month's schedule of planned shutdowns for maintenance works looks as follows.

Angarsk Polymer Plant shut down its LDPE production for a one-month turnaround in early August. However, the outage at the plant did not affect the balance of the Russian market, because over 80% of the Angarsk PE are exported. Ufaorgsintez stopped its second LDPE reactor (158 grade and 153 grade PE) for a three-week maintenance from 15 August, the first LDPE reactor will be shut down for maintenance from 27 August to 24 September.

Kazanorgsintez also plans to stop its LDPE production for maintenance works from 16 September until the end of the month.

SIBUR announced an increase Rb1,000/tonne from mid-August in its contract LDPE prices on Monday. Other Russian producers have not yet announced their intentions regarding September contract prices.

Supply of high density polyethylene (HDPE) was tight in the spot market virtually during the whole August. This week's offer prices of 158 grade LDPE were in the range of Rb77,000-80,000/tonne CPT Moscow, including VAT. Offer pricess of shrinkable film grade PE already exceeded Rb80,000/tonne CPT Moscow, including VAT.

Most market participants said September will also be difficult enough for the Russian LDPE market. And, first of all, it will be due to low capacity utilisation and a subsequent outage at Kazanorgsintez, as well as maintenance works at Ufaorgsintez.
MRC