Solvay wins environmental case against prior owner of its Spinetta Marengo and Bussi sul Tirino sites in Italy

Solvay wins environmental case against prior owner of its Spinetta Marengo and Bussi sul Tirino sites in Italy

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The International Chamber of Commerce's arbitration tribunal has determined that Edison, the former owner of Solvay's Spinetta Marengo and Bussi sul Tirino sites, is liable for breaching environmental representations and warranties in its sale to Solvay in 2001, as per Solvay's press release.

The partial decision, issued on June 22, ordered Edison to compensate Solvay for losses and damages incurred up to the end of 2016. It reserved its decision on additional losses and damages from 2017 onwards, including the interest applicable to the amount awarded and the costs of litigation, for another possible phase of arbitration proceedings.

The decision comes after years of international arbitration by Solvay claiming that Edison is liable for breaches of the environmental conditions and provisions contained in the Share Purchase Agreement of December 2001. This agreement resulted in Solvay's acquisition in 2002 of the Italian company Ausimont SpA, which at that time was owned by (Mont)Edison.

The outcome of the arbitral sentence is very important for Solvay as it recognises the deliberate misrepresentations we experienced during the acquisition process. This did not prevent Solvay from undertaking necessary important remedial actions over many years. It’s a further illustration of the company's commitment to do what is right in terms of the environment and to pursue its rights when it considers that others are at fault, according to the statement.

As MRC reported earlier, in August, 2020, through the acquisition of the Solvay polyamide (PA) business, BASF enhanced its R&D capabilities in Asia Pacific with new technologies, technical expertise, and upgraded material and part testing services. BASF is planning to integrate the R&D centers from Solvay into its R&D existing facilities in Shanghai, China, and Seoul, Korea. The enhanced capabilities will boost BASF’s position as a solution provider to develop advanced material solutions for key industries.

We remind that Russia's output of chemical products rose in March 2021 by 5.4% year on year. Thus, production of basic chemicals increased year on year by 6.7% in the first quarter of 2021, according to Rosstat's data. production of polymers in primary form was 958,000 tonnes versus 861,000 tonnes in February. Overall output of polymers in primary form totalled 2,740,000 tonnes in the first three months of 2021, up by 8.5% year on year.

Solvay is a science company whose technologies bring benefits to many aspects of daily life. With more than 24,100 employees in 64 countries, Solvay bonds people, ideas and elements to reinvent progress. The Group seeks to create sustainable shared value for all, notably through its Solvay One Planet plan crafted around three pillars: protecting the climate, preserving resources and fostering better life. The Group’s innovative solutions contribute to safer, cleaner, and more sustainable products found in homes, food and consumer goods, planes, cars, batteries, smart devices, health care applications, water and air purification systems. Founded in 1863, Solvay today ranks among the world’s top three companies for the vast majority of its activities.
MRC

New equipment will be installed at the production of Nizhnekamskneftekhim

MOSCOW (MRC) -- New equipment will be installed at the production of Nizhnekamskneftekhim, said the company.

New equipment - containers for storing finished products - will be installed at the production of metoxpolyethylene glycols (MPEG). The production of MPEG at the OiG plant of PJSC "Nizhnekamskneftekhim" began in 2019. The products have found wide application in pharmacology, paint and varnish and metalworking industries, where MPEG is used as a binder.

Shop №6711 of the oligomers and glycols plant is involved in the technological process of MPEG production. Finished products are stored in the adjacent workshop No. 6712. For this purpose, five vertical tanks are installed here. In connection with the expansion of the brand assortment of produced MPEGs, a decision was made to increase the number of storage tanks up to eight.

Currently, work is underway to install new equipment. The MPEG storage site will be equipped with a pumping unit for circulation and pumping of the product to the loading and unloading rack. The installation of a new product storage point, as well as commissioning operations, is scheduled to be completed by the end of August.

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.

As per ICIS-MRC Price Report, Some market participants said demand and supply of Nizhnekamskneftekhim's material were generally balanced. There was no sharp surge in demand this month, despite a major price reduction. Prices of Nizhnekamskneftekhim's GPPS were in the range of roubles (Rb) 152,000-163,000/tonne, whereas HIPS prices were at Rb156,000-167,000/tonne CPT Moscow, including VAT. A major trader offered GPPS for sale at Rb155,000/tonne CPT Moscow, including VAT.

PJSC "Nizhnekamskneftekhim" is one of the largest petrochemical companies in Eastern Europe, occupies a leading position among domestic producers of synthetic rubbers, plastics and ethylene. Part of the TAIF Group of Companies. The company was founded in 1967, the main production facilities are located in Nizhnekamsk, Republic of Tatarstan. The nomenclature of manufactured products includes more than 120 items. The products of the joint-stock company are exported to 50 countries in Europe, America and Southeast Asia. The share of exports in the total volume of production is about 50%.
MRC

Linde starts up its fifth liquid hydrogen plant in the USA

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Linde has started up its fifth liquid hydrogen plant in the US, reinforcing the company's robust supply network of plants in California, Alabama, Indiana and New York, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The new plant in La Porte, Texas, will supply over 30 tons per day of high-purity liquid hydrogen to meet growing demand from Linde's customers. The liquefier takes hydrogen from Linde's approximately 600-kilometer US Gulf Coast pipeline, which has over 15 independent hydrogen production sources, giving it the most reliable feed supply of any hydrogen liquefier in the US today. Linde will purify and liquefy the hydrogen before supplying it to end markets including material handling, mobility, aerospace, manufacturing, metals, energy and electronics.

Linde is a global leader in the production, processing, storage and distribution of hydrogen. It has the largest liquid hydrogen capacity and distribution system in the world. The company also operates the world's first high-purity hydrogen storage cavern, coupled with an unrivaled pipeline network of approximately 1,000 kilometers globally to reliably supply its customers. Linde is at the forefront in the transition to clean hydrogen and has installed close to 200 hydrogen fueling stations and 80 hydrogen electrolysis plants worldwide.

As MRC reported previously, in May 2021, Saudi chemical manufacturing company SABIC signed a joint agreement with BASF and Linde to develop and demonstrate solutions for electrically heated steam cracker furnaces. The partners had already jointly worked on concepts to use renewable electricity instead of the fossil fuel gas typically used for the heating process. With this innovative approach focusing on one of the petrochemical industries’ core processes, the parties strive to offer a promising solution to significantly contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions within the chemical industry.

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

Specialized Packaging Group acquired Specialized Packaging Solutions

Specialized Packaging Group acquired Specialized Packaging Solutions

MOSCOW (MRC) -- In a deal involving two California-based firms, Specialized Packaging Group (SPG), a vertically-integrated provider of protective packaging products, has acquired Specialized Packaging Solutions (SPS) for an undisclosed amount, said Canplastics.

In a news release, SPG officials said the deal expands its reach while adding approximately 100 employees to its 1,100-person workforce. SPG is said to be one of the largest independent protective packaging manufacturers in North America.

SPS and its full workforce will continue to operate in Newark, Calif., while founder and CEO Terry Besso will be retiring. “The addition of SPS to our engineered packaging division means we will be adding world-class capabilities to an operation that is already an industry leader,” said SPG CEO Bob Lally.

"After building SPS from the ground up, it was important to know that the company would be in good hands after I step away,” said SPS founder and CEO Terry Besso. “SPG will continue our legacy of building strong, one-on-one relationships with customers and providing high-quality service and products. I’m grateful for a smooth and successful transaction that led to the best possible result for SPS and our employees."

SPG operates under two divisions, IVEX and Engineered Packaging. IVEX manufactures a range of packaging materials at six facilities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico; and Engineered Packaging, which is comprised of Induspac and Estapack, designs and manufactures customized packaging solutions at eight facilities in the U.S. and Mexico.

SPS began as a family-owned packaging business and now manufactures custom packaging products at a 150,000 square-foot warehouse in Newark.

As per MRC, Elliott Group announced plans to close its Packaging Solutions operations in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania by the end of 2020, and to consolidate design engineering and manufacturing operations for unit packaging and auxiliary systems with its primary Engineered Products business in Jeannette.

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

US Jan-Apr caustic soda exports drop by 2.4%

MOSCOW (MRC) -- US caustic soda exports in the first four months of 2021 declined nearly 2.4% compared with January-April 2020, reflecting continued fallout from production shutdowns forced by a deep freeze that hit the US Gulf Coast and much of the US in mid-February, reported S&P Global with reference to the latest US International Trade Commission (ITC) data.

The US shipped out 1.878 million mt of caustic soda in the January-April period, down from 1.92 million mt in the year-ago span, the data showed.

US chlor-alkali rates plunged to 59% in February, from 83% in January, when sustained subfreezing temperatures forced widespread petrochemical plant shutdowns, according to industry statistics. Caustic soda supply had been seen long before the freeze, but sudden shutdowns tightened supply.

After the freeze, caustic soda demand that had been sluggish since mid-2019 began rebounding as buyers sought to boost low inventories and growth in US COVID-19 vaccination rates spurred more economic activity.

Demand for printing paper, napkins, pint-sized milk cartons and other products made with caustic soda plunged in April 2020 when schools and offices closed, sending workers and students to work and learn from home.

US chlor-alkali rates fell to 68% in April 2020 from 90% in March that year, and remained in the low to mid 70% range from May through October. Rates surpassed 80% in November 2020 and stayed in the low 80% range until the freeze hit.

March chlor-alkali rates rose to 71% from February's 59%, and again to 80% in April, industry statistics show.

While US caustic soda exports fell slightly year on year, imports rose 8.2% to 331,297 mt from 306,027 mt in January-April 2020, the ITC data showed.

As MRC wrote before, in May 2021, American Westlake Chemical said it will soon sell "green" caustic soda, which emits 30% less carbon dioxide during its production. Westlake President and Chief Executive Officer Albert Chao said the company wants to obtain an environmental compliance certificate for the production of caustic soda using this technology in Europe. Green caustic soda has the same properties as regular sodium hydroxide. The difference lies in the use of renewable energy sources in the production process.

We remind that Russia's March production of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) was 118,000 tonnes (100% of the main substance) versus 98,400 tonnes a month earlier. In the first quarter of 2021, overall output of caustic soda in Russia totalled 329,400 tonnes, down by 0.7% year on year.

The main caustic soda producers in the United States are Olin, Occidental Chemical, Westlake Chemical, Shintech, and Formosa Plastics.
MRC