DIC increases production capacity for polystyrene

MOSCOW (MRC) -- DIC Corporation announced that it has increased the annual polystyrene production capacity of its Yokkaichi Plant, in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, to 216,000 metric tonnes, from 208,000 metric tonnes, by reinforcing the plant’s polystyrene production facility and optimizing processes, said the company.

Investment was not disclosed. The Company has set a target for increasing annual sales of polystyrene by 10% from the fiscal year 2017 level by fiscal year 2023.

DIC has recently introduced a highly heat-resistant new product to its polystyrene lineup, which centers on Hybranch®, a high-performance hyperbranched styrene that boasts superb moldability and strength. The heat resistance of the new offering is between 5° C and 10° C higher than that of conventional polystyrene, making it a particularly appropriate choice for microwavable ready-to-cook meals. The new polystyrene is also environment-friendly, offering excellent recyclability and reducing overall packaging weight, thereby helping conserve resources.

In addition to responding to expanding demand from the ready-made meals market by ensuring a stable supply of products, the DIC Group works to provide products that contribute to the safety and security of trays and other packaging materials used for food and help address urgent global environmental issues.

As per DataScope of MRC, Ineos Styrolution"s general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) imports into Russia increased in the first eleven months of 2019 by 64% year on year to 12,000 tonnes. This figure was 7,300 tonnes in January-November 2018. Ineos Styrolution is the largest GPPS supplier to Russia.

European material accounted for 47% of the total GPPS shipments over the stated period versus 36% in the first eleven months of 2018.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Brazil’s state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA said it had launched the binding phase for the sale of Gabriel Passos Refinery, known as REGAP, reported Hydrocarbonprocessing with reference to a securities filing.

Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing people with knowledge of the matter, that China’s Sinopec and US-Based EIG Global Energy Partners had entered non-binding offers to buy REGAP, which has capacity to refine 166,000 barrels of oil per day.

As MRC wrote previously, the chief executive of Brazilian state-run oil firm Petroleo Brasileiro said last Friday he wants to sell the company's stake in petrochemical company Braskem within 12 months, adding that he strongly disagreed with reported plans to delay the sale.

We also remind that Braskem is no longer pursuing a petrochemical project, which would have included an ethane cracker, in West Virginia. And the company is seeking to sell the land that would have housed the cracker. The project, announced in 2013, had been on Braskem's back burner for several years.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,724,670 tonnes in the first ten months of 2019, up by 7% year on year. Shipments of all PE grades increased. The estimated PP consumption in the Russian market in January-October 2019 totalled 1,066,520 tonnes, up by 7% year on year. Supply of block copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymer) and homopolymer of propylene (homopolymer PP) increased, demand for statistical copolymers (PP random copolymer) decreased.

Headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Petrobras is an integrated energy firm. Petrobras' activities include exploration, exploitation and production of oil from reservoir wells, shale and other rocks as well as refining, processing, trade and transport of oil and oil products, natural gas and other fluid hydrocarbons, in addition to other energy-related activities.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Azerbaijan’s crude oil and gas condensate output fell by 3.2% year-on-year in January-November 2019 to 34.3 million tons, the State Statistics Committee said, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Azerbaijan produced 38.758 million tonnes of crude oil and gas condensate in 2018, almost unchanged from 2017.

As MRC informed before, SOCAR Turkey Energy, which is a subsidiary of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), plans to lay the foundation of the Mercury petrochemical complex in Turkey in H1-2020. The plant will be located in Aliaga district, next to the Petkim petrochemical complex and the STAR refinery. With the commissioning of this plant, Turkey will settle the matter with the import of purified terephthalic acid (PTA).

PTA is one of the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's overall estimated PET consumption reached 42,020 tonnes in October 2019, down by 32% year on year. At the same time, the estimated PET consumption in Russia increased to 593,480 tonnes in January-October 2019, up by 5% year on year.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Trinseo, a global materials solutions provider and manufacturer of plastics, latex binders and synthetic rubber, has appointed Andre Lanning as the new Global Business Director, Synthetic Rubber, as per the company's press release.

Lanning assumed the role on November 1, 2019, succeeding Samer Al Jabi, who was recently named Director, Corporate Development.

As Global Business Director, Synthetic Rubber, Lanning is responsible for spearheading growth of the business in target markets throughout Europe and Asia Pacific. Trinseo is strengthening its focus on innovative solutions for new high- and ultra-high-performance synthetic rubber applications linked to megatrends like e-mobility and sustainability, as demanded by tire manufacturers. In addition, Lanning will expand the positioning Trinseo’s solutions for new applications including truck and bus, as well as broaden its product offering for technical rubber goods.

Lanning brings significant experience to Trinseo, joining the business from Advanced Refining Technologies (ART), where he served as Managing Director/CEO of ART Hydroprocessing; a joint venture between WR Grace and Chevron, based in the United States. Throughout his career, Lanning has led several large organizations, with positions of global responsibility.

"With Andre Lanning as the new Global Business Director, Synthetic Rubber, we will continue our strategy to drive innovation and sustainability efforts across the industry and be a solution provider for green e-mobility practices," said Frank Bozich, President and CEO of Trinseo. "Lanning has considerable experience in this field and will work with the team to continue to exceed customer expectations and engage the value chain."

As MRC informed earlier, Trinseo and its affiliate companies in Europe have announced a price decrease for all polystyrene (PS) grades in Europe. Effective December 1, 2019, or as existing contract terms allow, the contract and spot prices for the products listed below went down as follows:

-- STYRON general purpose polystyrene grades (GPPS) -- by EUR20 per metric ton;
-- STYRON and STYRON A-Tech and STYRON X- Tech high impact polystyrene grades (HIPS) - by EUR20 per metric ton.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated consumption of PS and styrene plastics totalled 411,080 tonnes in the first ten months of 2019, which corresponds to the last year's level. October estimated consumption of PS and styrene plastics rose by 2% year on year, totalling 46,740 tonnes.

Trinseo is a global materials company and manufacturer of plastics, latex and rubber. Trinseo's technology is used by customers in industries such as home appliances, automotive, building & construction, carpet, consumer electronics, consumer goods, electrical & lighting, medical, packaging, paper & paperboard, rubber goods and tires. Formerly known as Styron, Trinseo completed its renaming process in 1Q 2015. Trinseo had approximately USD4.6 billion in net sales in 2018, with 16 manufacturing sites around the world, and approximately 2,500 employees.
MRC