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MOSCOW (MRC) -- A German multinational company, BASF Lanka Pvt. Ltd., supported by supplying Ecovio raw material, will produce certified compostable plastic bags which completely degrade within 5 weeks, reported GV.
The trials were successfully completed at "Mihisaru", Nagoda - Kalutara, composting plant.
Dr. Jurgen Morhard, Ambassador of the German Embassy in Sri Lanka, and his team personally viewed the degradation status of the biodegradable bags at "Mihisaru" composting plant.
It was observed, that the environmental friendly biodegradable bags degraded in controlled conditions with other compostable materials.
The raw material imported from BASF - Germany is ideal to produce flexible packaging, garbage bags, shopping bags, etc.
As MRC wrote before, in October 2014, BASF, the German chemicals giant, and Archroma agreed on the sale of BASF’s global textile chemicals business to Archroma, a supplier of specialty chemicals to the textile, paper and emulsions industries.
BASF is the leading chemical company. It produces a wide range of chemicals, for example solvents, amines, resins, glues, electronic-grade chemicals, industrial gases, basic petrochemicals and inorganic chemicals. The most important customers for this segment are the pharmaceutical, construction, textile and automotive industries. BASF had sales of about EUR74 billion in 2013 and over 112,000 employees as of the end of the year.
MRC
BASF Lanka to introduce degradable plastic bags
PVC imports to Kazakhstan surged by 57% from January to November 2014
MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of unmixed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into Kazakhstan increased by 57% over the first eleven months of 2014 and reached 63,800 tonnes. A bulk of resin was re-imported to Russia, reported MRC analysts.
September accounted for the peak imports of unmixed PVC to Kazakhstan, whereas October imports began to drop gradually. In November, this figure decreased to 2,600 tonnes from 6,500 tonnes in October. Thus, the overall PVC imports to the local market rose to 63,800 tonnes from January to November 2014 versus 40,500 tonnes a year earlier.
Such a major increase in PVC imports was largely due to a further re-import of polymer to Russia. Thus, according to the Statistics Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan, over 10,000 tonnes of unmixed PVC were exported to Russia only from July to October 2014.
Chinese producers with the share over 97% are the main PVC suppliers to the local market because of the geographical factor.
MRC
European PE dropped in January by EUR100/tonne for CIS markets
Negotiations on the January price level of the European polyethylene for the CIS markets began last week.
This week the discussions for the January deals continued. Most market participants reported that they managed to achieve price reductions for the European PE EUR80-120/tonne, compared with the December 2014.
Deals for high density polyethylene (HDPE) were discussed in the range of EUR1,020-1,100/tonne FCA, which down on average by EUR80-120/tonne from the December level.
Export quotas at most European producers are limited because of the several reasons. Deals for low density polyethylene (LDPE) were discussed in the range of EUR1,000-1,070/tonne FCA. The effect of the January reduction in export prices was aggravated by the nine years record the weakening of the euro against the dollar.
MRC
JX Nippon Oil and Energy shut indefinitely olefins conversion unit in Japan
MOSCOW (MRC) -- Japan's JX Nippon Oil and Energy has shut its olefins conversion unit (OCU) in Kawasaki indefinitely, reported Apic-online.
A Polymerupdate source in Japan informed that the OCU was shut on January 6, 2015.
The shutdown has been attributed to compressed margins in the wake of low propylene prices as compared to prices of ethylene.
As MRC informed before, JX Nippon Oil and Energy plans to run its paraxylene (PX) plants at an average 80% of capacity over January-March 2015. JX Nippon cut the PX run rates over May-June 2014 to 50-60% of capacity due to thin PX/naphtha margins. It raised rates to 60% in the third quarter and to 75% in Q4 as margins improved amid falling crude oil.
JX has a total PX production capacity of 3.1 million mt/year - the biggest in Asia - across its plants in Kashima, Kawasaki, Mizushima and Oita in Japan as well as in South Korea's Ulsan under a joint venture with SK Global Chemical.
MRC
Imported PET prices decreased by USD50-70/tonne in the CIS countries
MOSCOW (MRC) - Imported prices of Asian bottle grade PET chips expectedly decreased in the CIS countries under the pressure of weak prices of feedstock. The price offers from Asian suppliers have decreased by USD50-70/tonne since the beginning of the year, according to ICIS-MRC Price Report.
Prices of Chinese PET with the freight to Novorossiysk will be USD965-1,000/tonne CIF, excluding VAT. Chinese PET in the port of Vostochny ranged at USD930-960/tonne CIF, excluding VAT.
Ukrainian companies reported prices for Chinese PET USD960-1,000/tonne CIF Odessa, excluding VAT on Monday.
Prices for Arab PET were heard earlier in the year at USD1,080/tonne CIF Odessa, excluding VAT. Consumers have not yet reported the prices for Middle Eastern PET.
Kazakh companies have reported prices for Asian PET in the range of USD1,110-1,150/tonne DAP, Kazakhstan border, excluding VAT. The downtrend of Asian prices will affect the decline in prices for Belarusian consumers.
This week imported prices are expected to decrease further.
MRC