Praxair starts air separation plant in China

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Praxair has started up an air separation facility in Zoucheng City, China with Yankuang Guohong Chemical Co. Through a long-term contract, Praxair’s 3,000 ton/day plant will provide oxygen and nitrogen to Yankuang, replacing the existing customer-owned air separation units, said the producer on its site.

Praxair’s industrial gases will be used in the coal gasification process for the production of methanol and downstream chemicals.

"Praxair’s world-class air separation plant is helping Yankuang achieve energy efficiency while providing enhanced safety and reliability performance," said Will Li, president of Praxair China. "The success of this project is due to the strong cooperation between our companies, and we look forward to continuing a long and successful commercial relationship."

As MRC informed earlier, Praxair signed a 20-year agreement to supply approximately 170 MMscfd of hydrogen and 2,000 tpd of nitrogen to a new 750,000-tpy ammonia complex being built by a new entity formed by Yara and BASF.

Praxair, Inc., a Fortune 250 company with 2014 sales of USD12.3 billion, is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America and one of the largest worldwide. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies are making our planet more productive by bringing efficiency and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, primary metals and many others.


MRC

Plastics consumption in electronic components to grow at rates over GDP

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall, plastics consumption in electronic components had been growing at rates well above those of growth in gross domestic product for many years, as per Plastemart with reference to Reportlinker.

Electronic products have invaded virtually all areas of our personal and business lives, and their levels of sophistication continue to increase. The amount of electronics in automobile control, driver assist and infotainment systems is rising rapidly.

Cloud computing is carried out on a massive scale, and now the Internet of Everything is connecting devices as well as people. At the same time, the tendency of many personal electronics to become fashion items has reduced product life cycles, with each new product generation putting new demands in performance and especially cost on the materials that go into them. In addition, the increasing visibility of electronic devices, most notably in mobile devices (smartphones and tablets), has been a key driver in pushing electronics companies to use more "environment-friendly" technologies and materials in their products.

Other details include:
- The global electronic component totaled 3.6 bln lbs in volume in 2014. This market should reach nearly 3.8 billion pounds in 2015 and more than 4.4 bln lbs by 2020, demonstrating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.3% from 2015 to 2020.
- The global thermoplastic market should reach nearly 2.7 bln lbs n 2015 and 3.2 bln lbs by 2020, with a CAGR of 3.8% for 2015-2020.
- The global thermoset market should total nearly 1.1 bln lbs in 2015 and 1.2 bln lbs by 2020, with a CAGR of 2.0% through 2020.

We remind that, as MRC reported in June 2015, growing demand from automotive and electronics is expected to boost growth in the global plastics market, as per Transparency Market Research. However, fluctuating raw material prices and surging environmental concerns will restrain growth. Rising concerns related to the harmful effects of the manufacturing process of molded plastics on the environment will also suppress the global molded plastics market. In accordance with this, the nonbiodegradable nature of molded plastics will also suppress this market.
MRC

India launches anti-dumping probe on SBR from EU, Korea & Thailand

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The Indian government's Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) has initiated an investigation into alleged dumping of styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) series 1,500 and 1,700 from the European Union, South Korea and Thailand, reported Apic-online.

The investigation, covering the 12 month period from 1 Oct. 2014 to 30 Sept. 2015, is the result of an application filed by Indian Synthetic Rubber and Reliance Industries, which alleges that dumping of SBR is "materially retarding the establishment of the domestic industry."

Indian Synthetic Rubber, a joint venture of Indian Oil, TSRC, Trimurti and Marubeni, started commercial production at their 120,000-t/y SBR plant in Panipat, India, in 2014, and Reliance started up a 150,000-t/y SBR unit in Hazira, India, early last year.

As MRC informed previously, in summer 2015, India imposed antidumping duty of USD48.39/mt and USD21.90/mt on caustic soda imports from South Korea and China, respectively. Cargoes produced by South Korea's Hanwha Chemical, and China's Shanghai Chlor-Alkali Chemical and Tianjin Dagu Chemical will not be subject to antidumping duty if imported through trading company US' Tricon Energy.

Besides, earlier, in April 2014, Indian government announced the new anti-dumping duties on PVC imports following sunset investigations.
MRC

Global TPE market to witness a steady growth at a CAGR of around 8%

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The TPE market is predicted to witness a steady growth at a CAGR of around 8%, in terms of revenue, until 2019, as per Plastemart with reference to Technavio market research.

The increased use of TPE products as a replacement for traditional materials in the automotive industry is driving the market growth. TPE, in comparison to natural rubber and EPDM, provides the manufacturer with increased design flexibility and reduced cost and enhanced long-term weather-resistance advantages. It also helps the manufacturers in reducing the overall weight of the vehicle and addressing the demand for lighter vehicles with increased fuel efficiency.

The growth of the construction sector in China is also anticipated to fuel the market growth during the forecast period. TPE is used for paving and roofing applications and in adhesives and sealants within the construction sector. The entry of major construction players from the EU in the Chinese market has further fueled the growth of this industry, thereby creating a demand for TPE products. Segmentation by end user and analysis of - transportation, construction, healthcare, packaging.

The transportation industry accounted for the around 35% of the consumption in the TPE market during 2014. The rising use of various TPE products as a replacement for traditional rubber and EPDM in the automotive segment is driving the growth of this segment.

Styrenics accounted for nearly 38% of the overall market during 2014. The increased infrastructural developments in the emerging economies and the growing demand for styrenic from China is driving the growth of this segment.
APAC accounted for around 42% of the global market share during 2014 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period.

The increased consumption by the automotive industry in the emerging economies, especially India, is driving the market growth in this region.

Competitive landscape and key vendors - Dow Chemical, Dynasol, PolyOne, LCY Chemicals.

The global TPE market is highly fragmented with the four key vendors accounting for around 25% of the global market share in terms of capacity. The market experienced high levels of capacity additions and is currently facing the issue of overcapacity and supply.

As MRC wrote before, the new Analysis of the Global Elastomers Market from Frost & Sullivan finds that the total market was worth USD 21.52 billion in 2014 and is expected to grow to USD 34.73 billion in 2021.
MRC

Flint Hills to build new Texas ethanol terminal

MOSCOW (MRC) -- US refiner Flint Hills Resources will begin constructing a new ethanol terminal later this month at Buda, Texas , said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The Buda ethanol terminal will have a rail spur, two storage tanks, a truck-loading rack, water storage, and an operations building. Investment terms were not immediately disclosed.

Flint Hills operates seven ethanol plants in Iowa, Nebraska, and Georgia with capacities totaling 820 million gal/year.

Its two oil refineries in Corpus Christi, Texas, have a combined capacity of 300,000 bpd.

The Buda ethanol terminal will have a rail spur, two storage tanks, a truck-loading rack, water storage, and an operations building. Investment terms were not immediately disclosed.

As MRC informed before, US expandable polystyrene (EPS) producer Flint Hills Resources was exploring the potential sale of its 120,000 tonne/year unit in Peru, Illinois.

Flint Hills Resources is US refining, chemicals and biofuels company. Its refineries produce fuels that power much of Texas, the Midwest and the Alaska interior. The company's ethanol and biodiesel plants produce fuels that are used across the United States. Its petrochemicals are used to manufacture goods from plastics to building products to packaging materials.
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