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Released on 11/12/12
US ethylene prices rose on Tuesday amid news that BASF TOTAL Petrochemical’s Port Arthur cracker in Texas was off line as a result of an unplanned outage.
The company has 934,000 tonnes/year of ethylene capacity at the site. The cracker is a joint venture between BASF and Total.
It was unclear how long the unit will be down, sources said.
A BASF TOTAL spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
US ethylene for December traded at 54.25 cents/lb ($1,196/tonne, €921/tonne), up from 53.50 cents/lb the previous day.
Source ICIS News
US ethylene prices rose on Tuesday amid news that BASF TOTAL Petrochemical’s Port Arthur cracker in Texas was off line as a result of an unplanned outage.
The company has 934,000 tonnes/year of ethylene capacity at the site. The cracker is a joint venture between BASF and Total.
It was unclear how long the unit will be down, sources said.
A BASF TOTAL spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
US ethylene for December traded at 54.25 cents/lb ($1,196/tonne, €921/tonne), up from 53.50 cents/lb the previous day.
Source ICIS News
Released on 10/12/12
Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat (GNS) (RTS: SNOZ) has signed an EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) contract with Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and Sojitz Corporation and Turkey's Renaissance Construction to build an acrylic acid facility, the Russian petrochemical company announced.
The contract calls for designing, supplying and building a new facility to produce acrylic acid and acrylates.
It was reported earlier that the facility would be located at the Monomer plant. It will include production lines for raw acrylic acid with capacity of 80,000 tonnes per year, butyl acrylate (ester of acrylic acid and butyl alcohol) with capacity of 80,000 tonnes per year and glacial acrylic acid with capacity of 35,000 tonnes per year.
The facility is scheduled to reach design capacity in the fourth quarter of 2015.
GNS said its board of directors decided last week to set up the joint venture LLC Akril Salavat with CJSC Lider, the management company for the Gazfond pension fund.
GNS told Interfax that Akril Salavat is the name of the new production facility at Monomer. The new firm will have charter capital of 1 million rubles and will be equally owned by GNS and Lider.
Lider, which manages investment funds, mutual funds and private pension funds, is 44.93% owned by Gazfond and 1.74% by Gazprombank, according to the SPARK-Interfax database. Lider owned a 19.092% stake in GNS until August 2011.
Acrylic acid and its esters are used in production of a broad range of polymer materials (acrylic dispersions and paints, latexes, blended polymers, adhesive compositions and super absorbents) used in various sectors of industry.
The only producer of acrylic monomers in Russia and the CIS at present is OJSC Akrilat in Dzerzhinsk, Nizhny Novgorod Region, which has capacity to produce 35,000 tonnes of acrylates per year.
Gazprom neftekhim Salavat implements the full hydrocarbon refining cycle, petrochemicals and mineral fertilizer production. Its enterprises turn out large commercial products, including automobile gasolines, diesel fuel, kerosene, fuel oils, toluene, liquefied gases, butyl alcohols and plasticizers, ammonia, urea, glycols, polyethylene, polystyrenes, silica and zeolite catalysts, corrosion inhibitors, elemental sulfur, household appliances from plastics and surface-active substances.
Source Interfax: Russia & CIS Business and Financial Newswire
RELATED STORIES
Russia's GNS agrees EPC terms to build new AA, butyl-A units
Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat (GNS) (RTS: SNOZ) has signed an EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) contract with Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and Sojitz Corporation and Turkey's Renaissance Construction to build an acrylic acid facility, the Russian petrochemical company announced.
The contract calls for designing, supplying and building a new facility to produce acrylic acid and acrylates.
It was reported earlier that the facility would be located at the Monomer plant. It will include production lines for raw acrylic acid with capacity of 80,000 tonnes per year, butyl acrylate (ester of acrylic acid and butyl alcohol) with capacity of 80,000 tonnes per year and glacial acrylic acid with capacity of 35,000 tonnes per year.
The facility is scheduled to reach design capacity in the fourth quarter of 2015.
GNS said its board of directors decided last week to set up the joint venture LLC Akril Salavat with CJSC Lider, the management company for the Gazfond pension fund.
GNS told Interfax that Akril Salavat is the name of the new production facility at Monomer. The new firm will have charter capital of 1 million rubles and will be equally owned by GNS and Lider.
Lider, which manages investment funds, mutual funds and private pension funds, is 44.93% owned by Gazfond and 1.74% by Gazprombank, according to the SPARK-Interfax database. Lider owned a 19.092% stake in GNS until August 2011.
Acrylic acid and its esters are used in production of a broad range of polymer materials (acrylic dispersions and paints, latexes, blended polymers, adhesive compositions and super absorbents) used in various sectors of industry.
The only producer of acrylic monomers in Russia and the CIS at present is OJSC Akrilat in Dzerzhinsk, Nizhny Novgorod Region, which has capacity to produce 35,000 tonnes of acrylates per year.
Gazprom neftekhim Salavat implements the full hydrocarbon refining cycle, petrochemicals and mineral fertilizer production. Its enterprises turn out large commercial products, including automobile gasolines, diesel fuel, kerosene, fuel oils, toluene, liquefied gases, butyl alcohols and plasticizers, ammonia, urea, glycols, polyethylene, polystyrenes, silica and zeolite catalysts, corrosion inhibitors, elemental sulfur, household appliances from plastics and surface-active substances.
Source Interfax: Russia & CIS Business and Financial Newswire
RELATED STORIES
Russia's GNS agrees EPC terms to build new AA, butyl-A units
Released on 26/11/12
BASF's newly opened plant in Elyria, OH, USA will supply nickel cobalt manganese cathode materials, mainly to manufacturers of lithium-ion batteries for all-electric and hybrid vehicles. The $50 M facility adopts a technology licensed from Argonne National Laboratory. It is expected to have 25 employees.
Source Chemical and Engineering News
BASF's newly opened plant in Elyria, OH, USA will supply nickel cobalt manganese cathode materials, mainly to manufacturers of lithium-ion batteries for all-electric and hybrid vehicles. The $50 M facility adopts a technology licensed from Argonne National Laboratory. It is expected to have 25 employees.
Source Chemical and Engineering News
Released on 11/12/12
Tree nut growers can now apply a higher rate of Treevix herbicide per season.
Sacramento, CA , December 11, 2012 -- Today at the Almond Conference, BASF announced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registration of an amended Treevix® herbicide label for tree nuts. The amended label allows growers to utilize an additional dormant period application, giving them four opportunities throughout the season to apply Treevix herbicide to control tough broadleaf weeds.
Since its launch in 2009, Treevix herbicide has provided tree nut growers with fast, effective broadleaf weed control resulting in clean, clear orchards. Increasing the number of seasonal applications from three to four provides more flexibility and control for tree nut growers. The amended label is pending the California Department of Pesticide Regulation review and approval.
“Treevix herbicide has always offered growers flexible application timing to control weeds,” said Douglas Haller, Treevix Product Manager, BASF. “The updated label will provide growers an opportunity to increase their seasonal applications, allowing up to four highly effective treatments for control of the toughest weeds.”
Treevix herbicide is powered by Kixor® herbicide technology and was designed for directed, postemergence applications in tree nuts. The unique chemistry provides foliar and soil activity to battle today’s toughest weeds.
“Treevix herbicide has excellent tree safety and is able to control over 60 broadleaf weeds including fleabane, marestail, willowherb, ragweed, pigweed and more,”
said Daniel Waldstein, Ph.D., Technical Service Representative, BASF. “This offers growers a useful tool to protect their orchards.”
In addition to tree nuts, Treevix herbicide can also be applied to citrus and pome fruit crops, providing effective control on the toughest weeds. For more information on Treevix herbicide, visit the Treevix herbicide training module.
Source BASF official Press Release
Tree nut growers can now apply a higher rate of Treevix herbicide per season.
Sacramento, CA , December 11, 2012 -- Today at the Almond Conference, BASF announced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registration of an amended Treevix® herbicide label for tree nuts. The amended label allows growers to utilize an additional dormant period application, giving them four opportunities throughout the season to apply Treevix herbicide to control tough broadleaf weeds.
Since its launch in 2009, Treevix herbicide has provided tree nut growers with fast, effective broadleaf weed control resulting in clean, clear orchards. Increasing the number of seasonal applications from three to four provides more flexibility and control for tree nut growers. The amended label is pending the California Department of Pesticide Regulation review and approval.
“Treevix herbicide has always offered growers flexible application timing to control weeds,” said Douglas Haller, Treevix Product Manager, BASF. “The updated label will provide growers an opportunity to increase their seasonal applications, allowing up to four highly effective treatments for control of the toughest weeds.”
Treevix herbicide is powered by Kixor® herbicide technology and was designed for directed, postemergence applications in tree nuts. The unique chemistry provides foliar and soil activity to battle today’s toughest weeds.
“Treevix herbicide has excellent tree safety and is able to control over 60 broadleaf weeds including fleabane, marestail, willowherb, ragweed, pigweed and more,”
said Daniel Waldstein, Ph.D., Technical Service Representative, BASF. “This offers growers a useful tool to protect their orchards.”
In addition to tree nuts, Treevix herbicide can also be applied to citrus and pome fruit crops, providing effective control on the toughest weeds. For more information on Treevix herbicide, visit the Treevix herbicide training module.
Source BASF official Press Release
Released on 11/12/12
Uni-World Capital and Brightwood Capital Advisors acquired VanDeMark Chemical, a US-based company that makes phosgene-based chemicals, Uni-World and Brightwood said on Tuesday.
VanDeMark's chemicals are used to make paints and coatings, pharmaceuticals, polymers, adhesives and sealants, and agricultural products among others, Uni-World and Brightwood said in a statement.
The company's para-toluenesulphonyl isocyanate is used to remove moisture from urethane formulations, the companies said.
Uni-World Capital is a private-equity firm and Brightwood Capital Advisors is a private-investment firm.
Source ICIS News
Uni-World Capital and Brightwood Capital Advisors acquired VanDeMark Chemical, a US-based company that makes phosgene-based chemicals, Uni-World and Brightwood said on Tuesday.
VanDeMark's chemicals are used to make paints and coatings, pharmaceuticals, polymers, adhesives and sealants, and agricultural products among others, Uni-World and Brightwood said in a statement.
The company's para-toluenesulphonyl isocyanate is used to remove moisture from urethane formulations, the companies said.
Uni-World Capital is a private-equity firm and Brightwood Capital Advisors is a private-investment firm.
Source ICIS News
Released on 11/12/12
Tessenderlo Group (NYSE Euronext: TESB) announced today that it has completed the sale of its pharmaceutical ingredients activities in Calaire (France) and Farchemia (Italy) to International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG), a private industrial holding company.
On October 9 2012, the group announced its intention to divest the pharmaceutical ingredients activities Calaire and Farchemia. Information and consultation procedures were completed early November. After clearance by the merger control authorities , the sale was completed on December 5 2012.
This divestment is in line with Tessenderlo Group`s strengthened focus on specialty products and services in the areas of food, agriculture, water management and valorizing bio-residuals.
Calaire and Farchemia employ some 360 employees.
Tessenderlo Group is a worldwide specialty company, focused on food, agriculture, water management and on valorizing bio-residuals. The group employs about 7,500 people and is a leader in most of its markets, with a consolidated revenue of 2.1 billion EUR in 2011. Tessenderlo Chemie NV is listed on NYSE Eurolist by Euronext Brussels and is part of Next 150 and BEL Mid indices. Financial News wires: Bloomberg: TESB BB - Reuters: TesBt.BR - Datastream: B:Tes
International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG) is a privately owned industrial holding company focusing on mid-sized chemicals and pharmaceutical businesses. Since inception in 2004, ICIG has acquired 17 businesses, all of which have origins in major global chemical or pharmaceutical corporations and are independently managed. ICIG companies currently employ more than 3,300 people and operate 17 manufacturing facilities in Europe and the United States with total sales of approximately €700 million.
Source Yahoo Finance
Tessenderlo Group (NYSE Euronext: TESB) announced today that it has completed the sale of its pharmaceutical ingredients activities in Calaire (France) and Farchemia (Italy) to International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG), a private industrial holding company.
On October 9 2012, the group announced its intention to divest the pharmaceutical ingredients activities Calaire and Farchemia. Information and consultation procedures were completed early November. After clearance by the merger control authorities , the sale was completed on December 5 2012.
This divestment is in line with Tessenderlo Group`s strengthened focus on specialty products and services in the areas of food, agriculture, water management and valorizing bio-residuals.
Calaire and Farchemia employ some 360 employees.
Tessenderlo Group is a worldwide specialty company, focused on food, agriculture, water management and on valorizing bio-residuals. The group employs about 7,500 people and is a leader in most of its markets, with a consolidated revenue of 2.1 billion EUR in 2011. Tessenderlo Chemie NV is listed on NYSE Eurolist by Euronext Brussels and is part of Next 150 and BEL Mid indices. Financial News wires: Bloomberg: TESB BB - Reuters: TesBt.BR - Datastream: B:Tes
International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG) is a privately owned industrial holding company focusing on mid-sized chemicals and pharmaceutical businesses. Since inception in 2004, ICIG has acquired 17 businesses, all of which have origins in major global chemical or pharmaceutical corporations and are independently managed. ICIG companies currently employ more than 3,300 people and operate 17 manufacturing facilities in Europe and the United States with total sales of approximately €700 million.
Source Yahoo Finance
Released on 11/12/12
Styron’s 35,000 tonne/year styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) plant in Terneuzen, the Netherlands, was closed for planned maintenance and improvement on 29 November, a company source confirmed on Tuesday.
The planned shutdown was scheduled for December because it sat well with typically low demand for the month, as buyers carefully manage inventories ahead of the year end, the source added.
Styron intends to commence start-up as soon as the work is complete to ensure it can meet the expected pick-up in demand in the first quarter of 2013. An exact restart date is not known at present.
The producer had been preparing for the outage for almost a year, building SAN stock levels accordingly, and expects any impact on SAN supply during the outage to be kept to a minimum.
SAN is used in a wide variety of end-use markets, including household and sanitary applications, office articles, cosmetic packaging, transparent covers, lighters, sanitary applications and battery housings.
Source ICIS News
Styron’s 35,000 tonne/year styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) plant in Terneuzen, the Netherlands, was closed for planned maintenance and improvement on 29 November, a company source confirmed on Tuesday.
The planned shutdown was scheduled for December because it sat well with typically low demand for the month, as buyers carefully manage inventories ahead of the year end, the source added.
Styron intends to commence start-up as soon as the work is complete to ensure it can meet the expected pick-up in demand in the first quarter of 2013. An exact restart date is not known at present.
The producer had been preparing for the outage for almost a year, building SAN stock levels accordingly, and expects any impact on SAN supply during the outage to be kept to a minimum.
SAN is used in a wide variety of end-use markets, including household and sanitary applications, office articles, cosmetic packaging, transparent covers, lighters, sanitary applications and battery housings.
Source ICIS News
Released on 11/12/12
Vital Crop Science Pvt Ltd of Indore, India received approval from Office of The Trade Marks Registry on the trademark PASSAT (2196981). The description of the mark registered is "Bio chemicals and bio fertilizers." It comes under Class 1 Trademark classification. Application for the trademark was filed on Aug. 29, 2011.
Source India Trademark News
Vital Crop Science Pvt Ltd of Indore, India received approval from Office of The Trade Marks Registry on the trademark PASSAT (2196981). The description of the mark registered is "Bio chemicals and bio fertilizers." It comes under Class 1 Trademark classification. Application for the trademark was filed on Aug. 29, 2011.
Source India Trademark News
Released on 06/12/12
1. Production Expansion There were eight propylene projects under way in China 2011, either for new units or expansions. Three coal-to-olefins projects were put into operation that year, bringing the year’s propylene output to 14.67 million tons and alleviating domestic propylene short supply.By the end of 2011, the country boasted a 17.2 million t/a propylene capacity, with coal-to-olefins projects contributing 1.36 million tons; co-production propylene in ethylene cracking units, 8.8 million tons; refineries’ propylene recovery units, 7 million tons. Downstream enterprises that are engaged in polypropylene, epoxypropane, acrylonitrile, butanol and octanol are located mainly in North China, East China and South China, where domestic propylene capacity, therefore, is concentrated.In China’s propylene spot market, most commodity circulation is generated in Shandong by propylene from local refineries’ gas separation units. Restricted by the limited crude processing capacity of local refineries and in the case of feed gas insufficiency, operators of the gas separation units find it hard to run at full load, generally running at 50-70%, which makes the domestic propylene supply tight. But as some local refineries have successfully launched PDH propylene, the undersupply pressure is expected to be eased in 2013 and 2014.The domestic propylene market structure has been altered, with ethylene cracking, PDH and MTO each accounting for a one third market share.According to statistics, the propylene capacity will grow 20 million tons in the next five years – PDH creation 50%; MTO, 26%; ethylene cracking, 24%.2. Import Dependence is LesseningWith increasing demand from makers of downstream derivatives, China imported more and more propylene from 2007 to 2011, when Korea – contributing 46.9% in 2011, soaring from 32.6% in 2010 – Taiwan (20.29%) and Japan (20.27%) were the top three sources.In 2011, the imports in the form of general trade (major trade pattern) accounted for 96.35% of the total. And the imports were mainly received in East China, especially in Nanjing, Ningbo, Shanghai and Hangzhou, imports through these four reaching 1.41 million tons, 80.5% of the gross – Nanjing (No. 1), 27.8%; Ningbo (No.2), 22.5%.Due to tight supply, China imported 1.76 million tons of propylene in 2011, but exported just 1 530 tons.Most expansion activities of the domestic propylene industry chain in 2012 are related to polypropylene pellets (PP), with new PP capacity totaling 3.8 million tons – part from ethylene supporting downstream enterprises of Sinopec and PetroChina, and part from private companies (2.2 million tons). As domestic supply of polypropylene powder has topped demand, there are no expansion reports in 2012. The capacity of other downstream products has expanded in varying degrees, but they drive propylene demand only a little. China’s imported propylene will exceed 1.8 million tons in 2012, and the import dependence is expected to lessen owing to new capacity of “coal to olefins” and PDH.3. Growing Downstream DemandIn 2011, China consumed 16.43 million tons of propylene, which was mainly used in polypropylene, acrylonitrile, acrylic acid, etc.Polypropylene – Polypropylene remains as a major downstream consumer of propylene in China, consuming 70% of the products. Its apparent consumption was around 13.23 million tons in 2011, down 1.5% compared with 13.43 million tons in 2010.New polypropylene projects in 2010 were put into production in 2011 in succession, like a 300 000 t/a unit of Shenhua Baotou Coal Chemical Company, a 550 000 t/a unit of PetroChina Dushanzi Petrochemical Company, and a 500 000 t/a unit of Shenhua Ningxia Coal Industry Group, pushing domestic output to 10.9 million tons in 2011, when polypropylene makers’ demand for propylene reached 12 million tons.Acrylonitrile – By 2011, China had 10 acrylonitrile manufacturers – mainly subsidiaries of PetroChina and Sinopec – with a gross capacity of 1.3 million tons. As the largest producer, PetroChina Jilin Petrochemical Corporation boasts a capacity of 452 000 tons, 34.8% of the total; SECCO (second largest), 260 000 tons, 20%.In 2011, the operating rate of the acrylonitrile industry was 82.7%; gross output, 1.07 million tons; demand for propylene, 1.24 million tons, expected to increase 66 000 tons to 1.3 million tons in 2012. Mainly expansion projects will be conducted or completed in 2013. In 2012, Anqing Petrochemical Company expanded its acrylonitrile capacity from 130 000 tons to 210 000 tons.Acrylic acid – By 2011, China’s acrylic acid capacity had reached 1.25 million tons, mainly in East China (970 000 tons). Due to slow development in downstream industries such as resins, coatings and adhesives, the oversupply of acrylic acid and ester is worsening, with makers maintaining an operating rate at 80%.In 2011, China produced 1.08 million tons of crude acrylic acid, which required850 000 tons of propylene. It is predicted that the demand for domestic acrylic acid products for use in making propylene will be more than 900 000 tons in 2012.Epoxypropane – The domestic epoxypropane supply increased 150 000 tons in 2011 from 2010’s level. East China is the main epoxypropane production area, providing 65% of the products. With increasing epoxypropane capacity but decreasing imports, the consumption in 2011 remained unchanged compared from a year earlier. According to statistics, China’s epoxypropane output was 1.36 million tons in 2011; overall operating rate, 80%; demand for propylene, 1.16 million tons.Though China’s epoxypropane capacity is planned to rise 1.41 million tons from 2012 to 2013, only 210 000 tons of the total could be ensured in 2012. Therefore, epoxypropane capacity is expected to reach 1.91 million tons by the end of 2012, requiring 1.25 million tons of propylene.Butanol and Octanol – With a 725 000 t/a n-butyl alcohol capacity in 2011, China produced 592 600 tons, requiring 385 000 tons of propylene; octanol, 920 000 t/a capacity, 857 500 tons of output, requiring 643 000 tons of propylene. In the same year, isobutanol production required around 60 000 tons of propylene.In 2012, PetroChina Daqing Petrochemical Company conducted a 200 000 t/a butanol & octanol reconstruction project; Shandong Jian Lan Chemical Co., Ltd, a 70 000 t/a butanol & octanol project; Shandong Bluesail Chemical Co., Ltd, a 150 000 t/a butanol & octanol project; Wison (Nanjing) Clean Energy Co., Ltd, 250 000 t/a butanol & octanol project; Anqing Petrochemical Company, 250 000 t/a butanol & octanol project (ongoing). It is expected that the capacity of n-butyl alcohol and octanol will expand 250 000 tons and 325 000 tons respectively, with their demand for propylene reaching 1.4 million tons.Phenol/Acetone – With six phenol/acetone producers in 2011, China boasted a capacity of 688 000 t/a and 570 000 t/a respectively that year (77% held by Sinopec and PetroChina); output, 703 000 tons, 458 000 tons; total demand for propylene, 355 000 tons. As no new phenol & acetone projects are put into operation in 2012, the total demand for propylene is forecast to remain at 2011’s level.
Source China Chemical Reporter
1. Production Expansion There were eight propylene projects under way in China 2011, either for new units or expansions. Three coal-to-olefins projects were put into operation that year, bringing the year’s propylene output to 14.67 million tons and alleviating domestic propylene short supply.By the end of 2011, the country boasted a 17.2 million t/a propylene capacity, with coal-to-olefins projects contributing 1.36 million tons; co-production propylene in ethylene cracking units, 8.8 million tons; refineries’ propylene recovery units, 7 million tons. Downstream enterprises that are engaged in polypropylene, epoxypropane, acrylonitrile, butanol and octanol are located mainly in North China, East China and South China, where domestic propylene capacity, therefore, is concentrated.In China’s propylene spot market, most commodity circulation is generated in Shandong by propylene from local refineries’ gas separation units. Restricted by the limited crude processing capacity of local refineries and in the case of feed gas insufficiency, operators of the gas separation units find it hard to run at full load, generally running at 50-70%, which makes the domestic propylene supply tight. But as some local refineries have successfully launched PDH propylene, the undersupply pressure is expected to be eased in 2013 and 2014.The domestic propylene market structure has been altered, with ethylene cracking, PDH and MTO each accounting for a one third market share.According to statistics, the propylene capacity will grow 20 million tons in the next five years – PDH creation 50%; MTO, 26%; ethylene cracking, 24%.2. Import Dependence is LesseningWith increasing demand from makers of downstream derivatives, China imported more and more propylene from 2007 to 2011, when Korea – contributing 46.9% in 2011, soaring from 32.6% in 2010 – Taiwan (20.29%) and Japan (20.27%) were the top three sources.In 2011, the imports in the form of general trade (major trade pattern) accounted for 96.35% of the total. And the imports were mainly received in East China, especially in Nanjing, Ningbo, Shanghai and Hangzhou, imports through these four reaching 1.41 million tons, 80.5% of the gross – Nanjing (No. 1), 27.8%; Ningbo (No.2), 22.5%.Due to tight supply, China imported 1.76 million tons of propylene in 2011, but exported just 1 530 tons.Most expansion activities of the domestic propylene industry chain in 2012 are related to polypropylene pellets (PP), with new PP capacity totaling 3.8 million tons – part from ethylene supporting downstream enterprises of Sinopec and PetroChina, and part from private companies (2.2 million tons). As domestic supply of polypropylene powder has topped demand, there are no expansion reports in 2012. The capacity of other downstream products has expanded in varying degrees, but they drive propylene demand only a little. China’s imported propylene will exceed 1.8 million tons in 2012, and the import dependence is expected to lessen owing to new capacity of “coal to olefins” and PDH.3. Growing Downstream DemandIn 2011, China consumed 16.43 million tons of propylene, which was mainly used in polypropylene, acrylonitrile, acrylic acid, etc.Polypropylene – Polypropylene remains as a major downstream consumer of propylene in China, consuming 70% of the products. Its apparent consumption was around 13.23 million tons in 2011, down 1.5% compared with 13.43 million tons in 2010.New polypropylene projects in 2010 were put into production in 2011 in succession, like a 300 000 t/a unit of Shenhua Baotou Coal Chemical Company, a 550 000 t/a unit of PetroChina Dushanzi Petrochemical Company, and a 500 000 t/a unit of Shenhua Ningxia Coal Industry Group, pushing domestic output to 10.9 million tons in 2011, when polypropylene makers’ demand for propylene reached 12 million tons.Acrylonitrile – By 2011, China had 10 acrylonitrile manufacturers – mainly subsidiaries of PetroChina and Sinopec – with a gross capacity of 1.3 million tons. As the largest producer, PetroChina Jilin Petrochemical Corporation boasts a capacity of 452 000 tons, 34.8% of the total; SECCO (second largest), 260 000 tons, 20%.In 2011, the operating rate of the acrylonitrile industry was 82.7%; gross output, 1.07 million tons; demand for propylene, 1.24 million tons, expected to increase 66 000 tons to 1.3 million tons in 2012. Mainly expansion projects will be conducted or completed in 2013. In 2012, Anqing Petrochemical Company expanded its acrylonitrile capacity from 130 000 tons to 210 000 tons.Acrylic acid – By 2011, China’s acrylic acid capacity had reached 1.25 million tons, mainly in East China (970 000 tons). Due to slow development in downstream industries such as resins, coatings and adhesives, the oversupply of acrylic acid and ester is worsening, with makers maintaining an operating rate at 80%.In 2011, China produced 1.08 million tons of crude acrylic acid, which required850 000 tons of propylene. It is predicted that the demand for domestic acrylic acid products for use in making propylene will be more than 900 000 tons in 2012.Epoxypropane – The domestic epoxypropane supply increased 150 000 tons in 2011 from 2010’s level. East China is the main epoxypropane production area, providing 65% of the products. With increasing epoxypropane capacity but decreasing imports, the consumption in 2011 remained unchanged compared from a year earlier. According to statistics, China’s epoxypropane output was 1.36 million tons in 2011; overall operating rate, 80%; demand for propylene, 1.16 million tons.Though China’s epoxypropane capacity is planned to rise 1.41 million tons from 2012 to 2013, only 210 000 tons of the total could be ensured in 2012. Therefore, epoxypropane capacity is expected to reach 1.91 million tons by the end of 2012, requiring 1.25 million tons of propylene.Butanol and Octanol – With a 725 000 t/a n-butyl alcohol capacity in 2011, China produced 592 600 tons, requiring 385 000 tons of propylene; octanol, 920 000 t/a capacity, 857 500 tons of output, requiring 643 000 tons of propylene. In the same year, isobutanol production required around 60 000 tons of propylene.In 2012, PetroChina Daqing Petrochemical Company conducted a 200 000 t/a butanol & octanol reconstruction project; Shandong Jian Lan Chemical Co., Ltd, a 70 000 t/a butanol & octanol project; Shandong Bluesail Chemical Co., Ltd, a 150 000 t/a butanol & octanol project; Wison (Nanjing) Clean Energy Co., Ltd, 250 000 t/a butanol & octanol project; Anqing Petrochemical Company, 250 000 t/a butanol & octanol project (ongoing). It is expected that the capacity of n-butyl alcohol and octanol will expand 250 000 tons and 325 000 tons respectively, with their demand for propylene reaching 1.4 million tons.Phenol/Acetone – With six phenol/acetone producers in 2011, China boasted a capacity of 688 000 t/a and 570 000 t/a respectively that year (77% held by Sinopec and PetroChina); output, 703 000 tons, 458 000 tons; total demand for propylene, 355 000 tons. As no new phenol & acetone projects are put into operation in 2012, the total demand for propylene is forecast to remain at 2011’s level.
Source China Chemical Reporter
Released on 10/12/12
An $850m (€663m) methanol-to-petchem project in Trinidad and Tobago would be built in a new industrial area there and led by a group including Mitsubishi Gas Chemicals, according to a statement from the government on Monday.
The project would convert methanol to di-methyl ether (DME) and be built on 50 hectares of land at the Union Industrial Estate in La Brea, according to the statement from Trinidad’s energy minister Kevin Ramnarine.
The announcement follows a similar but much larger project announced earlier this year, in which a group led by Saudi Arabia’s SABIC and China’s state-owned Sinopec planned to build a facility in Trinidad.
Mitsubishi did not return phone calls and emails in time for publication.
The Mitsubishi project reflects a shift in thinking about petrochemicals in Trinidad, which has seven methanol plants with a total capacity of 6.6m tonnes/year. Those plants supply roughly 70% of US methanol imports.
But Trinidad no longer just wants to make and sell methanol or ammonia for export, partly because of the possibility that it will lose the US as a customer within the next five years.
Industry sources saidTrinidad sees more value - and higher product prices - by encouraging production of methanol derivatives. The SABIC/Sinopec project would have built methanol-to-olefins and methanol-to-petrochemicals plants at Point Lisas.
The Mitsubishi project also represents a geographic shift in Trinidad, away from the Point Lisas Industrial Estate, where most of the tiny island’s petrochemical plants are located.
The government wants a second petrochemical complex at La Brea, in southwestern Trinidad, where a new port is being built.
“So it’s sort of tying two things together,” a source close to Trinidad’s petrochemical industry said.
The country’s other ports are in Port of Spain and Point Lisas.
Ramnarine said the DME would be used in Trinidad as a replacement or blending stock for diesel and liquified petroleum gas (LPG).
DME is being used in China and Europe now as a substitute for propane and diesel, Ramnarine said.
“It is, however, cheaper than diesel, given the fact that it is derived from natural gas as opposed to being derived from expensive crude oil,” Ramnarine added.
The second phase of the project calls for Mitsubishi to make acrylonitrile at the plant, Ramnarine said. The energy minister told a newspaper last week that the plant could also make monoethylene and glycol.
Mitsubishi has signed a deal to buy ethane from Phoenix Park Gas Processors to supply the ethane.
Ramnarine said the target date for the project was in the first quarter of 2014, though it might be moved forward to the last quarter of 2013.
Source ICIS News
An $850m (€663m) methanol-to-petchem project in Trinidad and Tobago would be built in a new industrial area there and led by a group including Mitsubishi Gas Chemicals, according to a statement from the government on Monday.
The project would convert methanol to di-methyl ether (DME) and be built on 50 hectares of land at the Union Industrial Estate in La Brea, according to the statement from Trinidad’s energy minister Kevin Ramnarine.
The announcement follows a similar but much larger project announced earlier this year, in which a group led by Saudi Arabia’s SABIC and China’s state-owned Sinopec planned to build a facility in Trinidad.
Mitsubishi did not return phone calls and emails in time for publication.
The Mitsubishi project reflects a shift in thinking about petrochemicals in Trinidad, which has seven methanol plants with a total capacity of 6.6m tonnes/year. Those plants supply roughly 70% of US methanol imports.
But Trinidad no longer just wants to make and sell methanol or ammonia for export, partly because of the possibility that it will lose the US as a customer within the next five years.
Industry sources saidTrinidad sees more value - and higher product prices - by encouraging production of methanol derivatives. The SABIC/Sinopec project would have built methanol-to-olefins and methanol-to-petrochemicals plants at Point Lisas.
The Mitsubishi project also represents a geographic shift in Trinidad, away from the Point Lisas Industrial Estate, where most of the tiny island’s petrochemical plants are located.
The government wants a second petrochemical complex at La Brea, in southwestern Trinidad, where a new port is being built.
“So it’s sort of tying two things together,” a source close to Trinidad’s petrochemical industry said.
The country’s other ports are in Port of Spain and Point Lisas.
Ramnarine said the DME would be used in Trinidad as a replacement or blending stock for diesel and liquified petroleum gas (LPG).
DME is being used in China and Europe now as a substitute for propane and diesel, Ramnarine said.
“It is, however, cheaper than diesel, given the fact that it is derived from natural gas as opposed to being derived from expensive crude oil,” Ramnarine added.
The second phase of the project calls for Mitsubishi to make acrylonitrile at the plant, Ramnarine said. The energy minister told a newspaper last week that the plant could also make monoethylene and glycol.
Mitsubishi has signed a deal to buy ethane from Phoenix Park Gas Processors to supply the ethane.
Ramnarine said the target date for the project was in the first quarter of 2014, though it might be moved forward to the last quarter of 2013.
Source ICIS News
Released on 10/12/12
Saudi Polymers’s Al Jubail complex will remain shut for the rest of December and is expected to resume production sometime in January next year, the firm’s parent, The National Petrochemical Co (Petrochem), said late on Sunday.
The complex – which can produce 1.16m tonnes/year of ethylene, 1.1m tonnes/year of polyethylene, 430,000 tonnes/year of propylene, 400,000 tonnes of polypropylene (PP), 200,000 tonnes/year of polystyrene (PS), and 100,000 tonnes/year of 1-hexene – was taken off line on 10 November because of technical issues.
The shutdown was initially expected to last about four weeks.
“Petrochem announces that it expected the shutdown to be extended due to ongoing maintenance work being done [at the complex],” the company said in a filing to the Saudi Stock Exchange on 9 December.
“Although it is still difficult to give an accurate date for the restart of the project, it is anticipated that the project will be back in production during the month of January 2013,” it added.
Petrochem also announced that it has incurred losses of around Saudi riyal (SR) 264m ($70m) for the months of October and November.
The company holds a 65% stake in Saudi Polymers, with the remaining 35% held by Arabian Chevron Phillips Petrochemical, a wholly owned subsidiary of US-based Chevron Phillips Chemical (CPC).
Source ICIS News
Saudi Polymers’s Al Jubail complex will remain shut for the rest of December and is expected to resume production sometime in January next year, the firm’s parent, The National Petrochemical Co (Petrochem), said late on Sunday.
The complex – which can produce 1.16m tonnes/year of ethylene, 1.1m tonnes/year of polyethylene, 430,000 tonnes/year of propylene, 400,000 tonnes of polypropylene (PP), 200,000 tonnes/year of polystyrene (PS), and 100,000 tonnes/year of 1-hexene – was taken off line on 10 November because of technical issues.
The shutdown was initially expected to last about four weeks.
“Petrochem announces that it expected the shutdown to be extended due to ongoing maintenance work being done [at the complex],” the company said in a filing to the Saudi Stock Exchange on 9 December.
“Although it is still difficult to give an accurate date for the restart of the project, it is anticipated that the project will be back in production during the month of January 2013,” it added.
Petrochem also announced that it has incurred losses of around Saudi riyal (SR) 264m ($70m) for the months of October and November.
The company holds a 65% stake in Saudi Polymers, with the remaining 35% held by Arabian Chevron Phillips Petrochemical, a wholly owned subsidiary of US-based Chevron Phillips Chemical (CPC).
Source ICIS News
Released on 28/11/12
The petrochemical industry in the Middle East will need to adopt a technology driven approach in order to remain competitive and ensure sustainable growth, Mohamed Al-Mady, chairman of the Gulf Petrochemicals & Chemical Association (GPCA), said on Wednesday.
“We need to direct our efforts towards offering our customers more technologically advanced and complex products,” Al-Mady told delegates at the 7th GPCA Annual Forum in Dubai.
“Our future success centres on our ability to reach out to customers looking for more sophisticated and technologically advanced products,” he said.
Al-Mady also urged Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) governments to develop strategies to integrate technologies, including green energy, to help release valuable hydrocarbons for the production of chemicals.
Recent developments such as methanol-to-olefins (MTO) technology, the direct use of synthetic gas (syngas) to produce chemicals, bio-renewables and the conversion of municipal solid waste conversion to substitute natural gas or syngas from which chemicals can be made, are driving the industry, he added.
“To remain a leading player on the global stage, our chemical industry must be flexible and responsive to change,” he said.
“To grow, we need to remain competitive in an ever-changing marketplace. This will require us to be more focused on advancing technologies and offer even more innovative solutions,” Al-Mady added.
The 7th GPCA conference is a three-day event ending on 29 November.
Source ICIS News
The petrochemical industry in the Middle East will need to adopt a technology driven approach in order to remain competitive and ensure sustainable growth, Mohamed Al-Mady, chairman of the Gulf Petrochemicals & Chemical Association (GPCA), said on Wednesday.
“We need to direct our efforts towards offering our customers more technologically advanced and complex products,” Al-Mady told delegates at the 7th GPCA Annual Forum in Dubai.
“Our future success centres on our ability to reach out to customers looking for more sophisticated and technologically advanced products,” he said.
Al-Mady also urged Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) governments to develop strategies to integrate technologies, including green energy, to help release valuable hydrocarbons for the production of chemicals.
Recent developments such as methanol-to-olefins (MTO) technology, the direct use of synthetic gas (syngas) to produce chemicals, bio-renewables and the conversion of municipal solid waste conversion to substitute natural gas or syngas from which chemicals can be made, are driving the industry, he added.
“To remain a leading player on the global stage, our chemical industry must be flexible and responsive to change,” he said.
“To grow, we need to remain competitive in an ever-changing marketplace. This will require us to be more focused on advancing technologies and offer even more innovative solutions,” Al-Mady added.
The 7th GPCA conference is a three-day event ending on 29 November.
Source ICIS News
Released on 10/12/12
Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat (GNS) has agreed the terms and conditions for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of new acrylic acid and butyl acrylate production units, the Russia-based petrochemical major said on Monday.
GNS signed the EPC contract with Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, trade company Sojitz Corporation and Turkey's Renaissance Construction.
The new facilities will have capacities of 80,000 tonnes/year of AA and 80,000 tonnes/year of butyl-A, the company said. They will be built on GNS’s premises in Salavat, Bashkortostan, and are due to come on stream in the fourth quarter of 2015.
Damir Shavaleev, director general of GNS said: “After the challenging preparation, this important document for acrylic acid complex allowing us to be marketed in a new light in the petrochemical sector has been signed.
“The project is ambitious and we are ready to tackle demanding and large-scale challenges,” he added.
Formerly known as Salavatnefteorgsintez, the company was renamed Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat in January 2011.
GNS, controlled by subsidiaries of Russia’s gas giant Gazprom, is one of the country’s leading fertilizer, ethylene, polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) producers. It is based in the Russian internal republic of Bashkortostan.
Source ICIS News
Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat (GNS) has agreed the terms and conditions for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of new acrylic acid and butyl acrylate production units, the Russia-based petrochemical major said on Monday.
GNS signed the EPC contract with Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, trade company Sojitz Corporation and Turkey's Renaissance Construction.
The new facilities will have capacities of 80,000 tonnes/year of AA and 80,000 tonnes/year of butyl-A, the company said. They will be built on GNS’s premises in Salavat, Bashkortostan, and are due to come on stream in the fourth quarter of 2015.
Damir Shavaleev, director general of GNS said: “After the challenging preparation, this important document for acrylic acid complex allowing us to be marketed in a new light in the petrochemical sector has been signed.
“The project is ambitious and we are ready to tackle demanding and large-scale challenges,” he added.
Formerly known as Salavatnefteorgsintez, the company was renamed Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat in January 2011.
GNS, controlled by subsidiaries of Russia’s gas giant Gazprom, is one of the country’s leading fertilizer, ethylene, polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) producers. It is based in the Russian internal republic of Bashkortostan.
Source ICIS News
Released on 15/11/12
Sartomer has entered into a partnership with SpecialChem for Commercial Acceleration support. Sartomer holds M-Cure acrylate monomer as portfolio to enhance performance of two-part epoxy amine-cured coatings, adhesives and sealants when used as both reactive diluents and resin modifiers. SpecialChem will support the execution of Sartomer's business development strategy for M-Cure in the global coatings market. The custom Commercial Acceleration Solutions have been designed to bring speed and market reach, and act as an extended arm of Sartomer business development team. The purpose of this collaboration is to educate the coating market industry about M-Cure products benefits but also, to generate and identify active projects at coatings formulators.
Source SpecialChem, 2012.
Sartomer has entered into a partnership with SpecialChem for Commercial Acceleration support. Sartomer holds M-Cure acrylate monomer as portfolio to enhance performance of two-part epoxy amine-cured coatings, adhesives and sealants when used as both reactive diluents and resin modifiers. SpecialChem will support the execution of Sartomer's business development strategy for M-Cure in the global coatings market. The custom Commercial Acceleration Solutions have been designed to bring speed and market reach, and act as an extended arm of Sartomer business development team. The purpose of this collaboration is to educate the coating market industry about M-Cure products benefits but also, to generate and identify active projects at coatings formulators.
Source SpecialChem, 2012.
Released on 07/12/12
Global Bioenergies is entering the development phase in a programme to make butadiene from biomass, the France-based renewable chemicals firms said on Thursday.The move follows after Global Bioenergies achieved “validation of a metabolic path” to directly convert biomass into butadiene under a cooperation with Poland’s synthetic rubber major Synthos.“The programme is now in its development phase and Synthos will contribute several million euros over the next three years,” Global Bioenergies said in a statement.After isobutene and propylene, butadiene is the third molecule for which Global Bioenergies achieved experimental validation, CEO Marc Delcourt added.Thomas Kalwat, president of Synthos, said that the results achieved by Global Bioenergies were “very convincing.”“A bio-based method to produce butadiene at an attractive price will benefit the environment, enable the manufacture of a new generation of rubbers, and it will offer Synthos a clear competitive advantage,” Kalwat added.Under their arrangement, Synthos will pay Global Bioenergies royalties on bio-based butadiene produced for use in rubber.Global Bioenergies retains exclusive rights for other applications, including nylon, certain plastics and latex, it said.
Source Chemical Week
Global Bioenergies is entering the development phase in a programme to make butadiene from biomass, the France-based renewable chemicals firms said on Thursday.The move follows after Global Bioenergies achieved “validation of a metabolic path” to directly convert biomass into butadiene under a cooperation with Poland’s synthetic rubber major Synthos.“The programme is now in its development phase and Synthos will contribute several million euros over the next three years,” Global Bioenergies said in a statement.After isobutene and propylene, butadiene is the third molecule for which Global Bioenergies achieved experimental validation, CEO Marc Delcourt added.Thomas Kalwat, president of Synthos, said that the results achieved by Global Bioenergies were “very convincing.”“A bio-based method to produce butadiene at an attractive price will benefit the environment, enable the manufacture of a new generation of rubbers, and it will offer Synthos a clear competitive advantage,” Kalwat added.Under their arrangement, Synthos will pay Global Bioenergies royalties on bio-based butadiene produced for use in rubber.Global Bioenergies retains exclusive rights for other applications, including nylon, certain plastics and latex, it said.
Source Chemical Week