SABIC global footprint meets local demand for protective products to help combat COVID-19

MOSCOW (MRC) -- SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, is making a significant contribution to the battle against COVID-19 through increased production within its LEXAN polycarbonate (PC) portfolio. The focus of the production increase has been on innovative PC sheets and films for a wide variety of high-performance products to help improving sanitation control and preventing infections, said the company in its press release.

SABIC’s efforts in combating COVID-19 are boosted by the company having production facilities across Europe, Asia and North and South America. This provides the company’s Functional Forms business with the ability to manufacture and swiftly distribute its sheet and film products across every region around the world.

SABIC and its predecessors have a long history as an innovator in PC technology, having invented polycarbonate resin in 1953, and initiated production of high-performance sheets and films in 1968. Since then, SABIC excels in polycarbonate development with a portfolio of over 350 material grades. SABIC’s Functional Forms business spearheads materials innovation, enabling applications in industries where there is a need for safety, high optical quality, durability, anti-bacterial properties and flame, chemical and impact resistance products.

LEXAN protective sheets and films have applications across an extensive range of sectors that are experiencing particular hygiene and social distancing challenges during the pandemic. These include hospitals and medical clinics, care homes, dental practices, schools and kindergartens, retail and hospitality outlets, sports centers, reception areas and mass transportation, among many others.

“There is an urgent and ongoing need around the world for protective equipment, not only to fight against this current pandemic, but also to improve safety and hygiene standards in the future ”, said Sandeep Dhawan, Global Business Director Functional Forms, SABIC. “As a company that excels in ground-breaking materials, we are driven by the ambition to innovate and are committed to providing the latest technology and expertise to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and help mitigate further infection.”

As testament to its global reach, SABIC has supplied innovative PC sheet and film solutions to some of the world’s leading organizations, for some of the most demanding applications aimed at providing increased protection against COVID-19.

SABIC’s next generation LEXAN sheet and film solutions have all been developed to bring Chemistry that Matters to the marketplace. The company's clear understanding of product needs and performance attributes supports application success for its customers. The journey of innovation will be highlighted with technology which supports anti-bacterial performance to assist in the fight against COVID-19 across its portfolio. SABIC LEXAN polycarbonate solutions are available through a large network of localized distribution centers globally.

As MRC reported previously, earlier this week, SABIC has announced a strategic partnership with KraussMaffei HighPerformance AG, KraussMaffei's Swiss subsidiary and manufacturer of high-performance injection molding systems known under the NETSTAL brand. Besides the exchange of mutual know-how in the fields of polymer technology and processing, the aim of the partnership is the joint use and further advancement of the existing application center for thin-wall packaging at the NETSTAL plant in Nafels, Switzerland.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's overall consumption of PC granules (excluding imports and exports to/from Belarus) rose in January-October 2020 by 21% year on year to 79,500 tonnes (65,600 tonnes a year earlier).

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.
MRC

Evonik commissions capacity expansion for adhesive raw materials in Marl

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Evonik has significantly expanded its capacity for silane-modified poly-alpha-olefins, as per the company's press release.

With the completion of the plant expansion at the Marl Chemical Park, Evonik is now able to produce 30% more of this specialty adhesive raw material.

These silane-modified specialties are amorphous poly-alpha-olefins, which are marketed under the brand name VESTOPLAST® 206. They are ideal for formulating high-quality hot melt adhesives, which are especially suited for the bonding of hard-to-bond polar substrates such as glass, ceramics and metals. However, above all, they are best characterized by their excellent adhesion to a wide range of plastics, such as polypropylene (PP), polyester and polyamide.

"With the expansion of our capacity, we are following the increasing demand for reactive polyolefin systems and ensuring greater delivery reliability," explains Roberto Vila-Keller, Head of the Coating & Adhesive Resins Business Line. "Due to its special chemical properties, VESTOPLAST® 206 is mainly used in lightweight construction or the construction industry and thus, contributes to sustainable solutions."

As MRC reported before, Dow and Evonik have recently entered into an exclusive technology partnership. Together, they plan to bring a unique method for directly synthesizing propylene glycol (PG) from propylene and hydrogen peroxide to market maturity.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,760,950 tonnes in the first ten months of 2020, up by 3% year on year. Only high density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) shipments increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market reached 978,870 tonnes in January-October 2020 (calculated using the formula: production minus exports plus imports minus producers' inventories as of 1 January, 2020). Supply of exclusively of PP random copolymer increased.

Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The focus on more specialty businesses, customer-oriented innovative prowess and a trustful and performance-oriented corporate culture form the heart of Evonik’s corporate strategy. They are the lever for profitable growth and a sustained increase in the value of the company. Evonik benefits specifically from its customer proximity and leading market positions. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world with more than 36,000 employees.
MRC

Borealis declares force majeure on phenol, acetone at Porvoo following power outage

MOSCOW (MRC) - Borealis has declared force majeure on phenol and acetone production from its site in Porvoo, Finland, following a power outage on 15 December, reported Chemweek with reference to a company spokesperson's statement to OPIS Thursday.

"On 15 December 2020, Borealis declared force majeure on its phenol and acetone production after a power outage, an incident outside the scope of its control," the spokesperson said. "At this point in time it is unclear when the force majeure will be lifted."

The Porvoo site includes a 190,000-metric tons/year phenol plant and 118,000-metric tons/year acetone facility. A Borealis source dismissed reports that Borealis had declared force majeure on its 380,000-metric tons/year steam cracker, also in Porvoo. "Our cracker in Porvoo is fine, we only declared force majeure on our phenol and acetone production in Porvoo," the Borealis source said.

Borealis had declared force majeure on the Porvoo cracker on 11 November because of a technical failure. The cracker was then shut down for necessary repair work and operations restarted on 30 November.

Borealis produces 150,000 metric tons/year of benzene and 245,000 metric tons/year of cumene at Porvoo, IHS Markit data show.

OPIS is an IHS Markit company.

As MRC informed before, the 380,000-metric tons/year steam cracker at Porvoo, Finland, operated by Borealis, resumed normal operations in early December after the company declared force majeure following a technical failure on 11 November. The cracker was shut down to allow necessary repair works, according to Borealis. The company began restart operations on 23 November, 2020. The force majeure was also lifted after the cracker reached full capacity utilisation.

Phenol is derived from benzene and largely used to produce bisphenol A (BPA), used in the manufacture of plastics such as polycarbonate (PC) and epoxy resins. It is also used in the production of phenolic resins for the construction industry.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's overall consumption of PC granules (excluding imports and exports to/from Belarus) rose in January-October 2020 by 21% year on year to 79,500 tonnes (65,600 tonnes a year earlier).

Borealis is a leading provider of innovative solutions in the fields of polyolefins, base chemicals and fertilizers. With headquarters in Vienna, Austria, Borealis currently employs around 6,500 and operates in over 120 countries.
MRC

PP imports to Kazakhstan increased by 8% in January-October, exports down by 6%

MOSCOW (MRC) - Imports of polypropylene (PP) in Kazakhstan grew to 33,300 tonnes in first ten months of this year, up 8% compared to the same period of 2019. PP exports decreased by 6%, reported MRC analysts.

October PP shipments to Kazakhstan grew to 3,700 tonnes from 2,500 tonnes a month earlier, local converters increased their purchasing of homopolymer PP in Russia. Total PP imports into the country exceeded 33,300 tonnes in January - October 2020, compared with 31,000 tonnes in the same time a year earlier. At the same time, the forced shutdown for a turnaround at the local producer's production capacities led to lower export sales.

October imports of homopolymer PP and propylene copolymers increased to 2,300 tonnes and 1.4 tonnes, respectively, versus over 1,700 tonnes and 820 tonnes a month earlier, local companies significantly increased their PP purchases from Russia. Overall imports of homopolymer PP and propylene copolymers reached 26,300 tonnes and 7,000 tons, respectively, in January-October 2020, compared to 24,500 tonnes and 6,500 tonnes a year earlier.

Kazakhstan's PP exports over the first ten months dropped to 19,800 tonnes, whereas this figure was 21,000 tonnes a year earlier. Such a significant decrease in export volumes was due, among other things, to the long shutdown of the local producer, the Neftekhim LTD Company in April- June of the current year.
MRC

Biden to name Michael Regan EPA commissioner

MOSCOW (MRC) -- President-elect Joe Biden will nominate Michael Regan, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and former member of the federal government's air quality office, to lead EPA, according to Chemweek with reference to multiple media outlets' reports.

Regan was previously Associate Vice President, US Climate and Energy & Southeast Regional Director and worked in the federal EPA during the Clinton and Bush administrations, reaching National Program Manager of EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards.

ACC president and CEO Chris Jahn congratulated Regan on the appointment. “Our industry looks forward to engaging with him and the dedicated civil servants at the agency to help ensure the nation’s key environmental statutes are administered in a way that protects human health and the environment, especially among the most vulnerable people and places in America,” he says, adding that ACC and its members have “a particular interest” in the full, effective and efficient implementation of the 2016 amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act as Congress envisioned.

“We look forward to working with Mr. Regan and the Biden Administration as well as other stakeholders to protect human health and the environment while enabling our industry to continue to innovate, create jobs and grow the economy,” Jahn adds.

As MRC wrote before, in October, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a federal strategy for addressing marine litter that includes broad efforts to incentivize recycling and build infrastructure both domestically and overseas. “Internationally, up to 28 billion pounds of waste makes it into our oceans every year, harming marine life and coastal economies,” says EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler. “Marine litter is a top priority for this Administration, and working together with our global partners, we aim to solve the current growing marine litter problem in our shared oceans.” According to EPA, five countries in Asia - China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam - account for over half of the plastic waste input into the ocean. The majority of marine litter comes from land-based sources, such as littering and the mismanagement of waste, and the most effective way to combat marine litter is to prevent and reduce land-based sources of waste from entering the oceans in the first place.

We remind that Braskem has formed first partnership for removing household plastic waste from landfill in Greater Sao Paulo. The partnership forged between Braskem and Tecipar, the Brazilian company specializing in environmental engineering, will avoid some 2,000 tons of plastic waste annually from being discarded in the landfill of Santana do Parnaiba, a city in the metropolitan area of Sao Paulo. This volume is equivalent to 36 million units of plastic packaging made from polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). The partnership reinforces Braskem's commitment to the Circular Economy and is aligned with the business strategy of the company, which is engaged in supporting the development of the recycling chain and its market.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,760,950 tonnes in the first ten months of 2020, up by 3% year on year. Only high density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) shipments increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market reached 978,870 tonnes in January-October 2020 (calculated using the formula: production minus exports plus imports minus producers' inventories as of 1 January, 2020). Supply of exclusively of PP random copolymer increased.
MRC