Vistamaxx PP-based elastomers add value to flexible films

March 17 (adsalecprj.com) -- The new grades of Vistamaxx propylene-based elastomers offered by petrochemical company ExxonMobil Chemical has created new opportunities for customers to add value to their flexible film applications across the value chain. Film manufacturers and end users are discovering that the combination of benefits offered by Vistamaxx provides a new level of performance potential.

Enhanced sealability, improved adhesion, inherent elasticity, notable toughness and broad polyolefin compatibility delivered by Vistamaxx are inspiring innovation and product development in a wide range of flexible film applications. These include cast polypropylene (cPP), stretch hood, PP raffia tape, extrusion coated and laminated woven and nonwoven polyolefinic substrates, surface protection, cast stretch, and elastic hygiene film. High transparency film applications also benefit from the good optical properties and chemical resistance of Vistamaxx.

The complete combination of benefits allows film manufacturers and end user customers to design films with new levels of performance, lower formulation and processing costs, and achieve sustainability objectives with lower energy usage, reduced material consumption and, as Vistamaxx is a polyolefin, recyclability.

Now four new grades, Vistamaxx 6202FL, Vistamaxx 6102FL, Vistamaxx 3980FL and Vistamaxx 3020FL, have recently been introduced for high performance film applications. The FL series of Vistamaxx grades exhibits a low gel count, provides processing and performance improvements, and protects your investment in film aesthetics, offering film formulators, converters and end-users inspiring new options for next generation film designs. These options include: excellent sealing operation and package integrity; improved film tear resistance at high stretch ratios; and, improvements in scratch and indent-free surface protection.

This series of Vistamaxx FL low gel grades can result in outstanding printing and optical quality and, as with all Vistamaxx grades offered to the film market, complies with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Union (EU)-Directive for use in contact with food.

MRC

March 17 (plastemart) -- A source from the local PVC producer EPC reported that the producer elected to maintain their offer levels for PVC k67-68 for the rest of the month at EGP5600/ton (US$1022) on ex-Alexandria, cash not including VAT basis, as per Chemorbis. This decision has been compelled by the demand situation as buying interest has not been performing well for the past few weeks. ⌠We preferred to leave our offer levels equal to the cost of material that was imported earlier and is now entering the market, he further clarifies. However, market participants were mainly expecting increases, pointing out that the producer had concluded good sales both in the local and export markets. Plus, the overall import market level was standing at an adjusted range of US$1015-1070/ton on CIF Alexandria, cash equivalent basis last week, showing that the local producer could also find ground from the import market to raise their prices.

MRC

March 16 (yourpetrochemicalnews) -- INEOS ChlorVinyls has today announced a price increase of Euro 60 per dry metric tonne on Quarter Two 2010 caustic soda contracts.

This increase is necessary due to reduced margins on the electro-chemical unit and the shortage of caustic soda availability as the maintenance season begins. Domestic demand for caustic soda continues to increase across Europe and each of the INEOS Chlor caustic soda producing sites will have planned maintenance outages during the next three months.

The new prices are effective for contract business from 1st April 2010; for new or non-contract business they are effective immediately.

MRC

March 16 (yourpetrochemicalnews) -- Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (Toshikazu Tanaka, President & CEO) announced the temporary suspension of operations at its ethylene plant in the Ichihara Works located in Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture. The plant experienced trouble during routine production and operations were temporarily suspended pending review and determination of causes. Causes of the trouble have been determined and plant operation will be suspended until the end of March (tentative) to conduct necessary repairs and maintenance.

1. Background

a) Operations at ethylene plant suspended due to trouble during production on February 28.

b) Repair work completed and plant resumed operation on March 4.

c) Concentration of methane and hydrogen in ethylene increased and plant operation suspended to determine cause.

d) Review of March 11 determined necessity of repair work on heat exchanger.

2. Financial Impact

Repair of the heat exchanger and financial loss from operation suspension is currently estimated to have a financial impact of approximately 3 billion yen.

Annual production capacity of Ichihara Workds Ethylene Plant is 553,000 tons.

MRCСправка Маркет Репорт

SINGAPORE (ICIS news) -- Shell will cut 2,000 jobs by the end of next year and plans to sell $1-3bn worth of assets in a bid to boost profits, the oil giant said on Tuesday.

Downstream, the company aims to boost profitability in its operations by exiting 15% of its current refining capacity worldwide and 35% of its retail markets, it said in a strategy update.

Earnings from Shell's downstream operations had shrunk to $258m (┬188m) from $5.31bn for the whole of 2009.

Of the 2,000 job cuts, 1,000 were announced last month when the company released its full-year and fourth-quarter results.

Shell would be making substantial investments in new refining and petrochemicals capacity in the next 10 years, said CEO Peter Voser.

⌠Once these projects are on stream, I expect the downstream growth emphasis will switch to further strengthening our marketing for the next several years, Voser said.

⌠The priorities are for a more competitive performance, for growth, and for sharper delivery of strategy. We have more to do to drive out cost and improve the operating performance in the company, he added.

Shell's downstream unit was also adding new chemicals capacity in Singapore and refining capacity in the US, the statement said.

Meanwhile, Shell's upstream production of oil was expected reach 3.5m barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2012, an increase of 11% from 2009, the company said.

⌠Near-term pressures on downstream and gas margins remain. However, the medium-term upstream fundamentals are robust, we expect oil to trade typically in a $50-$90 range, and to trend to the upside, said Voser.

MRC