Arkema to build new adhesives plant in Japan

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Arkema has announced the proposed acquisition by the Bostik-Nitta joint-venture of the industrial adhesives of Nitta-Gelatin Inc., as well as the construction of a new world-scale adhesives plant in Japan, as per the company's press release.

These operations will enable Bostik (part of Arkema) to supply its Japanese customers in the buoyant nonwoven markets for hygiene applications and in the packaging, labelling, transportation and electronics industrial markets.

The Bostik-Nitta JV, majority-owned by Bostik, will strengthen its adhesives business in the Japanese market.

This acquisition, representing sales of some EUR30 million, will help step up the development of these activities in fast-growing markets such as electronics and automotive. The acquisition is due to be completed this summer subject to approval by anti-trust authorities.

The Bostik-Nitta JV will also invest in the construction of a new world-scale plant that will include several production lines dedicated on the one hand to adhesives for the nonwoven market for hygiene applications, and on the other to the industrial adhesives markets.

The new facility, to be located in Nara, Japan, should come on stream early 2020. It will enable the Bostik-Nitta JV to support the strong growth of its customers in the Japanese hygiene market and to reinforce the production of some industrial adhesives product lines.

With this operation, Arkema is actively pursuing its strategy to develop its adhesives, which represent one of the major drivers of its long-term growth.

As MRC informed before, in March 2017, Arkema completed the sale to INEOS of its 50% stake in Oxochimie, their oxo alcohols manufacturing joint venture, and of the associated business.

Arkema is a leading European supplier of chlorochemicals and PVC. Kynar and Kynar Flex are registered trademarks of Arkema Inc.
MRC

April PE imports to the Russian market were 48,800 tonnes, compared to 52,200 tonnes a month earlier, local companies increased their purchasing of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and EVA. Overall PE imports reached 187,300 tonnes in the first four months of 2018 versus 173,300 tonnes a year earlier. The HDPE and EVA segments accounted for the increase in imports, whereas LLDPE and LDPE segments accounted for the decrease in imports.

The structure of PE imports looked the following way over the stated period.

April HDPE imports fell to 21,000 tonnes from 22,300 tonnes a month earlier, local companies reduced their purchasing of film grade HDPE in Uzbekistan. Overall HDPE imports reached 80,000 tonnes over the stated period versus 60,900 tonnes a year earlier; shipments of film grade and blow moulding PE increased significantly.

Last month's LLDPE imports were 12,600 tonnes, compared to 14,600 tonnes in March, local companies reduced their shipments of film grade PE. LLDPE imports totalled 48,300 tonnes in January-April 2018 versus 58,700 tonnes a year earlier, Nizhnekamskneftekhim's increased output was the main reason for lower dependence on imports.

April LDPE imports virtually dropped to 7,100 tonnes from 7,700 tonnes a month earlier, shipments of PE for paper lamination were reduced. Overall LDPE imports totalled 28,380 tonnes over the stated period, compared to 29,400 tonnes a year earlier.

Last month's EVA imports exceeded 3,900 tonnes, compared to 3,800 tonnes in March; demand for EVA for compounds production increased. Imports of this ethylene copolymer grade grew by 30% in January-April 2018 to 15,200 tonnes.

Imports of other ethylene polymers were 14,500 tonnes over the stated period, compared to 12,500 tonnes a year earlier.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - Yemen's Aden refinery is seeking 150,000 tonnes of oil products for the local market in two separate tenders, the state news agency SABA said, as per Reuters.

The refinery is seeking 30,000 tonnes of unleaded petrol and 30,000 tonnes of diesel in its first tender, as fuel supplies ran low because of Yemen's civil war.

Aden refinery is also seeking 60,000 tonnes of petrol and 30,000 tonnes of heating oil for electricity generation in Aden in its second tender.

The document stated that offers should be presented in U.S. dollars with a deadline of May 21.
MRC

MOSOCOW (MRC) -- Celanese Corporation, a global specialty materials company, has announced price increases on its polyamide-based long-fiber thermoplastic compounds (PA66-LFT) and thermoplastic polyurethane long-fiber thermoplastic compounds (TPU-LFT), as per the company's press release.

The price increases below will be effective for orders placed on or after June 1, 2018, or as contracts otherwise allow:

- for polyamide-based long-fiber thermoplastic grades (PA66-LFT): by USD0.10/kg - for Americas, by EUR0.10/kg - for Europe, by USD0.10/kg - for Asia;
- for thermoplastic polyurethane long-fiber thermoplastic grades (TPU-LFT): by USD0.35/kg for Americas, by EUR0.35/kg - for Europe and by USD0.35/kg - for Asia.

As MRC informed before, Celanese Corporation increased May prices of vinyl acetate-based emulsions sold in China. Thus, the company's prices of EVA emulsions rose by CNY300/mt for China, effective May 1, 2017, or as contracts otherwise allow.

Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production of differentiated chemistry solutions and specialty materials used in most major industries and consumer applications. Based in Dallas, Celanese employs approximately 7,300 employees worldwide and had 2016 net sales of USD5.4 billion.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Petronas and Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco have launched the corporate identity of their joint ventures in the Pengerang Integrated Complex (PIC) in Pengerang, Johor, said Saudi Aramco.

The joint ventures are the Pengerang Refining Company Sdn Bhd (PRefChem Refining) and Pengerang Petrochemical Company Sdn Bhd (PRefChem Petrochemical), collectively known as “PRefChem”.

Commenting on the company’s visual identity, Dr Colin Wong Hee Huing, the CEO of the two companies, said the circular movement of the logo represents collaboration, precision and bonding between Petronas and Saudi Aramco, while the blue and green colours portray PRefChem as a vibrant, dynamic and environmentally friendly company.
According to a press statement issued by Petronas, the refinery complex and cracker is now 96.54 per cent complete while the petrochemical facilities has achieved 84.8 per cent completion.

"This integrated partnership marks a visionary move by two professionally-run national oil companies where both are able to leverage on each other’s strengths and share technical capabilities as well as experiences for mutual benefit.

"I am proud that we are amongst the pioneer of national oil companies partnering with one another to ensure better positioning for both organisations in an increasingly competitive market,” said Petronas president and group CEO Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin.
MRC