EPS imports to Russia rise by 32% in Jan-Oct 2019

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of expandable polystyrene (EPS) to the Russian market grew in the first ten months of 2019 by 32% year on year to 17,700 tonnes, according to MRC's DataScope report.

This figure was 13,500 tonnes in January-October 2018.

The Finnish producer Styrochem's material accounted for 35% of the total EPS imports, the Chinese company Loyal with the share of 21% occupied the second position.

Styrochem's imports grew over the stated period by 34% year on year: from 4,610 tonnes to 6,180 tonnes. Shipments of Chinese Loyal increased by 55% year on year: from 2,400 tonnes to 3,700 tonnes.

October EPS imports to Russia fell by 20% year on year to 1,700 tonnes from 2,200 tonnes a year earlier.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall polypropylene (PP) imports into the Ukrainian market totalled 112,300 tonnes in the first ten months of 2019, up by only 1% year on year. Block copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) accounted for the main increase in shipments, according to MRC's DataScope report.

October PP imports into Ukraine dropped to 10,800 tonnes from 11,400 tonnes a month earlier, local companies reduced their purchasing of homopolymer of propylene (homopolymer PP) in the Middle East. Overall imports of propylene polymers reached 112,300 tonnes in January-October 2019, compared to 111,200 tonnes a year earlier. PP block copolymer accounted for the main increase in imports, whereas demand for homopolymer PP grew insignificantly.

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

October imports of homopolymer PP to the Ukrainian market fell to 7,700 tonnes because of lower purchasing in the Middle East from 8,600 tonnes a month earlier. Overall shipments of homopolymer PP reached 85,500 tonnes in the first ten months of 2019 versus 84,300 tonnes a year earlier.

Last month's imports of PP block copolymers were 1,500 tonnes, which virtually corresponds to the figure of September. 12,100 tonnes of PP block copolymers were imported over the stated period, whereas this figure was 11,100 tonnes a year earlier.

October imports of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) rose to 1,400 tonnes from 1,100 tonnes a month earlier due to stronger demand for pipe grade PP. Overall imports of PP random copolymers reached 13,200 tonnes in January-October 2019, whereas this figure was 13,900 tonnes a year earlier.

Total imports of other propylene copolymers were 2,100 tonnes over the stated period, compared to 2,000 tonnes a year earlier.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Pucheng Clean Energy has undertaken a planned shutdown at its polypropylene (PP) unit, according to Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the company halted operations at this plant on November 14, 2019 for maintenance. The plant is likely to remain off-line for around one week.

Located at Shaanxi province in China, the plant has a PP production capacity of 400,000 mt/year.

As MRC reported earlier, on May 28, 2018, Pucheng Clean Energy restarted its PP plant following an unplanned shutdown. The plant remaind off-line for around one week owing to technical issues. Located at Shaanxi province in China, the plant has a PP production capacity of 400,000 mt/year.

Besides, Pucheng Clean Energy shut this PP plant for an unplanned maintenance from 21 October to 12 November, 2018.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, 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.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Pucheng Clean Energy has undertaken a planned shutdown at its linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) unit, as per Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the company halted operations at this plant on November 14, 2019 for maintenance. The plant is likely to remain off-line for around one week.

Located at Shaanxi province in China, the plant has a LLDPE production capacity of 300,000 mt/year.

As MRC informed earlier, in 2018, Pucheng Clean Energy conducted a two-week scheduled turnaround at its LLDPE plant in Shaanxi province from October 21.

According to MRC's DataScrope report, September LLDPE imports to Russia rose to 15,400 tonnes from 13,100 tonnes a month earlier, with LLDPE imports from the USA showing a significant rise. Overall LLDPE imports to the Russian market reached 127,100 tonnes in the first nine months of 2019, down by 7% year on year.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- PBF Energy restarted the cat feed hydrotreater at its 190,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) Chalmette, Louisiana refinery, reported Reuters with reference to sources familiar with plant operations.

PBF spokesman Michael Karlovich declined to comment.

The 45,000-bpd cat feed hydrotreater was shut on Oct. 7 for a catalyst change, the sources said. The catalyst change ran about a week over the scheduled time for completion.

Hydrotreaters remove sulfur from motor fuels in compliance with US environmental rules.

As MRC wrote before, PBF continues to raise the production level on the 10,000-bpd Coker 1 that the company restarted on 9-10 November 2019 for the first time in nine years. The coker was idled in 2010 after an economic recession drove down demand for motor fuels. At the time, the refinery was a joint venture between Exxon Mobil Corp and Petroleos de Venezuela SA, Venezuela’s national oil company. PBF announced plans to restart the coker in 2018 and said in October the restart was under way.

As MRC informed before, in September 2019, ExxonMobil announced plans to spend GBP140 million over the next two years in an additional investment program at its Fife ethylene plant (UK), which has a capacity of more than 800,000 t/y.

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

PBF Energy Inc. is a petroleum refiner and supplier of unbranded transportation fuels, heating oils, lubricants, petrochemical feedstocks, and other petroleum products. Headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, the company's refineries include facilities in Chalmette, Louisiana, Toledo, Ohio, Port of Paulsboro in Gibbstown, New Jersey, the Delaware City Refinery in Delaware City, and the former ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California. PBF produces a range of products including gasoline, ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD), heating oil, jet fuel, lubricants, petrochemicals and asphalt.
MRC