Eastman expands its Cyphrex microfibers portfolio with flat PET fiber

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Eastman Chemical Company, a global specialty chemical company, has introduced new product to the Cyphrex microfibers portfolio- a flat PET fibre, as per the company's press release.

New product possibilities are on the horizon for manufacturers of wetlaid nonwovens and specialty papers with the addition of a flat PET fiber to the Cyphrex microfibers portfolio. This fiber, with its novel cross section, enables functional benefits such as uniformity, lightweight strength and improved processability compared with other synthetic microfibers. Flat PET Cyphrex fibers are less than 0.4 denier in size.

"In just over a year since launching, we have begun to build a complementary set of Cyphrex™ microfibers for wetlaid nonwovens manufacturers," said Fred Dulin, director, microfibers platform, Eastman. "By offering round and flat fibers - in addition to the various sizes of Cyphrex - nonwovens producers can more precisely manufacture media to fit their customers’ needs, giving them an advantage in formulation capability."

Because flat PET Eastman Cyphrex™ microfibers disperse easily in water, they are compatible with standard wetlaid and papermaking processes and equipment. These fibers do not require special shear or agitation. In addition, they allow for easy incorporation with a broader range of fibers than most other synthetic microfibers. And the consistent cross section of the fibers can give wetlaid nonwovens manufacturers confidence in fine-tuning media formulations for desired functionality.

"As with the larger, 4.5-micron fiber added to the Eastman Cyphrex microfibers portfolio earlier this year, the flat PET fiber is part of our ongoing effort to create and give our customers innovative microfibers that fit their specific needs," Dulin said. "This is the latest example of how Cyphrex can keep creating new possibilities for wetlaid nonwovens manufacturers."

As MRC wrote previously, responding to a market need for a suitable material to use in hand-held and other electronic medical device housings that is tough and resistant to aggressive cleansers and disinfectants, Eastman Chemical Company is expanding its Eastman Tritan copolyester portfolio for the medical market with the introduction of Tritan copolyester MXF121. Tritan MXF121 is a bisphenol A (BPA)-free alternative to polycarbonate (PC) and PC/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) that can stand up to today’s aggressive disinfectants and withstand the stresses of daily use and handling.

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) -- Styrindo Mono Indonesia (SMI) is on schedule to shut its No. 2 styrene monomer (SM) plant for maintenance turnaround, as per Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in Indonesia informed that the plant will be shut in mid-September 2014. Previously, the plant was scheduled to be shut down in mid-October. It is expected to remain off-stream for around one month.

Located at Merak in Indonesia, the plant has a production capacity of 250,000 mt/year.

As MRC reported earlier, SMI is also in plans to shut its No.1 SM plant for maintenance turnaround in H2 November 2014. The plant is slated to be shut for around one month. Located in Merak, Indonesia, the plant has a production capacity of 100,000 mt/year.

We also remind that Taiyo Petrochemical is in plans to shut down its SM plant for maintenance in September 2014. The shutdown is expected to remain in force for around 30 days. The plant is currently operating at full production capacity levels. Located at Ube in Japan, the SM plant has a production capacity of 370,000 mt/year.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Taiwan's state-run oil company CPC Corp. hopes to see a reduction in tariffs on petrochemical exports to China, which would give Taiwan businesses in that sector a competitive edge in the huge mainland market, as per Plastemart with reference to CNA.

Taiwan and China are set to resume negotiations on a trade-in-goods agreement, likely leading to the tariff cut. Taiwanese exporters are hoping to obtain significant concessions when the ninth round of talks on the trade-in-goods agreement gets underway.

Noting that China and South Korea are in negotiations on a free trade agreement, CPC Chairman Lin Sheng-chung said that if South Korean petrochemical companies obtain tariff-free concessions on exports to China, petrochemical exporters in Taiwan could lose more than USD1 bln worth of orders per year.

China currently imposes about a 6.54% tariff in Taiwan-made petrochemical products. In 2013, the local petrochemical industry accounted for 31.4% of the total production value of Taiwan's manufacturing sector and 25.8% of the sector's total exports.

As MRC wrote before, China had ended its anti-dumping duties on styrene-butadiene-rubber (SBR) imports from Russia, Japan, and South Korea, effective Monday, September 8, the Ministry of Commerce said over the weekend.

In 2009, China extended its 4-38% anti-dumping duties on SBR imported from the countries by five years. The tax expired Monday, and the ministry has been reviewing whether to extend it. The ministry said the domestic industry urged it not to continue imposing the anti-dumping duty and, therefore, it decided not to continue it.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - Dow Chemical Co is not entitled to more than USD1 billion of tax deductions based on a decade of transactions with "sham" partnerships that Goldman Sachs Group Inc and the law firm King & Spalding promoted, a federal appeals court decided on Wednesday, said Reuters.

A unanimous three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals let stand a lower court ruling that Dow entered the two Chemtech partnerships that ran from 1993 to 2003 mainly to avoid taxes, and had no legitimate business purpose for them.

Circuit Judge Jerry Smith said the partnerships left the foreign banks that participated in them with "effectively no risk" to their initial investments or intended returns, while also preventing them from meaningfully sharing in any upside.

Wednesday's decision upheld a Feb. 2013 ruling by U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Jackson agreed with the Internal Revenue Service that Dow did not deserve the tax benefits, and also imposed a 20 percent penalty for negligence and substantial understatement of taxes.

Citing an intervening U.S. Supreme Court decision, the 5th Circuit directed him to consider a possible 40 percent penalty for any alleged "gross valuation misstatement" of taxes. Rebecca Bentley, a Dow spokeswoman, said the Midland, Michigan-based company is disappointed with Wednesday's decision.

"Dow has paid and accrued all taxes, interest and penalties relating to the transaction; however, Dow appealed the U.S. District Court ruling maintaining that the taxes at issue were wrongly assessed by the IRS," she said in an emailed statement. "We are evaluating our options."

Goldman spokesman Michael DuVally declined to comment. King & Spalding did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Goldman and King & Spalding are not defendants in the case. The case involved the partnerships Chemtech I and Chemtech II, which ran respectively from 1993 to 1997, and 1998 to 2003.

As MRC wrote before, Hanwha Chemical created a task force to manage the process of bidding for Dow Chemical's chlorine business. Hanwha retained Credit Suisse earlier this year to advise on the possible purchase, which involves about 40 production facilities at 11 sites, including Dow's chlor-alkali and chlor-vinyl units in Plaquemine, La., and Freeport, Texas, as well as Dow’s interest in the Dow Mitsui chlor-alkali joint venture in Freeport.

The Dow Chemical Company is an American multinational chemical corporation. As of 2007, it is the second-largest chemical manufacturer in the world by revenue (after BASF) and as of February 2009, the third-largest chemical company in the world by market capitalization (after BASF and DuPont). Dow is a large producer of plastics, including polystyrene, polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, and synthetic rubber.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF, the world's petrochemical major, has announced the start-up of a new butadiene extraction plant at its Verbund site in Antwerp, Belgium, reported the company on its site.

The plant has an annual production capacity of 155,000 metric tons.

The plant in Antwerp is BASF’s second butadiene extraction plant in Europe. BASF already operates a butadiene extraction plant at its Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, with an annual production capacity of 105,000 metric tons. With the plant in Antwerp, BASF is more than doubling its production capacity for butadiene in Europe.

"This plant secures our internal supply with butadiene at competitive costs," said Dr. Uwe Kirchgassner, head of BASF’s regional business unit Basic Petrochemicals Europe. "In addition, it enables us to take advantage of opportunities on the external market and strengthens our market position in Europe."

The butadiene will be extracted from crude C4, a product from the steam cracker. "With the new plant we are further developing the integration of the C4 value chain in Antwerp," said Wouter de Geest, CEO of BASF Antwerpen NV. "This important investment strengthens the Verbund at the Antwerp site."

Butadiene is a raw material that can be used to produce synthetic rubber, among other applications. The tire industry is one of the main consumers of butadiene. Other applications for butadiene include plastics production and paper chemicals.

As MRC wrote before, BASF shut down its No 1 naphtha cracker for maintenance turnaround on September 11, 2014. It is planned to remain off-stream for around one month. Located at Ludwigshafen in Germany, the cracker has a capacity of 220,000 mt/year.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. BASF had sales of about EUR74 billion in 2013 and over 112,000 employees as of the end of the year.
MRC