Braskem launches portfolio for 3D printing in South America

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Braskem, taking another important step in its innovation strategy, launches this month a portfolio of exclusive products for the additive manufacturing segment, popularly known as 3D printing, which is experiencing robust growth in Brasil, as per the company's press release.

The market, whose main characteristics are decentralization of production and customization of solutions, also has helped to combat the novel coronavirus with the production of face shields and components for mechanical respirators, for example.

Braskem's solutions made from polypropylene (PP) have proved attractive and ideal for additive manufacturing, given the recyclability, impact strength and dimensional stability of the raw material, which features the capacity to make durable hinges and lower density than other types of plastics. PP for 3D printing can be found in the form of pellets and filaments, both of which are produced in Brazil, and powder, which is imported from the United States. The products also can be used in both industrial and desktop 3D printers.

Braskem's PP filaments, which are available in 1.75 mm and 2.85 mm diameters, were developed with the user in mind and deliver a better balance of mechanical properties, dimensional stability and printing performance. Developed for the Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) process that uses a laser to synthesize polymer powder, polypropylene powder is the result of a partnership with Advanced Laser Materials (ALM), a subsidiary of EOS North America. The material is recognized for its mechanical performance, dimensional stability of printed parts and high reuse rates of the remaining printing powder at the end of each cycle. Meanwhile, PP pellets were developed in collaboration with Titan Robotics with a focus on ATLASTM, an innovative platform for pellet extrusion on an industrial scale.

For Braskem's manager of Innovation & Technology for Additive Manufacturing, Fabio Lamon, the company's new portfolio makes 3D printing processes in Brazil even more sustainable. "Additive manufacturing is by nature a zero-waste process, since it consists of the fabrication of a three-dimensional piece via the addition of layers of raw material based on a digital 3D file, which results in total design freedom and eliminates the losses and waste common to the various traditional production processes. Remember that the polypropylene developed for this application can be recycled just like the other thermoplastic resins produced by Braskem and used in other conversion processes, which reinforces our commitment to sustainability and the circular economy," he said.

3D printing's relevance to Braskem as a producer of raw materials in terms of market growth is growing. It is a disruptive technology with strong appeal due to its transformational innovation, which drives the development of solutions that are relevant in the context of industry 4.0 and sustainability aspects, since it is a completely decentralized production process that minimizes losses and material waste, while also having benefits from the logistical standpoint.

The company's initiatives in the field began in 2013, with the Printing the Future project, a partnership with Made In Space, a supplier to NASA, for the development of a 3D printer for operation in zero gravity. The equipment made and sent to the International Space Station, in 2016, uses Braskem's bio-based I'm greenTM polyethylene made from sugarcane and, in 2019, was further supported by the development of recycler that enabled the team of astronauts to transform plastic waste into raw materials for fabricating new items.

The products in the form of filaments and pellets for direct use with 3D printers can be acquired directly from Braskem, while powder products are marketed globally by Advanced Laser Materials (ALM). Braskem's PP filaments also are marketed by 2M3D, Braskem's official distributor of 3D printing filaments for South America.

"As the largest thermoplastic resin producer in the Americas, Braskem is always advancing and improving its portfolio to meet the needs of our clients. The launch of a 3D printing portfolio is another step in our evolution. We are excited about the performance of our polypropylene compared with the other materials available in the market, and believe that its availability in pellet, filament and powder form helps further increase the enormous potential we see in the global 3D printing market," said Jason Vagnozzi, Braskem's commercial director of Additive Manufacturing.

In July 2020, Braskem donated 120 coils of plastic filament for the production of face shields and components of artificial respirators, which are essential to combating the covid-19 pandemic. The company also made available its team of additive manufacturing experts to support the work of 12 3D printing research centers in the states of Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul and Sao Paulo.

The PP filament made by Braskem for use in 3D printers was converted into bands for approximately 5,000 face shields, which were distributed to healthcare professionals working in public hospitals near the research centers.

In Bahia, the shields was donated to the Bahia State Science and Technology Department, which distributed them to seven SENAI technology centers in the state's interior region. In Rio de Janeiro, the initiative benefited the 3D printing research center of Pontifical Catholic University (PUC-RJ). In Rio Grande do Sul, the Scientific and Technologic Park (Tecnopuc) of PUC-RS and the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), in coordination with the group Brothers in Arms, received the filaments. In Sao Paulo, the material was delivered to 3D Criar and Inkubetech, which support the Higia Project.

As MRC reported previously, Brazilian petrochemical producer Braskem's 450,000 mt/year polypropylene (PP) plant in LaPorte, Texas, along the Houston Ship Channel completed its initial commercial production, as per the company's statement as of Sept. 10. "The launch of commercial production at our new world-class PP production line in La Porte clearly affirms Braskem's position as the North American polypropylene market leader," Braskem America CEO Mark Nikolich said in a statement. With a USD750 million investment, the new PP plant's construction started in October 2017 and was completed in June, 2020.

Braskem operates five other US PP plants in Texas, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, with a cumulative capacity of 1.57 million mt/year that the company acquired. The new plant in La Porte, Texas, is Braskem America's first PP new build.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, PP shipments to the Russian market reached 880,130 tonnes in the nine months of 2020 (calculated using the formula: production minus exports plus imports, exluding producers' inventories as of 1 January, 2020). Supply increased exclusively of PP random copolymer.

Braskem S.A. produces petrochemicals and generates electricity. The Company produces ethylene, propylene, benzene, toluene, xylenes, butadiene, butene, isoprene, dicyclopentediene, MTBE, caprolactam, ammonium sulfate, cyclohexene, polyethylene theraphtalat, polyethylene, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
MRC

SABIC declares force majeure on supplies from Wilton, UK

MOSCOW (MRC) -- SABIC Europe declared a force majeure on its low density polyethylene (LDPE) supplies from Wilton, the UK on November 3, reported NCT with reference to a source close to the company.

The company had shut its LDPE plant for a maintenance work in the first half of October.

Meanwhile, the company could not be reached for confirmation at the time of publication.

The Wilton unit is able to produce 400,000 tons/year of LDPE.

As MRC informed earlier, the company started up this plant in September, 2009.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, September estimated LDPE consumption in Russia fell to 23,930 tonnes from 47,610 tonnes a month earlier. Russian producers reduced their domestic LDPE shipments due to shutdowns for maintenance at production capacities in Ufa, Tomsk and Kazan. Russia's estimated LDPE consumption totalled about 406,500 tonnes in January-September 2020, which virtually corresponded to the last year's figure.

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) ranks among the world's top petrochemical companies. The company is among the world's market leaders in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene and other advanced thermoplastics, glycols, methanol and fertilizers. SABIC manufactures on a global scale in Saudi Arabia, the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific.
MRC

November PVC prices rise by Rb3,000/tonne in Russia

MOSCOW (MRC) -- High global prices of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) and the rouble devaluation for the third month in a row continued to boost prices in the Russian market. Russian producers announced a further price increase of on average of Rb3,000/tonne for November shipments, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

A shortage of PVC has remained in many regions of the world for the past few months because of scheduled and unscheduled shutdowns of the plants amid strong demand, and prices have broken records for the past few years. And this situation is reflected in the Russian market. In the autumn months, Russian producers virtually maintained their prices of suspension in dollars the same for the domestic market, whereas the weakening of the rouble against the dollar boosted prices for domestic consumers. Russian producers announced a price increase of on average of Rb3,000/tonne for November deliveries.

Demand for SPVC was strong from Russian converters in October, although some consumers still reduced their purchases, in order to optimize resin and finished product stocks. However, even given high level of capacity utilisation of domestic producers, a shortage of PVC supply was registered during the past month.

The similar situation is seen in November. Demand for resin continued to subside from some converters due to seasonal factors, but domestic producers still had insufficient quantities of PVC. And, as a result, some clients, even given lower purchasing, could not fully meet their November needs for material.

The shortage of resin from Russian producers in the past few months was caused by two factors. Firstly, high PVC prices in foreign markets led to a major decrease in imports in October-November. And in December, one should hardly expect a significant drop in global PVC prices.

Secondly, Russian resin was in high demand from consumers from other regions. And prices for shipments to some export directions exceeded those for the domestic market, even given the November increase. As a consequence, some producers have been gradually increasing their export sales of PVC.

In general, the current situation with the rise in PVC prices in October-November is typical neither for the Russian market, nor for the world market. Buyers were used to the fact that in the previous years, prices had been gradually going down since September until the end of the year. But now there is simply no alternative to Russian resin.

Negotiations over November shipments of Russian PVC began at the end of last week, with Russian resin with K64/67 being negotiated in the range of Rb86,000-89,000/tonne CPT Moscow, including VAT, for quantities of less than 500 tonnes. Traditionally, already for the past few months, resin with K=70 has accounted for the acutest shortage.
MRC

Crude futures dive on demand-side worries amid US election uncertainty

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Crude oil futures dived during midmorning Asia trading Nov. 5 as the demand-side gloom brought about by the pandemic festered in the markets gripped by uncertainty about the US elections, reported S&P Global.

At 11.08 am Singapore time (0308 GMT), ICE January Brent crude futures was down 60 cents/b (1.46%) from the Nov. 4 settle at USD40.63/b while the NYMEX December light sweet crude contract was also down 60 cents/b (1.53%) at USD38.55/b.

ICE January Brent and NYMEX December crude futures had surged 3.83% and 3.96% to settle at USD41.23/b and USD39.15/b, respectively, on Nov. 4 as the market received a boost from indications that the OPEC+ alliance may maintain or deepen its current production cuts instead of easing them as scheduled from 2021 onward.

However, on Nov. 5, the pernicious demand-side impacts of the coronavirus pandemic came back into the spotlight as England joined France and Germany in a lockdown, and fundamentals in downstream oil markets deteriorated.

"Weakening demand in Europe weighed on sentiment. Road usage is suffering as France, Italy, Spain and (England) have reinstated lockdowns. The average highway use (in these countries) has fallen to its lowest level since late June, which doesn't bode well for gasoline demand," said ANZ analysts in a Nov. 5 note.

Downstream US oil markets were faring no better, with Nov. 4 data from the Energy Information Associations showing a 1.54 million-barrel build in US gasoline inventories at 227.67 million barrels in the week ended Oct. 30. In contrast, analysts surveyed by S&P Global Platts had expected a 1.1 million barrel draw in US gasoline inventories.

The EIA data was not all bearish, as it also showed that US crude inventories had plummeted 8 million barrels in the week ended Oct. 30. While this draw propped up oil prices toward the close on Nov. 4, it was largely ignored by Asia.

The Asian market's indifference could have stemmed from the dramatic fall in crude stocks being underscored by the effects of Hurricane Zeta, which at its peak had shuttered 84.8%, or about 1.57 million b/d of crude capacity in the US Gulf Coast, and from the notion that demand outlook in the coronavirus-stricken global markets is still bleak.

"The Asian market is still focused on the implications of surge in coronavirus infections in Europe and the US, and is bearish in view of the European lockdowns," Victor Shum, vice president at IHS Energy Insight, told Platts on Nov. 5.

Meanwhile, the US elections continued to grab headlines this morning, with some analysts saying that a Biden presidency may put pressure on the oil complex due to his greener approach toward climate policy and his less hawkish view on Iranian sanctions. Other analysts though said a Biden administration may bode well for oil prices, at least in the near term, by offering more support for stimulus spending.

"The election is still undecided, and so it is too early to make a definitive assessment over how a Biden presidency will impact the market, and definitely too early to price it in," Shum added.

As MRC informed previously, global oil demand may have already peaked, according to BP's latest long-term energy outlook, as the COVID-19 pandemic kicks the world economy onto a weaker growth trajectory and accelerates the shift to cleaner fuels.

Earlier this year, BP said the deadly coronavirus outbreak could cut global oil demand growth by 40 per cent in 2020, putting pressure on Opec producers and Russia to curb supplies to keep prices in check.

And in September 2019, six world's major petrochemical companies in Flanders, Belgium, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, and the Netherlands (Trilateral Region) announced the creation of a consortium to jointly investigate how naphtha or gas steam crackers could be operated using renewable electricity instead of fossil fuels. The Cracker of the Future consortium, which includes BASF, Borealis, BP, LyondellBasell, SABIC and Total, aims to produce base chemicals while also significantly reducing carbon emissions. The companies agreed to invest in R&D and knowledge sharing as they assess the possibility of transitioning their base chemical production to renewable electricity.

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

ccording to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,594,510 tonnes in the first nine months of 2020, up by 1% year on year. Only high denstiy polyethylene (HDPE) shipments increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market reached 880,130 tonnes in the nine months of 2020 (calculated using the formula: production minus exports plus imports, exluding producers' inventories as of 1 January, 2020). Supply increased exclusively of PP random copolymer.
MRC

Trinseo raises November PC prices in Europe

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Trinseo, a global materials company and manufacturer of plastics, latex binders and synthetic rubber, and its affiliate companies in Europe have announced a price increase for all polycarbonate (PC) grades in Europe, as per the company's press release.

Effective November 1, 2020, or as existing contract terms allow, the contract and spot prices for the products listed below increased as follows:

- CALIBRE PC resins - by EUR150 per metric ton.

As MRC informed earlier, Trinseo last raised its prices for all PC grades in Europe on 1 October 2020 by EUR300 per metric ton.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated consumption of PC granules (excluding imports and exports to/from Belarus) rose in the first three quarters of 2020 by 32% year on year to 75,600 tonnes (57,200 tonnes a year earlier).

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 USD3.8 billion in net sales in 2019, with 17 manufacturing sites around the world, and approximately 2,700 employees.
MRC