Lummus and Braskem agreed on joint licensing of green ethylene technology

Lummus and Braskem agreed on joint licensing of green ethylene technology

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Lummus Technology announced that it has executed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Braskem Netherlands B.V., a subsidiary of Braskem, the largest biopolymer producer in the world, said the company.

The MOU is for the licensing of Braskem's green ethylene technology for two ethanol to ethylene conversion projects under development in North America and Asia, signaling a global interest in the technology. "Our partnership with Braskem is a very important building block that will strengthen Lummus' technology leadership in the energy transition," said Leon de Bruyn, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lummus Technology.

"As the world's largest ethylene technology provider, Lummus is confident in the green solutions we will be able to develop together with Braskem, the world's largest biopolymer producer and recognized for its role in the circular economy. Our collective expertise, experience and resources will accelerate circularity in our industry and help our customers decarbonize their investments and produce greener products."

"Braskem and Lummus are joining their expertise to foster the development of the sustainable chemistry", highlighted Walmir Soller, Braskem's VP Olefins/Polyolefins for Europe and Asia and Global Leader for the Green PE Business. "Braskem, with more than ten years producing Green Ethylene out of Ethanol from sugar cane, together with Lummus, with its process and technology licensing competences, will provide a solid basis for the growth of this green alternative that allows the use of carbon captured from the atmosphere into plastics and other chemical products, contributing to fight Climate Change."

In addition to the MoU, Lummus and Braskem are discussing a long-term agreement for Lummus to license Braskem's green ethylene technology as a way to accelerate the chemical industry's use of renewable feedstock and fight climate change, converting circular carbon from the atmosphere into plastic as an alternative for oil. This aligns with both organizations' goals to help reduce carbon emissions and play a significant role in the energy transition and circular economy.

This MoU also reflects Lummus' strategic business direction, through its subsidiary Green Circle, as a leader in commercializing and developing breakthrough solutions to address the key pillars of the energy transition, including end-of-life waste plastics recycling, production of bio-derived sustainable chemicals and decarbonization strategies for existing and new assets. Recognized as a market leader in ethylene technology, Lummus has licensed more than 120 ethylene plants around the world, accounting for approximately 40 percent of global ethylene capacity. Lummus has also completed over 200 ethylene grassroots, revamp and expansion design projects, more than any competing technology licensor.

Braskem is the global leader in bioplastic, and for more than a decade has been producing green polyethylene using ethanol from sustainably sourced sugarcane for its production.

We remind that Brazilian petrochemical producer Braskem's 450,000 mt/year PP plant in LaPorte, Texas, along the Houston Ship Channel completed its initial commercial production, as per the company's statement as of Sept. 10. "The launch of commercial production at our new world-class PP production line in La Porte clearly affirms Braskem's position as the North American polypropylene market leader," Braskem America CEO Mark Nikolich said in a statement. With a USD750 million investment, the new PP plant's construction started in October 2017 and was completed in June, 2020.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,396,960 tonnes in January-July 2021, up by 7% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 841,990 tonnes in the first seven months of 2021, up by 29% year on year. Supply of propylene homopolymers (homopolymer PP) and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) subsided.

Lummus Technology is the global leader in developing process technologies that make modern life possible and focus on a more sustainable, low carbon future. Lummus is a master licensor of clean energy, petrochemical, refining, gas processing and renewable technologies, and a supplier of catalysts, proprietary equipment, digitalization and related lifecycle services to customers worldwide.

Braskem is engaged in contributing to the value chain to strengthen the Circular Economy. The petrochemical producer's 8,000 team members are dedicated every day to improving people's lives through sustainable solutions in chemistry and plastics. With its corporate DNA rooted in innovation, Braskem offers a complete portfolio of plastic resins and chemical products for various industries, such as food packaging, construction, manufacturing, automotive, agribusiness, health and hygiene, and more. With 40 industrial units in Brazil, United States, Mexico and Germany and net revenue of R$58.5 billion (USD11.4 billion), Braskem exports its products to clients in over 100 countries.
MRC

COVID-19 - News digest as of 10.11.2021

1. October crude oil imports decreased to lowest in three years in China

MOSCOW (MRC) -- China's crude oil imports plunged in October to the lowest since September 2018, as large state-owned refiners withheld purchases because of rising prices while independent refiners were restrained by limited quotas to import, said Hydrocarbonprocessing. The world's biggest crude oil importer brought in 37.8 MM tons last month, data from the General Administration of Customs showed on Sunday, equivalent to 8.9 MM barrels per day (bpd). That is down from 9.99 MMbpd in September and 10.02 MMbpd in the same period last yr. Over the January-October period, crude arrivals totaled 425.06 MM tons, or 10.21 MMbpd, down 7.2% year-on-year, the customs data showed. Crude imports were down on a monthly basis for a second mos and the decline has occurred amid a 62% jump in crude oil prices this yr as economies open globally from COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, spurring fuel demand. Beijing's crackdown on illicit trading in crude oil quotas and import allowances for independent oil refiners also weighed on purchases.




MRC

US slows down oil and gas mergers

US slows down oil and gas mergers

MOSCOW (MRC) -- US antitrust regulators have extended the approval process for at least five oil and gas mergers and acquisitions in the last three months, as President Joe Biden's administration scrutinizes deals in a bid to tackle soaring energy prices, reported Reuters with reference to regulatory filings and corporate lawyers.

The slowdown comes amid growing pressure on policymakers to respond to consumer angst over skyrocketing retail gasoline prices, as US crude futures hit multi-year highs in late October. The White House has been calling US oil and gas producers to ask how they can help lower prices.

The move is also emblematic of a new push by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to protect consumers, workers, the environment and society at large. Under its new chair Lina Khan, the antitrust regulator has taken a tough stance on deals ranging from technology to healthcare.

Such scrutiny is rare in the oil and gas sector, where deals typically sail past regulators, more than a dozen industry sources, including lawyers and bankers advising on energy deals, said in interviews.

This is because these companies sell their output to a global market, and regional consolidation has no impact on energy prices dictated by supply and demand worldwide.

Maureen Ohlhausen, chair of antitrust & competition law at Baker Botts LLP, who served as acting FTC chair from January 2017 until April 2018 under the previous Trump administration, called the scrutiny unprecedented.

"Even though previous Democratic FTC commissioners wanted active enforcement, the industry was told what the standards were, deals got reviewed and things moved along. This is really different," Ohlhausen said. "I believe the FTC Chair, effectively, would like to deter mergers."

The FTC is subjecting more deals to so-called second requests, seeking additional information and documents, the deal advisers said and the filings show. Second requests can delay regulatory clearance of deals by several months.

"I am aware of two mergers in the last couple of months where FTC staff did not see a need to issue a second request but were overruled by their management," said Darren Tucker, chair of the antitrust practice at law firm Vinson & Elkins LLP. He declined to name the two deals.

Among the proposed transactions that received second requests in September were HollyFrontier Corp's USD2.6 B purchase of Sinclair Oil and Vertex Energy Inc's USD140 MM sale of motor oil collection and recycling assets to Safety-Kleen Systems Inc, the regulatory filings show.

Second requests involving oil and gas producers are rare, and it is more common for the FTC to scrutinize deals involving pipelines and gas stations. Pipeline operator Energy Transfer LP said in May it received a second request on its proposed $7.2 B takeover of Enable Midstream Partners LP.

The FTC's scrutiny threatens to put the brakes on dealmaking in the oil patch, which had already dropped to USD18.5 B of mergers and acquisitions between US oil and gas producers in the third quarter, down from USD33.4 B in the second quarter, according to data analytics firm Enverus.

The White House has been public with its requests for the FTC to act as the reopening of economies around the world in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic drives up energy consumption. Brian Deese, director of the National Economic Council, wrote to FTC Chair Khan in August asking her to investigate soaring energy prices. Khan responded that the FTC will scrutinize consolidation among gas station operators, but also look at dealmaking in the energy industry more broadly.

The Biden White House has already irked the oil and gas industry by making climate change a priority in its administrative agenda. It temporarily halted the issuance of new leases for drilling on federal land and has proposed to end some fossil fuel subsidies. Energy companies argue these moves will push up energy costs.

To be sure, it is not clear whether the FTC will seek to block any of the energy deals it has subjected to second requests.

The regulator has not challenged a major merger of oil and gas producers since BP Plc's USD27 B acquisition of Atlantic Richfield Co in 2000. It sued to block the merger and only agreed to drop its objections after BP offered to divest oil production acreage in Alaska.

A major test for the FTC will be ConocoPhillips' proposed USD9.5 B acquisition of Royal Dutch Shell Plc's Permian Basin assets. It was announced in September, and any FTC second request would be made in the coming weeks.

As MRC informed earlier, 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 1,868,160 tonnes in the first nine months of 2021, up by 18% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 1,138,510 tonnes in the first nine months of 2021, up by 30% year on year. Supply of propylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of injection moulding PP random copolymers decreased significantly.
MRC

Trinseo raises November PS, ABS and SAN prices in Europe

Trinseo raises November PS, ABS and SAN 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 increase for all polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer (SAN) in Europe, according to the company's press release as of November 3.

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

- STYRON general purpose polystyrene grades (GPPS) -- by EUR290 per metric ton;
- STYRON and STYRON A-Tech and STYRON X- Tech and STYRON C- Tech high impact polystyrene grades (HIPS) - by EUR290 per metric ton;
- MAGNUM ABS resins - by EUR230 per metric ton;
- TYRIL SAN resins - by EUR240 per metric ton.

As MRC reported earlier, Trinseo raised its prices for all PS, ABS and SAN grades on October 1, 2021, as stated below:

- STYRON GPPS -- by EUR55 per metric ton;
- STYRON and STYRON A-Tech and STYRON X- Tech and STYRON C- Tech HIPS - by EUR55 per metric ton;
- MAGNUM ABS resins - by EUR60 per metric ton;
- TYRIL SAN resins - by EUR45 per metric ton.

According to ICIS-MRC Price report, in Russia, prices of Russian PS rose significantly this month. Thus, November prices of Nizhnekamskneftekhim's GPPS went up to Rb167,750-178,700/tonne CPT Moscow, including VAT, whereas HIPS prices rose to Rb173,750-184,700/tonne CPT Moscow, including VAT.

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

Crude oil futures continue upward trend in Asia as US EIA report forecast supply to exceed demand next year

Crude oil futures continue upward trend in Asia as US EIA report forecast supply to exceed demand next year

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Crude oil futures were higher in midmorning trade in Asia Nov. 10, on track for a fourth straight day of gains, as a US Energy Information Administration report forecast supply to exceed demand next year and eased concerns about a possible Strategic Petroleum Reserve release, reported S&P Global.

At 10:49 am Singapore time (0249 GMT), the ICE January Brent futures contract was up 38 cents/b (0.45%) from the previous close at USD85.16/b while the NYMEX December light sweet crude contract rose 14 cents/b (0.17%) at USD84.29/b.

The EIA in its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook said growth in output from OPEC+ members, US shale and other non-OPEC countries will outpace slowing growth in global oil consumption in 2022. It forecast Brent prices easing from current levels to an average of USD72/b for the year.

For the remainder of 2021, it expects Brent prices to remain near current levels, averaging USD82/b in the fourth quarter.

The EIA trimmed the outlook for 2022 global oil demand growth by 130,000 b/d from last month to 3.35 million b/d, but raised its outlook for US oil production to 11.13 million b/d in 2021, up 110,000 b/d from last month's outlook, and to 11.9 million b/d in 2022, up 170,000 b/d.

The report has eased concerns that the Biden administration will tap its SPR to curb what it sees as an excessive run-up in oil prices, analysts said. President Joe Biden has been vocal in calling on OPEC to raise output beyond their quota levels, and senior officials of the administration have hinted in recent days that Biden might take action in the week started Nov. 7.

Oil prices have added 4.2%-5.3% in value since a brief correction mid last week and were now on track to surpass seven-year peaks touched in late-October. Investors have been quick to buy any dip as the narrative of a tight supply market continued to dominate the sentiment.

Media reports said that American Petroleum Institute data showed a draw in US crude oil inventories in the week ended Nov. 5. If confirmed by the EIA's weekly inventory numbers out later Nov. 10, this would mark the second weekly drop in crude oil inventories in seven weeks.

As MRC informed before, US commercial crude stocks fell 3.48 million barrels to 413.96 million barrels in the week ended Sept. 17, to more than 8% below the five-year average, Energy Information Administration data showed. Stocks were last lower Oct. 5, 2018.

We remind that in late August, 2021, US crude stocks dropped sharply while petroleum products supplied by refiners hit an all-time record despite the rise in coronavirus cases nationwide, the Energy Information Administration said. Crude inventories fell by 7.2 million barrels in the week to Aug. 27 to 425.4 million barrels, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 3.1 million-barrel drop. Product supplied by refineries, a measure of demand, rose to 22.8 million barrels per day in the most recent week. That's a one-week record, and signals strength in consumption for diesel, gasoline and other fuels by consumers and exporters.

We also remind that US crude oil production is expected to fall by 160,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2021 to 11.12 million bpd, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in a monthly report, a smaller decline than its previous forecast for a drop of 210,000 bpd.
MRC