Huntsman received approval to buy Rockwood pigment unit

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Huntsman Corporation announced today that it has received final clearance and approval from the European Commission to acquire the Performance Additives and Titanium Dioxide businesses of Rockwood Holdings, Inc., said the producer in its press-release.

The acquisition is expected to close October 1, 2014. Huntsman is acquiring the Rockwood businesses for USD1.1bn, plus the assumption of USD225m in pension liabilities.

The deal will make Huntsman the largest processor of sulfate ores, a key raw material which is also a cheaper alternative to chloride ores, and the number two player in titanium dioxide, behind DuPont.

As MRC wrote before, the Commission opened a broad investigation in March, concerned that the deal may result in higher prices in sulphate-based titanium dioxide, a pigment used as a whitener in products from toothpaste to cars.

Huntsman Corporation is a publicly traded global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated chemicals with 2013 revenues of over USD11 billion. Huntsman is a global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated chemicals. The company's 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

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, will showcase its leading desiccant products and its newly expanded line of container desiccants, Container Dri II dedicated to the transportation industry during the 9th China (Shenzhen) International Logistics and Transportation Fair (CILF) on October 14-16, 2014, reported the company on its site.

In the increasingly globalized supply chain, uncontrolled humidity and condensation on shipment en route to international destination can easily compromise business’ bottom line. Mold, corrosion, spoilage and warping are just some of the harmful effects caused by moisture during transportation, whether it is via shipping container, rail, barge or truck.

Clariant’s Container Dri II portfolio offers a comprehensive line of container desiccants that provide versatile protection against damaging humidity and moisture during intermodal transport. Available in bags, poles and strips, these industry-leading products aggressively absorb up to three times their weight in moisture, and trap it as a thick gel that will not spill or drip, reducing relative humidity to less than 40%. The product reduces dew point temperatures that cause harmful "container rain", keeping cargoes safe and dry for up to 90 days.

Container Dri II claims this top-performing spot thanks to the absorption capacity of up to 300% with its calcium chloride desiccant bags.

As MRC reported earlier, in July 2014, CB&I and Clariant announced that their new Ziegler-Natta (ZN) polypropylene catalyst plant in Louisville, Kentucky, is on schedule to begin production in 2015. The plant is part of a long-term strategic partnership between Clariant’s catalysts business and CB&I’s Lummus Novolen Technology business. Based at Clariant’s largest US production hub, the new facility will combine innovative catalysts jointly developed by both companies with high-capacity output.

Clariant AG is a Swiss chemical company and a world leader in the production of specialty chemicals for the textile, printing, mining and metallurgical industries. It is engaged in processing crude oil products in pigments, plastics and paints.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - Imports of polypropylene (PP) in Kazakhstan increased to 11,500 tonnes in the first eight months of this year, up 18% year on year, according to MRC analysts.

August PP imports in the country seasonally increased to 2,100 tonnes, compared with 1,900 tonnes in July. Total PP imports in Kazakhstan increased to 11,500 tonnes in January - August 2014, compared to 9,700 tonnes in the same time a year earlier.

The main suppliers of polypropylene in Kazakhstan were Russian producers, with about 52% from total imports in the country. The second largest supplier of PP in the local market was South Korea.

Local production of polypropylene, Neftekhim Ltd, launched in 2010, delivers PP to export markets. Annual capacities of the producer are 35,000 tonnes/year. Export volumes of PP from the country were 14,600 tonnes in the first eight months of the year, which was almost two times more than in 2013.

In the near future, the company plans to increase its presence in the domestic market.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - Ufaorgsintez, owned by "United Petrochemical Company" (UPC) announced an adjustment in the contract prices of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP) for shipments from 1, October, according to ICIS-MRC Price Report.

The company increased LDPE contract prices by Rb700 - 1,000/tonne, depending on the grade in comparison with the price level on 15, September.

PP prices have been adjusted only for homopolymer PP raffia grade, which was cut by Rb2,200/tonne, compared with the level in the middle of September.

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 56,700 tonnes of PE and 79,000 tonnes of PP in the first eight months of 2014. United Petrochemical Company owns 87.76% of Ufaorgsintez"s capital. Bashneft sold Ufaorgsintez to United Petrochemical Company in May 2013. In 1984 the company was incorporated.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- SOCAR Turkey Enerji has merged its assets with SOCAR Izmir Petrokimya in the Petkim Petrochemical Complex, as per Azernews.

As a result of the deal, the share of SOCAR Turkey Enerji in this complex reached 61.32%, Turkey's Public Disclosure Platform said on September 23.

Earlier SOCAR Turkey Enerji held indirectly 51% of Petkim Petrochemical Holding through its subsidiary SOCAR Turkey Petrokimya and 10.32% through SOCAR Izmir Petrokimya.

The process of merging of assets of SOCAR Turkey Enerji and its subsidiary SOCAR Izmir Petrokimya took place on 22 September.

Some 38.67% of stake of the petrochemical complex is still in free circulation on the Istanbul Stock Exchange.

The total production volume of the holding amounted to nearly 2.82 million tons in 2013, compared to 3.03 million tons in 2012.

Investments in the development of the complex will amount to USD114 million in 2014. Petkim's share in the Turkish market is expected to hit 40% by 2023.

As MRC informed previously, the production capacity of the Turkish Pektim Petrochemical Holding where SOCAR, Azerbaijan’s state energy company has equity participation will increase from 3.2 million tons to 3.6 million tons in 2014. An increase in production capacity will be possible thanks to the improved capacity of ethylene and purified terephthalic acid (PTA) production enterprises. In particular, the ethylene production enterprise's capacity will increase from current 520,000 tons to 587,000 tons by late 2014. The PTA production capacity will increase from 70,000 tons to 105,000 tons which will require investments worth USD25 million.

Petkim is the leading petrochemical company of Turkey. Specializing in petrochemical manufacturing, the company produces ethylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene and other chemical building blocks for use in the manufacture of plastics, textiles, and other consumer and industrial products.
MRC