Evonik construction of a specialty copolyester plant in Witten is on schedule for start-up in early 2018

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Evonik Industries is building a new production plant for specialty copolyesters at its Witten site in Germany, said the company in its press release.

As binders for paints, specialty copolyesters are used in coil coatings and, increasingly, in food can coatings. The company is investing a mid-double-digit million euro sum in the plant, which will have annual production capacity of several thousand metric tons.

The project is on track to reach mechanical completion by end of November 2017. Following the successful Mechanical Completion the commissioning phase will be commenced and commercial operation is planned to start in Q1/2018.

Polyester based coatings are perceived as a good alternative to substitute the standard epoxy based coating systems to ensure a bisphenol a free food packaging. Evonik has early on anticipated this trend and decided at the end of 2015 to invest in additional capacity to be well prepared to accompany further growth in this market.

Evonik is one of the world’s leading suppliers of polyesters for pre coated metals and reactive hot melts. The company has production facilities at its sites in Marl, Witten and Shanghai. Polyesters from the DYNAPOL® brand serve as binders for paints. In addition to coil coatings, they are also increasingly used for food can coatings well as in flexible packaging. Polyesters from the DYNACOLL® brand are used in reactive hot melts applications.

MRC

Eastman to expand copolyester capacity in Malaysia


MOSCOW (MRC) -- Eastman Chemical Company today announced a planned expansion of its copolyester site in Kuantan, Malaysia, said the company on its website.

The expansion is expected to be complete in the first quarter of 2018 and will increase PETG capacity by approximately 20 percent. This investment supports the continued growth of copolyester products globally and provides flexibility across the company’s polymer asset base.

"This expansion positions Eastman to meet the increasing global demand we’re seeing for our copolyester materials," said Burt Capel, vice president and general manager of Eastman’s Specialty Plastics business. “This investment further solidifies Eastman’s commitment to the Asia Pacific region and to providing our customers around the world with the highest quality materials in the market."

Specialty Plastics is a part of Eastman’s Advanced Materials business segment. Eastman’s Kuantan, Malaysia site produces several copolyesters, including Eastman Spectar™ and Eastman Eastar™ copolyesters.

Eastman is a global advanced materials and specialty additives company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With a portfolio of specialty businesses, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. Its market-driven approaches take advantage of world-class technology platforms and leading positions in attractive end-markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. Eastman focuses on creating consistent, superior value for all stakeholders. As a globally diverse company, Eastman serves customers in more than 100 countries and had 2016 revenues of approximately USD9.0 billion. The company is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA and employs approximately 14,000 people around the world.
MRC

PP imports to Belarus up by 3.6% in H1 2017

MOSCOW (MRC) - Imports of polypropylene (PP) into Belarus increased to about 46,500 tonnes in first six months of this year, up 3.6% year on year, compared to the same period of 2016. The greatest increase in imports accounted for propylene copolymers, according to MRC DataScope.

June PP imports into Belarus increased to 8,500 tonnes from 8,300 tonnes a month earlier, local companies raised their purchasing of all PP grades. Total PP imports into the country reached 46,500 tonnes in January - June, compared with 44,900 tonnes year on year. Demand for all PP grades increased, but propylene copolymer accounted for the greatest growth.

The structure of PP imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period.


June imports of homopolymer PP practically remained steady, compared with the May figures - 5,500 tonnes. Overall shipments of homopolymer PP exceeded 31,100 tonnes in the first six months of 2017 versus 30,400 tonnes a year earlier. The key suppliers of homopolymer PP were Russian producers, with their share in the total supply around 86%.

June imports of propylene copolymers to Belarus exceeded 3,000 tonnes, compared to 2,700 tonnes a month earlier, purchasing of PP in Russia increased. Thus, overall imports of propylene copolymers reached 15,300 tonnes in January-June 2017, whereas this figure was 14,500 tonnes a year earlier.


MRC

PVC imports to Belarus up by 56% in H1 2017

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of unmixed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into Belarus in January-June increased by 56% year on year, totalling about 15,300 tonnes, according to MRC's DataScope report.

According to the statistical committee of the Republic of Belarus, local converters significantly increased purchasing of unmixed PVC in June, total imports were just over 3,900 tonnes, compared to 2,800 tonnes a month earlier.

Thus, PVC imports rose in the first six months of 2017 to 15,300 tonnes from 9,800 tonnes in January-June 2016, local windows producers accounted for the main increase in demand.

Russian producers were the key suppliers of resin to Belarus. They accounted for about 79% of the Belarusian market in the first six months of the year.

Producers from Germany with the share of about 18% were the second largest suppliers.


mrcplast.com

Rosneft, Trafigura close USD12.9 B purchase of India's Essar Oil refinery

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Russian oil major Rosneft and partners closed their USD12.9 B purchase of Indian refiner Essar Oil on Monday, giving them a foothold in one of the world's fastest growing oil users, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The deal is the first foray by Rosneft into Asia's refining sector and the biggest foreign acquisition ever in India, as well as Russia's largest outbound one. It also deepens Russian and Indian economic ties that stretch back to the Soviet era.

Kremlin-controlled Rosneft and its partners—global trader Trafigura and Russian fund UCP—purchased a 98.26% stake in Essar Oil in a deal announced in October. The rest of Essar will be held by retail investors.

"(Rosneft) has entered the high-potential and fast-growing Asia Pacific market," Rosneft’s Chief Executive Officer Igor Sechin said in a statement.

The deal will enable Rosneft to improve the efficiency of fuel supplies to other nations in Asia, he added.

India's oil demand is expected to rise by an average of 5.9% a year through 2020, among the fastest in the world, according to a report last month by Goldman Sachs.

To capitalise on that, Rosneft and its partners are acquiring Essar's oil refinery in Vadinar that can process 400,000 bpd of crude. The refinery is in the western Indian state of Gujarat and the deal includes a port, a power plant and 3,500 fuel stations.
MRC