Huntsman introduces TPUs for industrial cable jacketing applications

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Huntsman has developed new polyether-based TPUs for use in offshore, oil and gas, mining wire and cable applications, as per GV.

Irogran A 85 P 4394 UV DP (85 Shore A) and Irogran A 92 P 4637 UV DP (92 Shore A) are designed for jacketing cables of heavy duty pieces of equipment, which have to function in harsh environments. ­Easily processed and offering a wide temperature window, the new materials contain a UV package that is not listed as a substance of very high concern (SVHC) under REACH regulations.

Huntsman says it has tested the performance of the materials extensively with both grades surpassing industry standard UV tests.

As MRC reported earlier, in March 2014, Huntsman Corporation officially opened its new thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) production facility at the Jinshan Second Industry Zone in Shanghai, China. The 21,000 square meter plant, which cost USD20 million, is Huntsman’s first TPU production facility in the Asia Pacific region and complements the company’s existing TPU plants in the USA and Germany.

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

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Royal Dutch Shell executives have visited Tehran to discuss possible partnerships, the latest sign that the largest oil companies are serious about returning to Iran once a deal on the country’s nuclear program is done, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The meeting with Iranian officials covered its outstanding debt to National Iranian Oil Co. and possible areas of business cooperation, the company said in an e-mailed statement Wednesday. Shell owed USD2.16 billion as of the end of 2014 for oil it wasn’t able to pay Iran for because of sanctions, according to its annual report.

Shell has previously indicated its desire to re-enter Iran, holder of the world’s fourth-largest oil reserves. CEO Ben van Beurden and his counterparts at France’s Total and Italy’s Eni met Iranian oil minister Bijan Zanganeh in Vienna earlier this month. The fact talks have also taken place in Tehran shows a deepening engagement by The Hague-based company.

Brent crude prices at USD63.50/bbl on Thursday have fallen about 3% this month, partly on speculation of more supplies.

Seeking billions of dollars to revitalize its ailing oil industry, Iran plans to offer significantly better commercial terms to companies prepared to invest than offered during the last market opening almost two decades ago. Iran sees the return of foreign firms as a key goal from a potential nuclear deal that would remove sanctions. Talks on a final deal are scheduled to conclude at the end of this month.

The Shell executives are the second from a major Western oil company to acknowledge a trip to Tehran this year. In May, Claudio Descalzi, CEO of Italy’s Eni, revealed he had recently visited Iran and held meetings with senior officials.

The Rome-based company invested in Iran between 1999 and 2001 well before the last round of sanctions were imposed.

As MRC informed earlier, Royal Dutch Shell completed a revamp and upgrade of its Singapore ethane cracker. The project increased production for the 800,000-tpy ethylene plant on Bukom Island by 20%. The ethylene and olefins unit is also integrated with Shell’s 500,000-bpd refinery.

Royal Dutch Shell plc is an Anglo-Dutch multinational oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the biggest company in the world in terms of revenue and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors". Shell is vertically integrated and is active in every area of the oil and gas industry, including exploration and production, refining, distribution and marketing, petrochemicals, power generation and trading.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- India's largest refiner and oil marketing company Indian Oil Corp Ltd (IOCL) has delayed the commencement of commercial production at its Greenfield refinery in Eastern India, as per Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in India informed that the refinery was scheduled to start commercial runs in April-June 2015. However, the production has been delayed to December 2015 or early January 2016.

The reason behind the delay could not be ascertained.

The refinery will have a production capacity of 15 million mt/year.

As MRC wrote previously, in December 2014, Indian Oil announced that it's Rs 34,555-crore 15 million tonnes per annum Paradip Refinery will be commissioned in phases from March 2015 onwards.

IOCL is conducting feasibility studies to set up a petrochemical complex at Paradip in Odisha for Rs 20,000 crore. The petrochemical complex would be built in the vicinity of the company’s to-be-commissioned 15-mln tpa greenfield refinery at Paradip. The petrochemical complex would be in addition to the already announced Rs 3,150-crore polypropylene project at the same location, the foundation stone for which was laid by MOS for petroleum and natural gas.

Indian Oil Corporation Limited, or IndianOil, is an Indian state-owned oil and gas corporation with its headquarters in New Delhi, India.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Japanese Mitsubishi Chemical has restarted a phenol-acetone plant, according to Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in Japan informed that the plant restarted early this week. It was shut for maintenance turnaround.

Located in Kashima, Japan, the plant has a phenol capacity of 250,000 mt/year and acetone capacity of 150,000 mt/year.

As MRC reported earlier, in October 2014, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co. told "PetroChemical News" (PCN) that it had decided to discontinue its purified terephthalic acid (PTA) business. Mitsubishi currently operates a 260,000-t/y PTA plant at Mizushima, Japan, through its Mizushima Aroma joint venture with Toyobo Co.

A spokesperson at Mitsubishi, when asked for the reason behind its decision to quit the PTA business, said "we cannot anticipate improvement of the profit without global oversupply." The company is "now examining" when to exit the business, he added.

Mitsubishi Chemical with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, is a diversified chemical company involved in petrochemicals, polymers, agrochemicals, speciality chemicals and pharmaceuticals. The company's main focus is on three business pillars: petrochemicals, performance and functional products, and health care.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - Russia's production of polycarbonate (PC) decreased to 29,400 tonnes in January-May 2015, down 4% year on year, as per MRC ScanPlast.

Production of PC grades for injection moulding was reduced by 40%, and PC grades for sheet extrusion - increased by 4%. Production volumes of PC for sheet extrusion occured for 88% from the total production in the country. This production structure corresponds to the needs of the market in Russia.

According to representatives of Kazanorgsintez, the plant is going to be shut for the turnaround from 1, July to 29, July. At the same time, some converters are also planning to shut their capacities for maintenances taking into account seasonally lower consumer activity and possible problems with shipments of PC.

In May, the month the peak of consumer activity in the market of PC granules, some converters reported disruptions in the supply of Russian PC. All market players tried to buy the maximum of Russian PC and the minimum - of imports. We can expect the same situation in September.

Price for imported PC granules will significantly increase in summer, driven by rising prices in Europe. In connection with this purchase of imported material will decrease even more.

Calculated consumption of PC granules in Russia was 32,400 tonnes in the first five months of the year, down 12% year on year. At the same time, the imports volumes into the country have decreased almost twofold over the reported period to 8,600 tonnes. At the same time, domestic supply of Russian PC increased to 29,400 tonnes, up 12% in the first five months of the year. The growth was achieved by maintaining 100% of capacity utilisation.


MRC