LyondellBasell PP and HDPE technologies selected for petrochemical project in Oman

MOSCOW (MRC) -- LyondellBasell (Rotterdam, the Netherlands) announced that Duqm Refinery and Petrochemical Industries Company LLC (DRPIC) has selected LyondellBasell’s world-leading polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) technologies for a new facility, as per Chemical Engineering.

The new plants will comprise of a polypropylene (PP) plant that will utilize LyondellBasell’s Spheripol PP process technology to produce 280,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr) of PP and a 480-m.t./yr high-density polyethylene plant which will utilize LyondellBasell’s Hostalen ACP process technology and will be built in Al Duqm, Oman.

“LyondellBasell’s market leadership in polymer process technologies is once again confirmed with this significant award by DRPIC,” said Neil Nadalin, Director of Licensing at LyondellBasell. Nadalin added: “The selection by DRPIC of the Spheripol technology as the benchmark manufacturing platform for polypropylene resins and the Hostalen ACP technology as the leading low-pressure slurry process for the production of HDPE resins shows once again the confidence operators have in products produced with our technologies.”

“The Spheripol and Hostalen technology licenses forms part of 12 technology license packages awarded by DRPIC to international technology providers, advancing the FrontEnd Engineering and Design progress toward achieving shareholders’ Final Investment Decision in 2021. Due to the increasing global demand for petrochemical products, the DRPIC Petrochemical Project will become a significant player in the region, benefiting from its strategic location on the Oman eastern sea board with direct access to international markets. Working with long established technology licensors enables us to develop a world class project empowering the future development of downstream petrochemical industries in the Special Economic Zone of Duqm,” said Dr. Salim Al Huthaili, CEO of DRPIC .

As MRC reported earlier, in June 2020, LyondellBasell, the world’s largest licensor of polyolefin technologies, said that Sinopec Hainan Refining & Chemical would use its Hostalen Advanced Cascade Process technology for a new 300 kilotonnes/year HDPE facility to be built in Yangpu, Hainan Province, China.

According to MRC's DataScope report, PE imports to Russia dropped in January-June 2020 by 7% year on year to 328,000 tonnes. High density polyethylene (HDPE) accounted for the main decrease in imports. At the same time, PP imports into Russia rose in the first six months of 2020 by 21% year on year to 105,300 tonnes. Propylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) accounted for the main increase in imports.

LyondellBasell is one of the largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies in the world. Driven by its 13,000 employees around the globe, LyondellBasell produces materials and products that are key to advancing solutions to modern challenges like enhancing food safety through lightweight and flexible packaging, protecting the purity of water supplies through stronger and more versatile pipes, and improving the safety, comfort and fuel efficiency of many of the cars and trucks on the road. LyondellBasell sells products into approximately 100 countries and is the world's largest licensor of polyolefin technologies.
MRC

COVID-19 - News digest as of 01.09.2020

1. Coronavirus pandemic shakes up supply fundamentals for US plastic recycling

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The US plastics recycling industry is struggling to regain its footing as the coronavirus pandemic upended its business model, potentially leaving many recyclers at risk of shutting down, reported S&P Global. When the pandemic prompted widespread shutdowns in late March and April, millions of workers left office buildings to work from home, cutting off sources of bulk supply of plastic bottles - made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) - from businesses.

MRC

Angarsk Polymer Plant resumes PE production

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Angarsk Polymers Plant has resumed its low density polyethylene (LDPE) production after an unscheduled shutdown because of a technical issues at the ethylene unit, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

The plant's customers said Angarsk Polymers Plant had brought on-stream its LDPE production by 28 August after the forced shutdown due to technical problems at its ethylene production. And the first shipments of polyethylene (PE) to customers began on 31 August. The outage lasted slightly over two weeks and began on 10 August The plant's annual production capacity is about 75,000 tonnes.

As reported earlier, Ufaorgsintez has begun a gradual shutdown for maintenance, which will last until 11 October, at its LDPE production capacities since 25 August. Tomskneftekhim (for two weeks from 2 September) and Kazanorgsintez (shutdown in two phases from 17 September to 13 October) will also shut down their production capacities for turnarounds.

Angarsk Polymer Plant (controlled by Rosneft through OOO Neft-Aktiv) is the only petrochemical full-cycle plant in Eastern Siberia. The bulk of the produced ethylene is used by the plant for the production of LDPE, styrene monomer (SM) and polystyrene (PS). Straight-run gasoline and hydrocarbon gases, mainly produced by OAO Angarskaya NHK, are the feedstocks for the plant.
MRC

Output of products from polymers in Russia up by 1.6% in Jan-Jul 2020

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Russia's output of products from polymers grew in July 2020 by 3.1% year on year under the pressure of seasonal factors. However, this figure increased by 1.6% year on year in the first seven months of 2020, reported MRC analysts.

According to the Russian Federal State Statistics Service, July production of unreinforced and non-combined films rose to 118,200 tonnes from 114,700 tonnes a month earlier. Output of films products grew in January-July 2020 by 9.1% year on year to 736,800 tonnes.

Last month's production of non-porous polymer boards, sheets and films exceeded 36,400 tonnes versus 36,200 tonnes in June. Thus, overall output of these products reached 233,100 tonnes over the stated period, up by 8.7% year on year.

July production of porous polymer boards, sheets and films was 30,900 tonnes, up by 10.1% month on month. Overall output of these products reached 166,000 tonnes in the first seven months of 2020, compared to 149,100 tonnes a year earlier.

July production of plastic bottles and flasks grew to 2 bln items from 1,8 bln items a month earlier. Overall output of these plastic products totalled 12,7 bln units over the stated period, compared to 12,2 bln units a year earlier.

Last month's production of polymer pipes, hoses and fittings was 68,400 tonnes versus 64,500 tonnes in June. Overall output of these products was 383,100 tonnes in January-July 2020, up by 11.7% year on year.

July production of sacks and bags from ethylene polymers reached 2,747 bln units, compared to 2,987 bln units a month earlier. Overall output of these plastic products totalled 17,404 bln units in the first seven months of 2020, compared to 14,347 bln units a year earlier.

Last month's production of linoleum and floor coverings was 16,4 mln square metres, compared to 15,4 mln square metres in June. Overall output of these products totalled 80,4 mln square metres over the stated period versus 83,1 mln square metres a year earlier.

July production of plastic windows and door blocks reached 2,749 mln square metres and 104,400 square metres, respectively, versus 2,391 mln square metres and 85,600 square metres a month earlier. Overall output of these plastic products totalled 14,001 mln square metres and 520,000 square metres, respectively, compared to 12,421 mln square metres and 522,400 square metres a year earlier.
MRC

Mitsubishi Chemical cracker in Kashima operates normally after turnaround

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Mitsubishi Chemical's naphtha cracker has being operating normally following a planned outage, according to Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in Japan informed that the company resumed operations at the cracker on July 7, 2020. The cracker was shut for maintenance on May 9, 2020.

Located at Kashima, Japan, the cracker has an ethylene production capacity of 540,000 mt/year and a propylene capacity of 270,000 mt/year.

As MRC reported previously, the company last started a two-month maintenance at this cracker in H1 May, 2018.

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

According to MRC's DataScope report, PE imports to Russia dropped in January-June 2020 by 7% year on year to 328,000 tonnes. High density polyethylene (HDPE) accounted for the main decrease in imports. At the same time, PP imports into Russia rose in the first six months of 2020 by 21% year on year to 105,300 tonnes. Propylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) accounted for the main increase in imports.

Mitsubishi Chemical with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, is a diversified chemical company involved in petrochemicals, polymers, agrochemicals, speciality chemicals and pharmaceuticals. The company's main focus is on three business pillars: petrochemicals, performance and functional products, and health care.
MRC