Trinseo reduces July PS prices in Europe

Trinseo reduces July PS 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 decrease for polystyrene (PS) in Europe, according to the company's press release as of July 2.

Effective July 1, 2021, or as existing contract terms allow, the contract and spot prices for the products listed below went down as follows:

- STYRON general purpose polystyrene grades (GPPS) -- by EUR190 per metric ton;
- STYRON and STYRON A-Tech and STYRON X- Tech and STYRON C- Tech high impact polystyrene grades (HIPS) - by EUR170 per metric ton.

As MRC informed before, Trinseo reduced its prices for PS and acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer (SAN) grades on June 1, 2021, as stated below:

- STYRON GPPS -- by EUR290 per metric ton;
- STYRON and STYRON A-Tech and STYRON X- Tech and STYRON C- Tech HIPS - by EUR290 per metric ton;
- TYRIL SAN resins - by EUR170 per metric ton.

According to ICIS-MRC Price report, prices of Russian PS fell sharply in July, as market participant expected. Nizhnekamskneftekhim reduced its selling prices of material for large-sized buyers that purchase PS directly from the plant by roubles (Rb) 20,000/tonne. Penoplex also significantly reduced its selling GPPS prices on the back of a substantial reduction in styrene monomer (SM) prices.

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 USD3.0 billion in net sales in 2020, with 17 manufacturing sites around the world, and approximately 2,600 employees.
MRC

TechnoNICOL plans to install two extrusion lines in Poland and Russia

TechnoNICOL plans to install two extrusion lines in Poland and Russia

MOSCOW (MRC) - TechnoNICOL, Europe's largest manufacturer and supplier of roofing, waterproofing and thermal insulation materials, plans to install two new extrusion lines in Poland and Russia, the company said in a statement.

The Italian company BG Plast (Italy) signed a contract with TechnoNICOL for the supply of two extrusion lines for the production of dimpled sheet membranes with and without a geotextile joint, 2000 mm and 4000 mm wide.

The lines will have a capacity of 600 and 1500 kg / h with extruders with diameters of 120 mm and 160 mm, respectively, and will be located at two strategic plants of the group - one in Russia and a new plant in Poland, where the installation of the line was completed.

Earlier it was reported that TechnoNICOL launched the first line in Russia for the production of geocomposite polymer membranes for underground insulation on the basis of the Logikruf plant (Ryazan). This line will produce PVC membranes for tunnels and underground structures and geocomposite based on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) up to 6 mm thick for insulation of hydraulic structures. The capacity of the line will be 5 million m2 of finished products per year. The company allocated over 450 million rubles for the project.

According to MRC's ScanPlast, in May the total production of unmixed PVC in Russia amounted to 86.1 thousand tons versus 86.6 thousand tons a month earlier, RusVinyl reduced the capacity utilization level. The total volume of polymer production in January - May 2021 amounted to 432.1 thousand tons, which corresponds to the indicator a year earlier. A decrease in production volumes was recorded for two manufacturers; it was possible to increase the production of resin from the Bashkir Soda Company and "Kaustik" (Volgograd).

TechnoNICOL Corporation is one of the largest manufacturers and suppliers of hydro, heat and sound insulation. The company includes 49 factories in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and the Czech Republic, its own trade network of 140 branches and consulates in 33 countries. The company was founded in 1992 by Sergey Kolesnikov and Igor Rybakov.
MRC

Rolls-Royce partners with Shell in sustainable fuel

Rolls-Royce partners with Shell in sustainable fuel

MOSCOW (MRC) -- British engineering company Rolls-Royce said it would partner with oil company Shell to work on the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in line with both their plans for net zero emissions by 2050, said Reuters.

The pair signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which Rolls-Royce said would help with plans to certify 100% SAF for use in planes. In the aviation sector, its biggest business, Rolls-Royce plans to make all its commercial engines compatible to run on 100% SAF, which produces up to 70% less carbon than conventional fuel, by 2023.

The challenge for SAFs is that there is a shortage of supply, which the Shell partnership could help address. "We believe that working together on these aims can deliver benefits for both the development of new innovations as well as collaborating to find ways to unlock the net carbon emissions reduction potential of technology that is already in use today," he said.

As MRC informed previously, in late May, 2021, Shell agreed to sell its controlling interest in a Texas refinery to partner Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) for about USD596 million. And in early May, Shell announced the sale of its 149,000 barrel per day (bpd) refinery in Washington to Hollyfrontier Corp.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 744,130 tonnes in the first four month of 2021, up by 4% year on year. Shipments of all PE grades increased. At the same time, PP deliveries to the Russian market were 523,900 tonnes in January-April 2021, up by 55% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased, whereas shipments of PP random copolymers decreased.

Royal Dutch Shell plc is an Anglo-Dutch multinational oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the biggest company in the world in terms of revenue and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors". Shell is vertically integrated and is active in every area of the oil and gas industry, including exploration and production, refining, distribution and marketing, petrochemicals, power generation and trading.
MRC

76% of employees have antibodies to COVID-19 at Tomskneftekhim

76% of employees have antibodies to COVID-19 at Tomskneftekhim

MOSCOW (MRC) --- 76% of employees have antibodies to COVID-19 at Tomskneftekhim, the press service of the enterprise reports.

Nevertheless, at the Tomsk enterprises of SIBUR, a mandatory mask regime remains, as well as the need to observe social distance in personal interaction and other measures to prevent infection with COVID-19.

The press service of the enterprise notes that the collective immunity at Tomskneftekhim has developed from people who have had COVID-19, including asymptomatic ones, as well as vaccinated employees. Before the start of the mass vaccination against COVID-19 in Tomsk, all employees of Tomskneftekhim were tested for antibodies. SIBUR, as a responsible employer, contributes to providing employees with the maximum information to make an informed and balanced decision, as well as to provide them with the opportunity to get vaccinated.

"Testing of all employees of the enterprise for antibodies allowed us to collect information on the share of herd immunity. There are those who want to vaccinate. And our key task is to help them organizationally. Special thanks to the employees of the enterprise who have shown concern for their own health and the health of their colleagues. Despite the achieved results, the enterprise continues to operate a set of anti-virus measures aimed at creating a safe working environment for personnel, "says Vladimir Pleshkov, General Director of Tomskneftekhim.

Collective immunity of more than 70% belongs to two Tomsk enterprises of SIBUR: Tomskneftekhim and the R&D center NIOST. "Creating a safe work environment is a priority for the employer. As for employees, the degree of personal responsibility to themselves and their loved ones is more important than ever. NIOST's collective immunity is 73%," says Olga Khovanskaya, NIOST executive director.

In 2020, SIBUR allocated more than 2.9 billion rubles for measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at its enterprises in the regions of its operation. During the coronavirus pandemic, a rotational regime was introduced at Tomskneftekhim. The enterprise is included in the list of strategic organizations in the region. The main production personnel, who ensure a smooth production process, underwent testing before entering the shift. The internal rotational regime at the enterprise lasted for more than 4 months. The Tomsk enterprise did not stop work for a single day, ensuring the production of polyethylene and polypropylene.

SIBUR also provided significant assistance to medical institutions in the territories of its presence: epidemiological kits for medical personnel were sent to the Stroitel medical unit. About 1000 pulse oximeters were transferred by Tomskneftekhim to the region for distribution to medical organizations.

According to the ScanPlast of MRC, Tomskneftekhim produced about 13,300 tonnes of propylene polymers in May against 12,800 tonnes a month earlier. For five months, the production of polypropylene at the Tomsk enterprise reached 64,800 tonnes, which is 1% more than in 2020.

LLC "Tomskneftekhim" was opened after the transformation of TNHK in 2003. It is a subsidiary of PJSC SIBUR-Holding, which is one of the backbone enterprises of the Russian Federation. At the end of 2019, the authorized capital of Tomskneftekhim amounted to 6.5 billion rubles, sales revenue - 13.2 billion rubles, net profit - 1.9 billion rubles.
MRC

Nizhnekamskneftekhim reaches its design capacity for the production of polyethylene glycol

Nizhnekamskneftekhim reaches its design capacity for the production of polyethylene glycol

MOSCOW (MRC) - Nizhnekamskneftekhim has reached its design capacity for the production of polyethylene glycol - NPEG-2400, from which a superplasticizer of fifth generation concrete mixtures is made, Realnoe Vremya reports.

The new technology allows the concrete to be stored longer before being placed. For two years, from 2019 to 2020, in the Scientific and Technological Center of PJSC "Nizhnekamskneftekhim", a macromer of unsaturated polyethylene glycol of the NPEG-2400 brand was developed. The technology of synthesis and methods of analysis of the finished product were worked out.

Based on the results obtained, a report on research work and initial data for the design of production were issued. For the production of NPEG-2400, one of the operating lines of the oligomers and glycols plant was reequipped. Pilot tests began in November 2020.

Already at the end of the first week of testing, the NPEG-2400 was received, which fully meets the technical requirements for the finished product. During the next month, the synthesis technology was tested in the factory, and the production capacity of 10,000 tons per year was reached. Since January 2021, the design capacity of the NPEG-2400 production has been reached.

NPEG-2400 is an unsaturated polyethylene glycol ether. Due to the presence of a double bond in the polyglycol molecule, it has the ability to further polymerize, which makes it an extremely valuable product. Its main application is the production of superplasticizers for concrete mixes. A superplasticizer is a chemical additive that is introduced into a cement or concrete mixture in order to improve its physicochemical characteristics.

The main consumer of NPEG-2400 is the world leader in the production of reagents for concrete - the Swiss company SIKA, which has enterprises in Asia, Europe and America. Earlier it was reported that NKNK has mastered the production of thermoplastic elastomers. The products are used for the manufacture of road surfaces, which improves the quality and durability of asphalt. Thermoplastic elastomers are also used in the production of roofing materials.

The largest petrochemical holdings in Russia - SIBUR and TAIF - in April announced plans to combine their assets. Within the framework of the merger, a company will be created on the basis of SIBUR Holding, in which the current shareholders of TAIF PSC will receive a 15% stake in exchange for the transfer of a controlling stake in a group consisting of petrochemical and energy enterprises. The remaining stake in TAIF can be subsequently purchased by the merged company. The merged company of SIBUR and TAIF will include the parent company of the Tatarstan group, as well as two of its chemical plants and an energy company, including NKH and KOS.

According to the ICIS-MRC Price Report, Russian factories have reduced the cost of PS this month under pressure from external markets and the declining cost of raw materials. Nizhnekamskneftekhim has reduced the cost of the polymer by a greater amount than other plants.

PJSC "Nizhnekamskneftekhim" (NKNKH) is one of the largest Russian producers of petrochemical products. The production complex of the company includes ten factories of the main production and ten departments (railway transport, main ethylene pipelines, etc.). NKNKh produces over 120 types of chemical products, including synthetic rubber, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, surfactants. Nizhnekamskneftekhim is a part of TAIF Group.

MRC