PVC imports to Ukraine down by 41% in H1 2021, exports remain unchanged

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) into Ukraine decreased by 41% year on year in the first six months of 2021 to about 12,700 tonnes. Export sales of Ukrainian PVC remained the same year on year, despite record-high prices in several regions of the world, according to MRC's DataScope report.
Last month's SPVC imports to the Ukrainian market were about 2,100 tonnes versus 2,000 tonnes in May, with European producers continuing to have significant restrictions on exports for a couple of months. Overall imports of suspension reached 12,700 tonnes in January-June 2021, compared to 21,400 tonnes a year earlier. Limited export quotas from European producers and North American producers' high export prices were the main reason for such a major reduction in imports.
European producers with the share of about 98% of the total imports over the stated period were the key suppliers of resin to the Ukrainian market.

Last month, Karpatneftekhim slightly raised its export sales, export sales of Ukrainian resin were 12,800 tonnes versus 10,500 tonnes in April. Overall, slightly over 102,800 tonnes of PVC were shipped for export in the first six months of 2021, compared to 102,400 tonnes a year earlier.

MRC

Saudi Arabia and Oman call for continued oil cooperation between OPEC and aliies to stabilise oil market

Saudi Arabia and Oman call for continued oil cooperation between OPEC and aliies to stabilise oil market

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Saudi Arabia and Oman called for continued cooperation between OPEC and other allied producers to stabilise and balance the oil market, reported Reuters with reference to the Gulf states' joint statement.

Saudi Arabia, the biggest oil producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, and Oman, a small non-OPEC producer, are both part of the OPEC+ alliance, which includes other nations such as Russia.

OPEC+ scrapped talks last week to adjust their agreement on oil output curbs after a dispute between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, another OPEC producer in the Gulf. The dispute halted plans to pump more oil into the market where crude prices have recently hit 2-1/2 year highs.

We remind that as MRC wrote before, China's crude oil imports fell 3% from January to June versus a year earlier, in the first first-half contraction since 2013, as an import quota shortage, refinery maintenance and rising global prices curbed buying. Imports totalled 40.14 million tonnes last month, data released by the General Administration of Customs showed on Tuesday, equivalent to 9.77 million barrels per day (bpd).

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 953,400 tonnes in the first five months of 2021, which virtually corresponded to the same figure a year earlier. High denisty polyethylene (HDPE) shipments decreased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 607,8900 tonnes in January-May 2021, up by 33% year on year. Shipments of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased, whereas deliveries of PP random copolymers decreased.
MRC

New options for electrochemical sensor development

New options for electrochemical sensor development

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Metrohm DropSens announced new capabilities that facilitate the high-volume production of customized electrochemical sensors, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Custom sensors are manufactured through a highly scalable and cost-effective manufacturing process with virtually no quantity limits. Metrohm DropSens supports the entire development and production process, from initial conceptualization to in-depth prototype design. Global Metrohm experts help customers turn an idea, an application or developing research into a market ready solution that guarantees cost-effective production and the highest levels of product quality and stability.

The size, shape, area, and substrate material of sensors can be customized for individual application requirements. Furthermore, the versatility of a wide range of materials allows these sensors to be adapted to applications to measure an array of parameters. Common industries include pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, environmental analysis, water contamination, illicit drug detection, and agriculture.

« Whether they are a well-established company or a new start-up venture, we are excited to offer our customers the opportunity to bring their ideas to life, » said Ed Colihan, President and CEO of Metrohm USA. « Our customization capabilities will make a real difference for many applications, including virus detection and electrochemical surface-enhanced Raman scattering."

Custom production and high-volume manufacturing of electrochemical sensors give Metrohm DropSens customers the means to respond to new analytical paradigms and achieve powerful and accurate results.

As per MRC, Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. announced that a consortium composed of its subsidiaries Tecnimont S.p.A. and Mumbaibased Tecnimont Private Limited has been awarded an EPCC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning) Lump Sum contract by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), for the implementation of a new polypropylene plant and the related product logistics facilities.

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.
MRC

U.S. oil industry lobby sets greenhouse gas disclosure guidelines

U.S. oil industry lobby sets greenhouse gas disclosure guidelines

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The biggest U.S. oil and gas trade association released new industry guidelines for energy companies to track and report greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to address the sector's carbon footprint, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The American Petroleum Institute, which includes Exxon Mobil Corp and Chevron Corp, said the framework aims to standardize the way companies log emissions, including flared natural gas, and prompts them to voluntarily disclose those details publicly. "The template aims to provide a consistent and uniform set of core GHG (greenhouse gases) indicators to enable greater comparability in climate-related reporting," API said in a statement.

API's guidelines follow plans by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to introduce new climate-mitigating rules as it steps up environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosures.

The API in March said it would endorse carbon-price policy, easing its previous resistance to regulatory action on climate change amid a shift in the oil industry's strategy on the issue and the new U.S. presidency.

As per MRC, Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. announced that a consortium composed of its subsidiaries Tecnimont S.p.A. and Mumbaibased Tecnimont Private Limited has been awarded an EPCC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning) Lump Sum contract by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), for the implementation of a new polypropylene plant and the related product logistics facilities.

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.
MRC

Shell and Sulzer Chemtech extend licensing agreement

Shell and Sulzer Chemtech extend licensing agreement

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Sulzer Chemtech has renewed and extended its licensing agreement with Shell Catalysts & Technologies for the development and distribution of high-capacity tray and phase separation technology, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The enhanced global licensing contract will provide customers with greater access to advanced mass transfer components, supporting their manufacturing and processing operations.

The first strategic agreement between the two industry leaders was signed in 2000 and renewed in 2011. For over two decades, Sulzer and Shell have partnered to provide state-of-the-art mass transfer technologies to businesses in the manufacturing and processing sectors. In this time, the licensed technologies have supported over a hundred projects every year. Under the terms of the new agreement, Sulzer Chemtech will continue to be the worldwide licensee for Shell Catalysts & Technologies’ high-capacity tray and phase separation technology. In addition to this, the companies have committed to expanding the joint development of new advanced mass transfer and separation technologies.

Andy Gosse, President of Shell Catalysts & Technologies, says: “We are very excited to renew and expand our partnership with Sulzer Chemtech. Working even more closely together will strengthen our ability to support current as well as future market needs. By combining our engineering resources, technologies and knowledge we will continue to deliver market-leading, highly efficient mass transfer solutions to our customers."

Torsten Wintergerste, Division President at Sulzer Chemtech, comments: “We are extremely proud of what we have accomplished together with Shell Catalysts & Technologies and are thrilled to extend our partnership. The new licensing agreement will allow us to further grow our portfolio of processing equipment, helping us to deliver the solutions of the future for mass transfer. This ultimately strengthens our ability to support customers in the manufacturing and processing industries with cutting-edge technologies to improve their operations. We welcome all cooperation agreements that focus on the development of solutions to increase the sustainability of manufacturing and processing operations as well as the reduction of their carbon footprints”.

As MRC informed before, Royal Dutch Shell plans to reduce its refining and chemicals portfolio by more than half, it said in July 2020 without giving a precise timeframe. The move is part of the Anglo-Dutch company's plan to shrink its oil and gas business and expand its renewables and power division to reduce greenhouse gas emissions sharply by 2050.

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