polymers rubbers resins
Aug 6th, 2010
Key Benefit of Expanded Polystyrene Is Its Recyclablity
The expandable polystyrene (EPS) market has seen strong growth globally, driven by the construction sector where it is one of the top choices for insulation. Global demand grew at an average of 5.5%/year in the 2000-2007 period.
In western Europe, the new building insulation requirements boosted demand, offsetting the decline in packaging applications. The European insulation...
Jul 5th, 2010
Nowadays Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) Widely Replaces LDPE
Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) established itself as the third major member of the polyethylene business along with LDPE and HDPE.
The LLDPE share of total consumption on the global polyethylene market varies by geographic area based on production capabilities and end-use consumption patterns. The major LLDPE producing regions are the Middle East, the United States,...
Jun 23rd, 2010
Phthalic Anhydride Demand Recovery is Projected for 2010-2012
In 2008 Phthalic Anhydride market experienced the negative impact of the global economic recession to the full extent. Capacity utilization level dropped up to 50-70%. In 2009 the situation improved to a degree.
In 2008-2009 the demand growth rate slowed down, its index measured 4.1 mln tons globally.
Phthalic Anhydride demand recovery is projected for 2010-2012, that...
Jun 18th, 2010
DEMAND FOR POLYCARBONATE WILL START RECOVERING IN 2011
Commercial production of Polycarbonate (PC) was launched in the 60s of the 20th century. Today it is the second most widely used polymer in the world.
Polycarbonate is specific because of the combination of high level of thermal resistance, impact strength and transparency. Construction (32%), optical data media (18%), communication systems and electrical technologies (22%),...
May 26th, 2010
Engineering Plastics - A Global Market Overview
The worldwide market for engineering plastics is projected to reach about US$17.5 billion by 2015 from an estimated US$6.9 billion in 2005, growing at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.8% during the analysis period, 2005-2015.
Stable growth and continuous development of global economy and the science & technology during the past couple of decades...
Apr 30th, 2010
Price trends of oil, polymer feedstock and commodity polymers in Asia
CRUDE OIL
Oil prices have risen in the week of April 26, 2010. At the end of the week, June Brent crude stood at US$87.5 while US light, sweet crude settled at US$85.4. Prices gained on Friday after US new home sales were reported to have unexpectedly jumped 27% in March along with gains in Asian...
Apr 30th, 2010
Asian PE producers unlikely to achieve price hike targets for May
Finding support from higher ethylene feedstock costs, Asian regional producers have announced significant increases on May PE offers to both China and Southeast Asia, as per Chemorbis. However, these new offers have met buyer’s resistance, who anticipate the impact of new capacities very shortly, pushing prices lower by the beginning of the summer. Hence buyers...
Apr 23rd, 2010
Price trends of oil, polymer feedstock and commodity polymers in Asia
CRUDE OIL
The week of April 19, 2010 saw crude oil slightly down from 18 month high levels of US$87 a barrel all week. However, oil prices plunged by almost 3% on Friday on news that US securities regulators charged Goldman Sachs Group with fraud. After the Goldman Sachs fraud, disappointing earnings by some top companies...
Apr 20th, 2010
PE, PP buyers in Asia await impact of supplies from new capacities
Trading is lackluster in Asia’s PP and PE markets as buyers await the onslaught of supplies from new capacities coming on stream. As per Chemorbis, buyers are waiting on the sidelines, refusing to buy beyond their needs on expectations that a new wave of capacities in Asia and Middle East will begin to weigh down...
Apr 16th, 2010
Price trends of oil, polymer feedstock and commodity polymers in Asia
CRUDE OIL
Oil prices spiked to an 18 month intraday high of US$87 at the beginning of the week, rising after reports showed growth in US jobs and service sectors. Prices then dipped to levels close to last weeks’ on speculation that US stockpiles will surge as refineries augment rates, crude oil prices have settled at...
Apr 6th, 2010
VCM prices in Asia pressured by softer ethylene, sluggish PVC demand
Asian producers continue to maintain their initial March offers for VCM this week, although buyers have lowered buying bids in line with slackening PVC demand amid softer ethylene prices, as per Chemorbis. Initial March offers for VCM were announced at around US$880/ton CFR China, an increase of around US$40/ton from the February done deal level....
Apr 6th, 2010
Robust demand for LDPE, LLDPE reported in India
Distributors in India report that they are actively on the lookout for import LDPE and LLDPE film cargoes owing to good demand in the local market, as per CHemorbis. Distributors attribute the relatively good demand seen for these products to limited availability for domestic materials. For the first few trading days of April, import offers...
Mar 31st, 2010
Price trends of oil, polymer feedstock and commodity polymers in Asia
CRUDE OIL
Crude prices for May delivery fell to US$80 a barrel on Friday, amid volatile trading, as investors scout for clear signals that the global economic recovery will continue. Prices ended the week 3.8% below a 2010 peak of roughly US$83.18 a barrel. Crude oil for May delivery rose in the week of March 29,...
Mar 29th, 2010
38% of 6 mln tons of ethylene capacity coming onstream in China: China to reduce imports
Asia will add record naphtha cracking capacities in 2010 at a time when new Middle East plants are boosting output. 6 mln tons of capacity is expected to come onstream in this year, out of which 38% will come up in China alone. China, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore and India will add 6.3 mln tons...
Mar 29th, 2010
Lower feedstock PTA, MEG, PX contracts pull down benchmark PET prices in China
In China, domestic benchmark PET prices for April were announced with decreases while market players highlight that overall offer levels are in line with the theoretical costs based on the March feedstock contracts despite spot prices for these feedstocks gaining some lost ground after the second half of last week, as per Chemorbis.
A major domestic...
Mar 26th, 2010
A repeat of extraordinary polymer import volumes of 2008 into China by Western companies unlikely in 2010
The US and China are currently unable to reach a compromise on the dispute over the Yuan’s strength against the US dollar. The US President could succumb to domestic political pressure and introduce measures to protect jobs, resulting in increased tariffs on Chinese imports.
As per ICIS, in 1971, as Paul Krugman pointed out that emergency...
Mar 26th, 2010
Sinopec to Build $1.3 bln Kazakh Polypropylene Plant
A unit of China’s Sinopec (0386.HK) will build a $1.26 billion polypropylene production plant in Kazakhstan, Kazakh Deputy Oil and Gas Minister Aset Magauov said on Thursday.
The facility will be part of a $6.3 billion gas processing complex that Kazakhstan plans to build in its western Atyrau region. The government has said South Korean banks...
Mar 25th, 2010
S.KOREA CHEIL INDUSTRIES DEDICATES CHINA SYNTHETIC RESIN PLANT
Cheil Industries Inc. (KSE:001300), the textile unit of South Korea’s Samsung Group, has completed the construction of a synthetic resin plant in the northeastern Chinese city of Tianjin, establishing its first overseas presence in the chemical sector, the company said Thursday.
Tianjin Samsung Engineering Plastic Co., a wholly-owned affiliate of Cheil Industries, held a ceremony on...
Mar 24th, 2010
Price trends of oil, polymer feedstock and commodity polymers in Asia
CRUDE OIL
Crude oil prices ended the week of March 22, 2010 at a weaker note. Towards the end of the week, oil prices fell by over US$1.50- its largest one-day dip in three weeks, as the US dollar firmed against foreign currencies, negatively impacting investment flows into oil and other commodities. Oil prices dipped to...
Mar 24th, 2010
Asian PVC producers announced offers for April to China
Two Asian PVC producers have announced their new PVC k67-68 offers to China for April, indicating rollovers.
A major Taiwanese producer announced new offers at US$1040/ton CFR China main port, subject to 6.5% customs duty and 10% anti-dumping duty, cash basis. The producer prefers to maintain their offer levels for the time being due to tight...