World HDPE prices remain flat

Since the beginning of February, HDPE prices in Russia have not changed seriously and vary within the range of RUB50.000-51.500/mt, including VAT, FCA. The most serious oversupply is observed in the markets of injection moulding and blown HDPE; demand for pipe-grade polyethylene is still low.

Last year, Russian producers were exporting excess polyethylene volumes. However, weak demand in foreign markets led to the decrease in exports in February down to 14.7 kt.

HDPE demand is also very weak in Europe. In March, European producers failed to raise contract prices. Producers might cut down output in April to balance the market.

The Asian HDPE market is undergoing a depression period. Demand for imported polyethylene is at a nearly zero level in many regional markets; needs are fully met by domestic production. At the beginning of the month, prices fell by USD50-80/mt.

MRC

For more detailed information on the polyethylene market see Price Report.

March 23 (plasteurope) -- The new olefine and polyolefine complex operated by Borouge is set to begin operations in mid-2010, as planned. The joint venture between Borealis and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company will triple the capacity of Borouge's Ruwais (UAE) complex to 2m t/y of PE and PP.

With capacities of 1.4m t/y of ethylene, 540,000 t/y of PE and 800,000 t/y of PP, ⌠Borouge 2 will complement the group's existing capacity of 600,000 t/y of PE.

MRC

MRC Reference

Borealis. The share in the Russian market in 2008:

polyethylene - 4.1% (including HDPE - 4.7%, LLDPE - 8.7%);
polypropylene - 3.2% (PP-impact - 7.5%).

Annual sales growth in Russia over the last 5 years:
polyethylene - 11%;
polypropylene - 6%.

Leader in polymers processing technologies:
extrusion coating;
cable extrusion;
injection molding.

March 23 (plasteurope) -- Dow Europe has announced that it will raise the prices of all its plastomers and elastomers products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India.

The hike of EUR 100/t will go into effect on 1 April 2010 and concerns the group's ⌠Affinity, ⌠Versify, ⌠Primacor, ⌠Amplify, ⌠Infuse, ⌠Nordel, ⌠Engage and ⌠Tyrin grades.

MRC

MRC Reference

Share in the Russian market, 2008:

polyethylene - 2.5% (including LLDPE - 33.1%);

polypropylene - 0.8% (including PP-impact - 1.1%);

polystyrene - 2.6%.

Annual sales growth in Russia, recent 5 years:

polyethylene - 55%;

polypropylene - 28%;

polystyrene - 2%.

Imports by processing technologies:

pipe extrusion;

film extrusion;

sheet extrusion;

foaming.

March 23 (Bloomberg) -- Formosa Plastics Corp., the world's second-biggest maker of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was told by the Taiwanese government to curb pollution at a plant or it may be fined.

Tests showed the soil and groundwater underneath Jenwu plant have been contaminated, the Environmental Protection Administration in Taipei said in a statement on its web site yesterday. The PVC maker must contain the pollution or pay a fine of as much as NT$750,000 ($23,600), the EPA said.
Formosa Plastics started making PVC in Jenwu in the southern county of Kaohsiung in 1972, according to its 2008 annual report. The company should ⌠actively prevent pollution from spreading and improve the conditions, the EPA said.

A lack of adequate facilities ⌠in the early days and other factors including earthquakes had caused waste water from the plant to seep into the ground, the company said in a statement to the Taiwan Stock Exchange today. Formosa Plastics has since built a waste-water treatment plant that prevents the pollution of groundwater, according to the statement.

The shares fell 1.6 percent to NT$69.90 in Taipei trading at 11:33 a.m. today. The benchmark Taiex stock index declined 0.8 percent.
Formosa Plastics has plants in other locations, including western Taiwan's Mailiao.

MRC

MRC Reference

Formosa. The share in the Russian market in 2008:

PVC-S - 3.0%;

PP - 0.4%.

Annual growth sales in Russia :
PVC - 79 % (over the last year) ;

PP - 272 % (over the last 3 years).

Supply by processing technologies:
profile extrusion

film extrusion

March 23 (prw) -- Lithuanian chemicals group UAB Achema is reported to be a contender in the bidding to take over Anwil, the PVC and fertiliser arm of Poland's leading oil refiner PKN Orlen.

Vilnius-based Achema, with 1,600 employees, is a manufacturer of industrial gases, adhesives, paints, resins, nitrogen and compound fertilisers and chemical intermediates.

It is a part of a three-strong shortlist of bidders for Wloclawek-based Anwil that also includes leading Polish fertiliser producer Zaklady Azotowe Pulawy (ZAP). Achema and ZAP are said to have each offered more than $352m for Orlen's 85% stake, according to Poland's daily paper Parkiet.

Orlen of Plock is preparing to select one bidder with whom it will enter into final negotiations prior to Anwil's sale, Orlen's deputy head Slawomir Jedrzejczyk was quoted as confirming.

Orlen is understood to be concerned at the timing of the sale, when depressed markets and uncertainty in the chemical sector have led to reduced purchase offers for its PVC offshoot. But, it is understood, the aim is still to complete the sale by the end of the second quarter of 2010.

In the background, the Polish government is scheduled to privatise its major holdings in the national chemical industry. It is expected to sell off its stakes in both Orlen and ZAP by the second half of 2010.

MRC