BASF Petronas to boost production capacity for AA, butyl acrylate units in Malaysia

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF Petronas Chemicals, a joint venture of BASF and Petronas, is planning to expand the production capacity of its acrylic acid (AA) and butyl acrylate plants at its integrated Verbund site in Kuantan, Malaysia, according to Apic-online.

The expansion, which aims to support the growing demand for acrylic monomers in Asia-Pacific, is expected to come on stream by 2021, the company noted.

No other details were available.

As MRC informed before, in June 2015, BASF, the world’s leading chemical company, inaugurated its world-scale production complex for acrylic acid, butyl acrylate and superabsorbent polymers in Camacari, Bahia, Brazil. These were the first plants for acrylic acid and superabsorbent polymers in South America. The complex has a capacity of 160,000 tons of acrylic acid per year. The investment of more than EUR500 million was the largest in BASF’s more than century-long history in South America.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Hengli Petrochemical has restarted operations at its no.1 purified terephthalic acid (PTA) plant at Dalian, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the plant was brought on-stream on August 14, 2018 following a planned maintenance turnaround. The plant was taken off-stream on August 1, 2018. Currently, the plant is operating at 80-85% production capacity rates.

Located at Dalian in China, the plant has a production capacity of 2.2 mmt/year.

As MRC reported previously, in May 2018, INVISTA’s technology and licensing group, INVISTA Performance Technologies (IPT), and Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Co.,Ltd. (Hengli) reached an agreement to license INVISTA’s latest purified terephthalic acid (PTA) process technology for Hengli’s fourth PTA line. Hengli’s first three PTA lines, the first of which began operation in 2012, also utilize INVISTA’s technology and have a combined capacity of 6.6 million metric tonnes per year. The fourth line will have a design capacity of 2.5 million metric tonnes per year and will be installed at Changxing Island, Liaoning Province of China.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Sinopec Corp’s subsidiary Shanghai Petrochemical Corp started providing cleaner diesel fuel with "National 6" standards on Monday to customers, ahead of a deadline set by the Shanghai authorities, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing with reference to local state media.

China’s "National 6" sets tighter specifications on the content of aromatics in diesel fuel compared to Euro 6 standards. The Shanghai government is enforcing a city-wide upgrade of gasoline and diesel to "National 6" beginning Oct. 1.

China’s biggest cities - Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou - have led the country’s push for cleaner fuels. Diesel-burning trucks are considered a major contributor to smog, along with coal burning and emissions from heavy industries such as steel and cement.

As MRC reported earlier, Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical conducted maintenance works at its low density polyethylene (LDPE) unit in Shanghai from 26 February, 2018, to 26 March, 2018. Thus, the turnaround at the plant lasted for one month. Located at Shanghai in China, the LDPE unit has a production capacity of 100,000 mt/year.

China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, or Sinopec Limited is a Chinese oil and gas company based in Beijing, China. It is listed in Hong Kong and also trades in Shanghai and New York . Sinopec is the worlds fifth biggest company by revenue.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Russia's output of chemical products dropped in July 2018 by 1.1% month on month. However, this figure increased by 3.3% in the first seven months of 2018, according to Rosstat's data.

According to the Federal Service of State Statistics, last month's production of basic chemicals decreased by 1.1% from June 2018, with ethylene accounting for the main reduction. Overall production of chemical products grew in January-July 2018 by 3.3% year on year, with benzene accounting for the greatest increase in the output.

237,000 tonnes of ethylene were produced in July versus 255,000 tonnes a month earlier, Angarsk Polymers Plant and Tomskneftekhim's production capacities were shut down for maintenance last month. 1,759,000 tonnes of this olefin were produced in the first seven months of 2018, up by 1% year on year.

Last month's production of benzene rose to 117,000 tonnes from 115,000 tonnes in June. Overall output of this product reached 850,800 tonnes over the stated period, up by 6.1%year on year.

July output of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) was 106,000 tonnes (100% of the main substance) versus 107,000 tonnes a month earlier, lower production was caused by a scheduled shutdown for maintenance at SayanskKhimPlast. Overall production of caustic soda grew to 736,500 tonnes in January-July 2018, up by 2.5% year on year.

Last month's output of mineral fertilizers was 1,783,000 tonnes (in terms of 100% nutrients) versus 1,834,000 tonnes in June, Russian producers reduced their production of nitrogen and potash fertilizers. Overall, Russian plants produced 13,645,000 tonnes of mineral fertilizers in the first seven months of 2018, up by 3.1% year on year. Nitrogen fertilizers accounted for the greatest increase in the output - up by 7% year on year.
MRC

According to the Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus, local converters slightly reduced their purchasing of PVC in June 2018, overall imports totalled 2,900 tonnes, compared to 3,200 tonnes a month earlier.

Thus, imports of unmixed PVC grew in January-June 2018 to 17,000 tonnes from 15,200 tonnes a year earlier, with local windows producers accounting for the main increase in demand.

Russian producers with the share of about 89% of the Belarusian market were the key suppliers of resin to Belarus over the stated period. Producers from Ukraine and Germany were the second and third largest suppliers, respectively.

MRC