Asia top stories - weekly summary

17 January 2011 01:00  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here are some of the top stories from ICIS Asia and the Middle east for the week ended 14 January 2011.

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Update S Korea's YNCC restarts No 2 cracker at reduced rate
South Korea’s Yeochun NCC (YNCC) has restarted its 578,000 tonne/year No 2 cracker after it was shut because of a fire, but will run it at a reduced rate of 85-90% for the next three months, a company official said on Friday.

Focus - Asia polysilicon prices to firm in 2011 on solar demand
Asian prices of polysilicon - the main material used in solar cells and panels - are expected to increase this year, as demand outstrips supply, especially in a burgeoning spot market, industry players said on Thursday.

Focus - Thailand’s PTT likely to merge chemical, aromatics entities
Thailand’s state-run PTT is most likely to merge its subsidiaries PTT Chemical (PTTCH) and PTT Aromatics and Refining (PTTAR) as part of a first phase to consolidate its petrochemical and refinery businesses, industry analysts said on Tuesday.

Update - Asia synthetic rubber producers hike prices on supply
Two major Asian synthetic rubber producers' upcoming plant shutdowns have spurred suppliers to increase prices by $200-300/tonne (€154-231/tonne) this week, industry sources said on Tuesday.

Focus - Asia polyolefins prices rebound but uncertainty persists
Asia’s polyolefin markets are likely to remain turbulent in the first quarter of the year despite recent price hikes, as feedstock costs are fluctuating and future demand remains uncertain, market players said on Monday.

Saudi Arabia's SABIC plans heavy MEG shutdown in 2011
Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) plans to shut eight major monoethylene glycol (MEG) units in the country this year, lending additional upward pressure on Asia MEG supplies, a source close to the company said on Thursday.

Interview - Qatar Petrochemical to expand cracker, LLDPE unit by '14
Qatar Petrochemical Co (QAPCO) plans to expand its 720,000 tonne/year cracker and its 450,000 tonne/year linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) joint-venture plant at Mesaieed, Qatar, by the first quarter of 2014, a company official said on Monday.

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By: Staff Reporter
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