Mauser works with Sabic on improved HDPE

(Plastics Today) -- Officials at industrial packaging power Mauser Group say that over the past 12 months, the company, which blowmolds drums, intermediate bulk containers and other industrial packaging, has experienced increasing demand in all product areas and all countries. Mauser worked recently with plastics supplier Sabic to develop an improved grade of HDPE especially suitable for blowmolding these large containers.


This grade is designed for blowmolding of tight head drums with a capacity of 25-220 litres. Characteristic of the material are its very high impact resistance and rigidity, plus ease of processing and resistance to stress cracks and chemicals, says Sabic. Most significantly, this material delivers improved melt flow for higher productivity and reduced energy usage. It is offered in a granular form≈a departure from traditional powders≈and, reports Sabic, this change of form helps prevent waste, increase machine efficiency, and permits safer product handling.


Mauser (Bruhl, Germany) has annual revenue of about ┬1 billion, with 4000 employees and facilities around the globe. Its plastics division is the company's largest but it also makes and distributes metal and paperboard drums and industrial containers. The bulk of the plastics divisions' processing facilities are in Europe though it also has ones in Brazil, the U.S. and Thailand.


MRC

Barge charged by Rhodia for force majeure

(PRW) -- Rhodia Polyamide Materials continues to be affected by a severe disruption of raw materials procurement due to navigation limitations following on from an accident involving a barge on the Rhine, which occurred on 13 January.


This, combined with a supply shortage following an equipment breakdown on the ADN production facility in Chalampe (France), has forced Rhodia to declare a force majeure on its HMDA and downstream products. Resumption of normal polyamide production is expected by the beginning of March.


The overall impact on the Group's EBITDA is estimated at around ┬25m. This will be for the most part recorded in the current quarter. Rhodia is investigating all possible alternatives to mitigate the impact caused to its customers.


MRC

SIBUR and TNK-BP Expand Their APG Processing Joint Venture

(SIBUR) -- SIBUR and TNK-BP have agreed to expand their joint venture, Yugragazpererabotka LLC, by merging Nyagangazpererabotka LLC, a gas processing entity, held until this time by the petrochemical holding, with and into the JV.


Upon integration of this asset, the general principles of associated petroleum gas (APG) deliveries to Nyagangazpererabotka, as well as those governing gas processing services and product sharing, will be aligned with the terms and conditions agreed at the time of Yugragazpererabotka establishment.


Nyagangazpererabotka is currently capable of processing up to 2.14 bcma of associated petroleum gas. In 2010, the entity processed 1.3 bcma of APG, producing 1.18 bcm of dry lean gas, 88 ktons of straight-run gasoline, and 247 ktons of liquefied petroleum gas used mostly as fuel in utility/household and motor vehicle applications.


Once Nyagangazpererabotka has become part of the JV, APG deliveries from TNK-BP fields will grow from 0.9 bcm in 2010 to over 1.3 bcm by 2013. Therefore, the entity's total APG throughput will exceed 1.7 bcm in 2013.


MRC

PVC price for the Russian converters up to 50.000 RUB/t in March

MOSCOW (MRC) -- In February PVC prices expectedly grew for separate market players. In March, taking into account the present situation, Russian converters may face the resin price as 49.000 - 50.000 RUB/t, according to MRC analysts.


In early January international trade companies lowered export prices for remaining volumes of December quotes of the North American PVC. This brought hope for even lower prices for suspension from USA to be shipped in February. But the prices for February release, on the contrary, returned to December level, at that all exports quotes were sold out actually within two weeks. The prices for March releases will be called only late February. Only some Russian companies could contract PVC for February dispatch.


Russian companies tried to compensate impossibility to contract suspension in North America by bulk PVC purchases in China. January level of prices for the Chinese acetylene PVC remained on the level of USD 1.020 - 1.040/t, DAF Dostyk. But taking into account growing cost of cargo railway transportation in Russian and Kazakhstan from January 1, 2011, the price for acetylene PVC from Russian consumer will make about 48.000 - 48.500 RUB/t, VAT included, СРТ Moscow. Now China celebrates Lunar NewYear but it is highly expected that after holidays Chinese producers will rise export prices for resin against continuing growth of oil prices.


Low demand in January didn't allow European producers to rise PVC prices. And only in February suspension producers from Europe could reach the growth of export prices by EUR 40-50/t to the level of EUR 820 - 850/t, FCA. At the same time contract price for ethylene in Europe over last two months grew by EUR 130/t, which involved growth of resin to the level of EUR 65/t. It stands to mention that many producers limited sales volumes in February expecting further price hike in March. Strengthening of euro rate against dollar and ruble as well as growth of exports quotes made European suspension pretty expensive for Russian companies: about 48.500 - 50.000 RUB/t, VAT included, СРТ Moscow.


Sayanskhimplast expectedly raised the contract price for PVC February release by 2.000 RUB/t, having levelled contract prices for the Russian suspension from three biggest producers to 47.000 - 48.000 RUB/t, VAT included, СРТ Moscow. Purchasing activity in the spot market is not that high, American PVC is offered on average for 46.000 - 46.500 RUB/t, VAT included, СРТ Moscow. It is not excluded that taking into account the price for the Chinese resin and logistics, soon we can expect correction of North American PVC prices.


Continuous oil price rises as well as current level of prices for PVC in the external markets make it possible to suppose that in March suspension prices in the Russian market may reach the level of 49.000 - 50.000 RUB/t, VAT included, СРТ Moscow.


More detailed information on PVC price forecast is presented in "Price forecast for PVC in Russia".


MRC

DSM Engineering Plastics to sell Yparex adhesives business to RESIN

(DSM) -- DSM Engineering Plastics has reached an agreement for the sale of its Yparex adhesives business to RESIN (Products & Technology) B.V., a Netherlands-based compounding company. The sale is expected to close in Q1 2011, subject to regulatory and other customary approvals and notifications.


The Yparex business produces adhesive tie-layer resins that are extrudable maleic anhydride-(MaH)-modified and functionalized polyolefin compounds. These are used in numerous industrial applications such as sanitary and heating pipes, floor and wall heating (or cooling), copper and steel pipe coating, film applications, cables and cladding panels.

The Yparex business will be positioned as an independent company, headquartered on Chemelot Campus in Geleen, NL and its current four employees will transfer to the new owner.


MRC