PP imports into Russia decreased by 18% in 2015

MOSCOW (MRC) - Total imports of polypropylene (PP) into Russia decreased to 138,100 tonnes in 2015, down 18% compared to the previous year. The largest decrease in the imports occurred for PP block copolymers, as per MRC DataScope.

In December, Russian companies actually kept the November volume of PP imports, having purchased 0,500 tonne. Total PP imports into Russia decreased to 138,100 tonnes in 2015, compared with 168,600 tonnes year on year. The increase in domestic production, particularly homopolymer PP and rouble devaluation were the main reasons for the decline in import volumes. At the same time most of the reduction of external supplies occurred for PP block copolymers.

PP imports in Russia over the reported period looked as follows.

December imports of homopolymer PP increased to 4,000 tonnes, compared to 2,000 tonnes in November, the main increase occurred for the supply of homopolymer PP raffia grade from Turkmenistan. Total imports of homopolymer PP into Russia were 46,900 tonnes in 2015, compared with 55,000 tonnes year on year. The growth of domestic production from the producers such as Tobolsk-Polymer, Stavrolen and Poliom, was the main reason for the decline in import volumes of homopolymer PP.

December imports of PP block copolymers into Russia decreased to 1,600 tonnes, from 2,400 tonnes a month earlier. Russian companies have further reduced procurement of injection moulding and pipe PP block copolymers in the external markets because of the weaker demand for finished products. Russia's imports of PP block copolymers in 2015 decreased to 28,400 tonnes, down 35% year on year. Such a serious decline in imports resulted from the growth of domestic production, particularly from Nizhnekamskneftekhim, Ufaorgsintez and Stavrolen, as well as the devaluation of the rouble, which made the purchase of PP in foreign markets unprofitable.
December imports of PP random copolymers into Russia were about 2,800 tonnes, compared to 4,000 tonnes in November on the back of the decrease in purchases from the local producers of PP pipes. Total PP random copolymers imports into the country were 36,500 tonnes in 2015, up 7% year on year. The increase in external supplies of PP random copolymers occurred for the producers of pipes and biaxially-oriented polypropylene films (BOPP films).

Imports of other propylene polymers in 2015 decreased to about 26,300 tonnes, compared with 35,400 tonnes in 2014.


MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- India's Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Ananth Kumar has unveiled plans for a greenfield petrochemical complex and refinery expansion to be carried out jointly by Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd. (HPCL) and GAIL in Andhra Pradesh, India, reported Apic-online with reference to local sources.

The government has given its in-principle approval for the project, which will require an investment of approximately Rs 50,000 crore. "This will also bring huge downstream investment opportunities to the state apart from the refinery and cracker units," Kumar said.

HPCL, which currently has an 8.5-million-t/y refinery in Visakhapatnam, last year completed a techno-economic feasibility study for additional refining capacity and a petrochemical complex to be set up in the planned Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Region in Visakhapatnam. The company had earlier proposed building a 15-million-t/y refinery and a complex to produce 1-million t/y of olefins and aromatics.

As MRC informed previously, in late January 2016, HPCL received environmental clearance from Indian officials to expand its Visakhapatnam refinery in Andhra Pradesh.

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) is an Indian state-owned oil and natural gas company with its headquarters at Mumbai, Maharashtra and with Navratna status. HPCL has about 25% marketing share in India among PSUs and a strong marketing infrastructure. The Government of India owns 51.11% shares in HPCL and others are distributed amongst financial institutes, public and other investors.

GAIL is India’s leading natural gas company with a presence along the entire hydrocarbon value chain spanning E&P, LNG, pipelines, LPG, petrochemicals, city gas distribution, etc.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Arkemaб a France-based chemical manufacturerб has introduced new fine powders grade for outdoor furniture, said the producer on its site.

Thus, the Rilsan fine powders product line has expanded its range of bio-based polyamide coating powders for the outdoor furniture market.

Along with Rilsan T Grey 9102 MAC and Rilsan ES 9132 MAC, Arkema now offers two grey-colored (RAL 7021) grades designed for fluidized bed dipping and electrostatic spraying.

These two grades were formulated to offer outstanding UV-resistance, while keeping core properties brought by Rilsan fine powders PA11 coatings. These properties include: long-term resistance to extreme maritime and industrial environments, anti-graffiti properties, fire resistance, electrical insulation, chemical resistance.

Outstanding mechanical properties are also inherited, which include impact resistance, flexibility, abrasion resistance, a unique grip, and warm-to-the-touch feel.

As a thermoplastic powder for coatings, Rilsan fine powders offer an exceptional choice in processing methods, which allows coating complex parts with various geometries.

Combining beauty and function, Rilsan polyamide 11 coatings offer a solution for the most demanding applications. The Rilsan® brand has become the reference for industries looking for the ultimate solution in metal protection, such as automotive, oil and gas, and fluid transfer.

As MRC informed before, in 2014, Arkema developed two new grades - Luperox organic peroxides and Kynar Flex PVDF resins -specifically designed for electric and electronic wires and cables applications. Arkema introduced its innovative functional polyolefins at trade fair WIRE 2014 among its extensive range (Orevac, Lotryl, Lotader and Evatane trade names) used to manufacture all types of cables whatever their end-application: halogen-free flame retardant (HFFR) cables compliant with the latest fire standards in buildings, cars and telephone networks, medium and high voltage cables, telephone and photovoltaic cables.

Arkema with annual revenue of EUR6.7 billion is a leading European supplier of chlorochemicals and PVC. Kynar and Kynar Flex are registered trademarks of Arkema Inc. Arkema operates 11 organic peroxide plants on the three continents.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Ineos Olefins and Polymers USA has issued a force majeure declaration on co-polymer polypropylene supplies from its Chocolate Bayou chemical complex in Alvin, Texas, said Plastemart citing the letter to customers obtained by Platts.

The force majeure stemmed from "an equipment failure that resulted in limited operations," the letter added.
Ineos produces 440,000 tpa at the Chocolate Bayou site. Trading sources said the force majeure declarations were expected to continue until mid-February.

As MRC informed earlier, in the early December, Ineos Olefins and Polymers USA has issued a force majeure declaration on polypropylene supplies from its Carson, California, facility. The force majeure stemmed from "an inability to acquire feedstock", the letter added. Company sources did not return calls asking what the allocation percentage might be or the duration of the force majeure.

Ineos Group Limited is a privately owned multinational chemicals company consisting of 15 standalone business units, headquartered in Rolle, Switzerland and with its registered office in Lyndhurst, United Kingdom. It is the fourth largest chemicals company in the world measured by revenues (after BASF, Dow Chemical and LyondellBasell) and the largest privately owned company in the United Kingdom.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) is likely to shut a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) plant for a maintenance turnaround, as per Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in Thailand informed that the plant is likely to be taken off-stream in early March 2016. It is slated to remain under maintenance for a period of around 15 - 20 days.

Located at Map Ta Phut in Thailand, the LLDPE plant has a production capacity of 400,000 mt/year.

As MRC wrote before, PTTGC is studying several options for supplying sufficient raw material to its petrochemical plants, including imports of oil feedstocks after declines in global crude prices. The move is part of a plan to cope with a potential drop in domestic natural gas supply after Thailand's government put bidding for new oil and gas concessions on hold.

PTT Global Chemical is a leading player in the petrochemical industry and owns several petrochemical facilities with a combined capacity of 8.45 million tonnes a year.

MRC