Synthos launches eco-friendly EPS insulation material on new Polish line

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Polish chemicals and plastics group Synthos has launched a new eco-friendly EPS grade for heat insulation panels which includes recycled polystyrene raw material, said the company.

Synthos, headquartered at Oswiecim in southern Poland, started extruding the product, ‘InVento Optima’ on a dedicated line installed at its base manufacturing site at the end of 2018.

Production of the material, which Synthos claims provides enhanced insulating efficiency, is taking place at a new state-of-the-art plant in Oswiecim. It significantly reduces heat loss in buildings, so cutting greenhouse gas emissions, the group said.

"InVento Optima' is made using an ecological geopolymer additive combining the features of a flame retardant substance and athermal properties. This allows the reduction or elimination of the traditional halogen flame retardant, according to Synthos.

Its new product will also shorten the processing time and assist in cutting the production cost of thermal insulation materials.

The new manufacturing process makes it possible to incorporate recyclate from processing PS secondary products as raw material. Its inclusion in the product mix can significantly reduce the role of the general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) polymer, depending on the quality of regranulate used.

Investment in research and development for the ‘InVento’ project dates back to 2009. The goal, led by a team led by Synthos’s PS plastics R&D manager Filip Kondratowicz, was to revolutionise expandable polystyrene manufacture with a modern, ecological and competitive process.

"InVento’ products were initially made available in Poland and selected markets and feedback from customers demonstrate the new material is “a great success”. “InVento is considered the best product among those available on the market for converters and EPS end users," declared group offshoot Synthos EPS earlier this year.

Synthos has also been investing heavily in expanding its manufacture of extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation panels at its plant in Oswiecim. It recently installed a new Italian supplied production line there.

As per ICIS-MRC Price Report, Synthos SA, Poland's largest petrochemical producer, has reduced its November export prices of expandable polystyrene (EPS) for the Ukrainian market by an average of EUR50/tonne on the back of the on-going reduction of feedstock prices in Europe.

Synthos SA is one of the largest producers of petrochemical products in Poland and is the largest producer of emulsion rubbers in Europe. Besides, it is the third largest European EPS producer.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Saudi Industrial Investment Group (SIIG) shut down its Saudi Chevron Phillips (SCP) project for 26-day scheduled maintenance, including catalyst replacement starting from Nov. 15, 2019, reported Agraam.

The relevant financial impact is expected to show in Q4 2019, SIIG said in a bourse filing.

As MRC informed before, in March 2018, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP successfully introduced feedstock and commenced operations of a new ethane cracker at its Cedar Bayou facility in Baytown, Texas. At peak production, the unit will produce 1.5 million metric tons/3.3 billion lbs. per year.

Besides, US-based Phillips 66 remains open to developing another ethane cracker for its Chevron Phillips Chemical (CP Chem) joint venture, the refiner's CEO said in March 2018.

Ethylene and propylene are feedstocks for producing polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,589,580 tonnes in the first nine months of 2019, up by 7% year on year. Shipments of all PE grades increased. The estimated PP consumption in the Russian market was 976,790 tonnes in January-September 2019, up by 4% year on year. Shipments of PP block copolymer and homopolymer PP increased.

SCP is a 50:50 joint venture between SIIG and Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC.

Headquartered in San Ramon, California, Chevron Corporation is the the second-largest integrated energy company in the United States and among the largest corporations in the world. Chevron is involved in upstream activities including exploration and production, downstream activities including refining, marketing and transportation, and advanced energy technology. Chevron is also invested in power generation and gasification processes.

Phillips 66 is a diversified energy manufacturing and logistics company with a portfolio of integrated businesses: Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties. The company processes, transports, stores and markets fuels and products globally. Phillips 66 Partners, its master limited partnership, is an integral part of the portfolio.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Sinopec Guangzhou Petrochemical, part of China's petrochemical giant - Sinopec, has restarted its polystyrene (PS) unit following a planned outage, as per Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the company has resumed operations at the unit on November 4, 2019. The unit was shut for maintenance on October 8, 2019.

Located in Guangzhou province of China, the unit has a production capacity of 60,000 mt/year.

As MRC wrote previously, Sinopec Guangzhou Petrochemical plans to restart operations at its cracker in early December, 2019. The company started maintenance at the plant on October 12, 2019. Located in the Guangzhou province of China, the cracker has ethylene production capacity of 260,000 mt/year and propylene production capacity of 150,000 mt/year.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated consumption of PS and styrene plastics totalled 364,910 tonnes in the first nine months of 2019, which corresponds to the last year's level. The estimated consumption was 42,720 tonnes in September 2019, up by 3% year on year and up by 12% from August 2019.

China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation or Sinopec Limited is a Chinese oil and gas company based in Beijing, China. Sinopec's business includes oil and gas exploration, refining, and marketing; production and sales of petrochemicals, chemical fibers, chemical fertilizers, and other chemical products; storage and pipeline transportation of crude oil and natural gas; import, export and import/export agency business of crude oil, natural gas, refined oil products, petrochemicals, and other chemicals.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) to Kazakhstan decreased in the first three quarters of 2019 by 14% year on year to 6,400 tonnes, according to MRC's DataScope report.

Nevertheless, September imports of material into the country grew by 23% year on year and reached the highest level this year - 1,100 tonnes, compared to 900 tonnes in August 2019, whereas HIPS and GPPS imports to Kazakhstan were 2,200 tonnes in September 2018.

HIPS and GPPS are shipped to Kazakhstan mainly from Russia.

The share of the Russian Federation decreased by 16% of the total imports for the first nine months of 2019 to 70% (4,500 tonnes).

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Synthos SA, Poland's largest petrochemical producer, has reduced its November export prices of expandable polystyrene (EPS) for the Ukrainian market by an average of EUR50/tonne on the back of the on-going reduction of feedstock prices in Europe, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

Thus, this month's shipments of material to Ukrainian buyers will be done at EUR1,150-1,170/tonne FCA Oswiecim, excluding VAT.

As reported earlier, the Polish producer reduced its last month's prices for Ukraine by USD30/tonne to the range of USD1,200-1,220/tonne FCA Ocwiecim, excluding VAT.

Synthos SA is one of the largest producers of petrochemical products in Poland and is the largest producer of emulsion rubbers in Europe. Besides, it is the third largest European EPS producer.
MRC