PP imports into Belarus up by 10% in 2019

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of polypropylene (PP) into Belarus rose last year by 10% year on year, totalling 109,400 tonnes. All grades of propylene polymers accounted for an increase in demand, according to a MRC's DataScope report.

December 2019 PP imports to the Belarusian Republic were 9,600 tonnes, compared to 9,800 tonnes a month earlier, local companies reduced their purchasing of PP in Russia. Overall imports of propylene polymers reached 109,400 tonnes in January-December 2019, compared to 99,500 tonnes a year earlier, demand increased for all PP grades, with propylene copolymers accounting for the greatest growth.

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


December imports of propylene homopolymers (homopolymer PP) reached 7,300 tonnes versus 7,500 tonnes a month earlier, purchasing of homopolymer PP in Russia dropped under the pressure of seasonal factors. Overall imports of homopolymer PP reached 75,200 tonnes in 2019, up by 8.7% year on year. Russian producers with the share of about 85% of the total shipments were the key suppliers.

December imports of propylene copolymers to Belarus were 2,200 tonnes versus 2,300 tonnes a month earlier, local companies reduced their procurement of injection moulding block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymer) from Middle Eastern producers. Thus, overall imports of propylene copolymers reached 34,200 tonnes over the stated period, up by 12.7% year on year.

MRC

PVC imports to Belarus in 2019 increased by 19%

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Last year's overall imports of unmixed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into Belarus increased by 19% year on year, totalling 38,800 tonnes, according to MRC's DataScope report.

According to the Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus, local converters slightly reduced their purchasing of PVC in December 2019, overall imports totalled 3,400 tonnes, compared to 3,300 tonnes a month earlier.
Thus, imports of unmixed PVC reached 38,800 tonnes in the twelve months of 2019 versus 32,600 tonnes a year earlier, with local windows producers accounting for a increase in demand.

Russian producers with the share of about 82% of the Belarusian market were the key suppliers of resin to Belarus over the stated period.

Producers from Ukraine and Germany with the share of 8% and 6%, respectively, were the second and third largest suppliers.
MRC

Natgas pipeline fire near Citgo Corpus Christi refinery extinguished

MOSCOW (MRC) -- A natural gas pipeline fire that began on Monday morning near Citgo Petroleum Corp’s (PDVSA) 157,500-barrel-per-day refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas, was extinguished, reported Reuters with reference to the company's statement.

"At approximately 8:37 a.m. (local time), a pipeline owned by a third party caught fire outside the Citgo Refinery East Plant and was extinguished at 10:40 a.m. without injury," it said in a statement, adding that the incident does not pose any threat to the community and employees.

Operations at Citgo’s Corpus Christi refinery were not immediately affected by the pipeline fire, sources familiar with plant operations said earlier.

Investigation is underway to determine who owns the natgas pipeline, a city spokesman said.

As informed before, in May 2019, Citgo restarted larger reformer at its US Corpus Christi 52,000 bbl/day refinery with capacity 225,000 benzene; 180,000 toluene tonnes/year.

Benzene is a feedstock for the production of styrene monomer (SM), which, in its turn, is a feedstock for manufacturing polystyrene (PS).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated consumption of PS and styrene plastics was 46,260 tonnes in December 2019, up by 8% year on year. The estimated consumption of PS and styrene plastics totalled 500,660 tonnes in 2019, down by 1% year on year.
MRC

NOVA Chemicals names new chairman of the board

MOSCOW (MRC) -- NOVA Chemicals Corporation (Calgary, Alberta), a leading supplier of polyethylene in the Americas, has announced the appointment of Musabbeh Al Kaabi, Chief Executive Officer, Petroleum & Petrochemicals for Mubadala Investment Company to the position of Chairman, NOVA Chemicals Board of Directors, according to GlobeNewsWire.

Al Kaabi succeeds His Excellency Suhail Mohamed Faraj Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy & Industry who has served as chairman for nearly five years. Faris Al Mazrui, Head of Moscow Office, Mubadala Investment Company, and Tim Breen, Executive Director, Technology, Mubadala Investment Company, have also joined NOVA Chemicals Board of Directors.

Musabbeh Al Kaabi said, "I am proud and honored to have been appointed as chairman. I would like to thank H.E. Suhail Al Mazrouei for his insightful leadership during a time of growth and transformation at NOVA Chemicals. I look forward to continuing to work with NOVA’s management team to deliver the current slate of investment projects and build on the company’s position as a leading player in the North American petrochemicals market."

As MRC reported earlier, in January 2017, NOVA Chemicals announced the start up of its new world-scale linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) gas phase reactor at its Joffre, Alberta site.

Besides, NOVA Chemicals expanded ethylene production capacity by 20% at its cracker in Corunna, Ontario from the previous capacity of about 839,000 tpy. The expansion occurred between 2014 and 2018 and was part of a wave of expansions and upgrades to NOVA's existing facilities near Sarnia, Ontario. Other upgrades in the plan included a debottlenecking of the Moore low-density polyethylene (LDPE) line and a retrofit of the Moore high-density polyethylene (HDPE) line.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 2,093,260 tonnes in 2019, up by 6% year on year. Shipments of all PE grades increased. PE shipments rose from both domestic producers and foreign suppliers. The estimated PP consumption in the Russian market was 1,260,400 tonnes in January-December 2019, up by 4% year on year. Supply of almost all grades of propylene polymers increased, except for statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers).

NOVA Chemicals Corporation is a plastics and chemical company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and is wholly-owned ultimately by Mubadala Investment Company of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
MRC

China to grant tariff exemptions on 696 UЫ goods, including crude oil, LNG

MOSCOW (MRC) -- China will grant exemptions on retaliatory duties imposed against 696 US goods, the most substantial tariff relief to be offered so far, as Beijing seeks to fulfill commitments made in its interim trade deal with the United States, reported Reuters.

Tuesday's announcement comes after the Phase 1 trade deal between the two countries took effect on Feb. 14 and is the third round of tariff exemptions China has offered on US goods.

China has committed to boosting its purchases of goods and services from the United States by USD200 billion over two years as part of the agreement, and has already rolled back some additional tariffs on US imports after the deal was signed.

US goods eligible for tariff exemptions include key agricultural and energy products such as pork, beef, soybeans, liquefied natural gas and crude oil, which were subject to extra tariffs imposed during the escalation of the bilateral trade dispute.

The coronavirus epidemic that emerged late last year in China has raised concerns about its ability to meet the purchasing targets, however. Authorities throughout the country imposed major restriction on travel and transportation to curb the spread of the virus, which has killed nearly 1,900 and infected more than 70,000 in the country.

The containment efforts have kept factories shut or operating with drastically reduced staff, hitting production. The public has also been discouraged from leaving their homes or going to public places, also stunting consumption.

White House adviser Larry Kudlow said earlier this month that Chinese President Xi Jinping told US President Donald Trump during a recent call that China will still meet its Phase 1 trade deal purchasing targets.

Beijing's announcement on Tuesday emphasised that Chinese firms will submit applications for tariff exemptions based on market conditions and commercial considerations.

"Unless the state forcefully asks firms to apply for tariff exemption and buy US soybeans, crushers would still go for Brazilian beans, based on market free will," said a trader, adding that Brazilian beans are of good quality and price this year.

Other products subject to exemption on additional tariffs imposed include denatured ethanol and wheat, corn and sorghum. Some medical devices and metals including copper ore and concentrates, copper scrap and aluminium scrap are also subject to exemption.

Pharmaceutical products such as recombinant human insulin and some antibiotics are also among US products eligible for tariff exemptions.

Firms can start submitting their applications on March 2, and any exemptions granted will be valid for one year.

As MRC informed earlier, in H2 2019, tariffs sharply reduced exports of two grades of US polyethylene (PE) amid the ongoing US-China trade dispute. As new US startups brought more high density and linear low density polyethylene production (HDPE and LLDPE) on line, flows into China, the largest global demand center, retreated since China imposed 25% tariffs on those grades in August last year. Those tariffs, like the rest China imposed on the US products, were in response to tariffs the US first imposed on Chinese products.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 2,093,260 tonnes in 2019, up by 6% year on year. Shipments of all PE grades increased. PE shipments rose from both domestic producers and foreign suppliers.
MRC