Synova and Technip Energies to jointly commercialize advanced plastic recycling technology

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Synova and Technip Energies have entered into a joint development and cooperation agreement to commercialize Synova’s advanced plastic waste-to-olefins technology, in conjunction with Technip Energies’ steam cracking technology, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Synova’s patented thermochemical recycling technology closes the gap in the plastic supply chain, by taking dirty and mixed plastic waste and breaking it down to its basic building blocks, such as olefin monomers and co-products, to produce circular plastics. The process has a low carbon footprint and displaces the need for virgin polymers, in addition to reducing the need for intensive plastic waste sorting.

The technology was invented by the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), an independent Dutch research organization that, amongst others, develops technology relevant to the Circular Economy and Energy Transition. Together with Synova, the technology has been further developed, tested and piloted over a 15-year span.

Technip Energies brings its expertise in hydrocarbon treatment and purification, along with its unmatched experience in design, construction and upgrading steam cracker units to this partnership with Synova. The company will cooperate with Synova in the optimization and improvement of the plastic recycling technology.

The result of the strategic partnership will provide a unique waste-to-olefins solution, reducing carbon dioxide emissions and end-of-life plastic pollution by closing the loop in support of a circular economy. The approach gives consumer goods manufacturers a way to achieve recycled content targets, as well as the continued use of current packaging materials now that there is a process to recycle them.

As MRC reported before, in February 2021, TechnipFMC announced the completion of its spin-off transaction to create two industry leading, independent, publicly traded companies, TechnipFMC and Technip Energies.

We remind that in November 2020, TechnipFMC successfully completed the remaining conditions required to enable work to commence on the EPC contract with Assiut National Oil Processing Company (ANOPC) for the construction of a new hydrocracking complex for the Assiut refinery in Egypt.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 241,030 tonnes in January 2021 versus 217,890 tonnes a year earlier. Only shipments of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market reached 141,870 tonnes in January 2021 versus 123,520 tonnes a year earlier. Supply of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased.
MRC

Shipping traffic in Suez Canal resumes on Monday

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Shipping traffic through Egypt's Suez Canal resumed on Monday after a giant container ship which was blocking the busy waterway for almost a week was refloated, reported Reuters with reference to the canal authority's statement.

The 400-meter (430-yard) long Ever Given became jammed diagonally across a southern section of the canal in high winds early last Tuesday, halting traffic on the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia.

"Admiral Osama Rabie, the Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), announces the resumption of maritime traffic in the Suez Canal after the Authority successfully rescues and floats the giant Panamanian container ship EVER GIVEN," a statement from the SCA said.

After dredging and excavation work over the weekend, rescue workers from the SCA and a team from Dutch firm Smit Salvage had succeeded in partially refloating the ship earlier on Monday using tug boats.

Evergreen Line, which is leasing the Ever Given, confirmed the ship had been successfully refloated and said it would be repositioned in a lake that sits between two sections of the canal and inspected for seaworthiness.

Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), the technical managers of the container ship, said there were no reports of pollution or cargo damage, and initial reports ruled out any mechanical or engine failure as a cause of the grounding.

At least 369 vessels are waiting to transit the canal, including dozens of container ships, bulk carriers, oil tankers and liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels, the SCA's Rabie said.

The authority said earlier it would be able to accelerate convoys through the canal once the Ever Given was freed. "We will not waste one second," Rabie told Egyptian state television.

He said it could take up to three days to clear the backlog, and a canal source said more than 100 ships would be able to enter the channel daily. Shipping group Maersk said the knock-on disruptions to global shipping could take weeks or months to unravel.

Oil prices were more than 1% lower at USD63.85 a barrel after the ship was refloated. Shares of Taiwan-listed Evergreen Marine Corp - the vessel's lessor - closed 1.75% higher after the ship was partially refloated earlier on Monday.

About 15% of world shipping traffic transits the Suez Canal, which is an important source of foreign currency revenue for Egypt. The stoppage was costing the canal USD14-15 million a day.

Shipping rates for oil product tankers nearly doubled after the ship became stranded, and the blockage has disrupted global supply chains, threatening costly delays for companies already dealing with COVID-19 restrictions.

As MRC wrote previously, crude oil prices rose about 6% last Wednesday after a ship ran aground in the Suez Canal, and worries that the incident could tie up crude shipments gave prices a boost after a slide over the previous week. Oil prices were also supported by US Energy Information Administration data that showed refinery runs recovering after a winter storm shut Texas refineries last month.

As MRC informed before, the largest US refinery, Motiva Enterprises’ 607,000 barrel-per-day Port Arthur, Texas, plant, returned to normal operations. The refinery was shut on Feb. 15 when freezing temperatures, rarely seen on the US Gulf Coast, knocked out steam supply. Motiva began restarting the refinery on Feb. 24.

Motiva Chemicals has also resumed operations at its mixed-feed cracker in Port Arthur, USA. The process of restart of this cracker with the capacity of 635,000 mt/year of ethylene and 340,000 mt/year of propylene began on 27 February, 2021, and finished late last week. The cracker wa shut along with the refinery at the same site on 14 February, 2021, because of the deep freeze.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 241,030 tonnes in January 2021 versus 217,890 tonnes a year earlier. Only shipments of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market reached 141,870 tonnes in January 2021 versus 123,520 tonnes a year earlier. Supply of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased.
MRC

Arkema to increase production capacities in China

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Arkema is further increasing its fluoropolymer production capacities in Changshu, China, by 35% in 2022, said the company.

The increase in capacity is scheduled to come on stream before the end of 2022, the company said in a statement. Financial and overall capacity details of the expansion project were not disclosed.

"This new investment is fuelled by further strong demand in the lithium ion battery business as well as significant opportunities in the water filtration, construction coatings, and semiconductor industries," the company said. The Changshu plant was last expanded in December 2020.

As per MRC, Arkema has brought on stream new Kynar PVDF capacities in its Calvert-City plant in the United States. With this 20% increase in its US production capacities, Arkema will further support its customers’ strong demand in the region. Through this investment and following the successful start-up of a similar expansion at its Changshu, China plant in 2017, Arkema, which operates fluoropolymer production facilities on the three major continents - Europe, North America, and Asia, further consolidates its world-leading position in PVDF.

We remind, that Russia's output of chemical products rose in February 2021 by 5.3% year on year. Thus, production of basic chemicals increased year on year by 7.5% in the first two months of 2021. According to the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, mineral fertilizers accounted for the greatest increase in the January-February output. Production of benzene dropped to 113,000 tonnes in February 2021, compared to 120,000 tonnes a month earlier. Overall output of this product reached 241,000 tonnes over the stated period, down by 7.5% year on year.

MRC

OQ Chemicals raises oxo intermediates prices in Americas

MOSCOW (MRC) -- OQ Chemicals (Monheim am Rhein, Germany) has increased its prices for several oxo intermediate products in the Americas on strong demand and tight feedstocks availability, as per the company's press release.

The announced price rise is effective as of 1 April 2021 or as contracts allow.

Thus, prices for n-butyl acetate and isobutyl acetate will be both increased by 25 cents per pound (cts/lb) in North America and Mexico, and by USD550/metric ton in South America, whereas prices for n-butanol and isobutanol will go up by 20 cts/lb in North America and Mexico, and by USD440/metric ton in South America.

As MRC wrote before, OQ Chemicals has already announced several price increases for its oxo intermediate products so far this year due largely to strong demand and higher feedstocks costs. The most recent announcement was earlier this month, with a nominated increase on several other oxo intermediate products that is also due to come into effect on 1 April.

As MRC reported previously, in September 2020, OQ Chemicals entered into an agreement to license its advanced proprietary technology for the production of ethylene and propylene derivatives to Duqm Refinery and Petrochemicals Industries Company (DRPIC) in Oman. DRPIC, a joint venture between Oman Oil Company and Kuwait International Oil Company, is a planned grassroots petrochemical complex at Duqm, Oman. In all, DRPIC awarded twelve license packages to international licensors.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 241,030 tonnes in January 2021 versus 217,890 tonnes a year earlier. Only shipments of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market reached 141,870 tonnes in January 2021 versus 123,520 tonnes a year earlier. Supply of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased.

OQ Chemicals, formerly Oxea, is a global manufacturer of oxo intermediates and oxo derivatives, such as alcohols, polyols, carboxylic acids, specialty esters, and amines. These products are used for the production of high-quality coatings, lubricants, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products, flavours and fragrances, printing inks and plastics. OQ Chemicals is part of OQ, an integrated energy company that delivers sustainability and business excellence. OQ operates in 16 countries and covers the entire value chain from exploration and production to the marketing and distribution of its products.
MRC

"Samara plant of medical devices" launched the production of nitrile gloves

MOSCOW (MRC) - The Samara Medical Device Plant (SZMI) in the Togliatti special economic zone launched the production of disposable nitrile gloves on March 26, becoming the only full-cycle manufacturer in Russia, TASS reported.

The products are planned to be supplied to public and private medical institutions, as well as to enterprises in the field of household services. The volume of investments allocated for the construction of the plant amounted to more than 729 million rubles, and the plant plans to reach its design capacity of 108 million pairs per year in the second quarter of 2021. The enterprise has 2 lines.

"The raw material - nitrile material, will be supplied by the Russian company SIBUR. By the end of the year, we must increase the annual capacity for the production of gloves by 3.5 times," said the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov at the ceremony.

Earlier it was reported that before the coronavirus pandemic, the need for nitrile gloves in Russia was up to 1.2 billion pairs, then in two months it increased to 4 billion, according to Alexei Turenko. In monetary terms, this is about 40 billion rubles. The demand for latex surgical gloves during the pandemic almost did not increase, it amounts to 500-600 million pairs (Rb2-3 bn).

It was also noted that in March 2020, the Moscow authorities acquired the largest manufacturer of medical masks in Russia - KIT LLC. KIT produces one third of medical masks in Russia. The production of medical masks is the main profile of the Innovative Technologies Company LLC (KIT), compared to the beginning of the year, the company has more than doubled its production - up to 1 mln medical masks per day.

As MRC reported earlier, in February of this year, the index of production of chemicals in the Russian Federation increased by 5.3% in comparison with the same indicator a year earlier. But on a cumulative basis for the first two months of 2021, the production of basic chemicals showed an increase of 7.5%.
MRC