By Malini Hariharan This is a tough time for those who are in the business of forecasting. Predictions of petrochemical margins hitting the bottom in 2009 have so far not materialised and volumes from new plants are being digested quite easily. “What’s happening? It is hard to understand the [market] situation; until when can you […]
Asian Chemical Connections
Iran Sanctions Lead To Illegal Shipments Claim
Source of picture: http://www.westernesa.com/ By John Richardson AN allegation has been made that traders could be changing bills of lading on cargoes of a certain liquids chemical being shipped out of Iran in an effort to get round tougher international sanctions. “What is I suspect is happening is that a cargo loaded in Iran […]
Don’t worry, be happy
By Malini Hariharan The blog was able to talk to a Korean polyolefins producer who was not perturbed by the recent weakness in Chinese demand and was fairly confident of selling October volumes. “It’s the holiday season so converters do not want to buy. But I see no reason to lower prices. We have sold […]
Chandra Asri And TriPolyta To Merge
By John Richardson The consolidation talked about in Indonesia for more than ten years – that between cracker operator and polyethylene (PE) producer Chandra Asri and polypropylene (PP) producer TriPolyta – is finally set to happen by January next year. Now it will be up to the companies to make the synergies work with the most […]
Ethylene Freight Rates Head For Collapse
“If I didn’t care what happens to you….” Source of picture: www.sydbarrett.com By John Richardson AS many as 25 new ethylene vessels could be in operation by 2013 as a result of what one shipping industry source told the blog was “irresponsible shipping brokers and consultants talking up the market”. He predicted that the […]
Saudi Kayan commercial production delayed to end-2011?
By Malini Hariharan Sabic’s Saudi Kayan appears to be heading down the same road as other recent Saudi petrochemical projects. After starting up a 1m tonnes/year cracker and a mono ethylene glycol (MEG) facility, a local media report states that commercial production is likely only in late 2011 and not mid-2011 as was widely expected […]
Saudi Arabia: The Implications Of Going Downstream
An example of how Lexan solar control IR sheets (made by SABIC Innovative Plastics) can be put to use Source of picture: SABIC By John Richardson SAUDI ARABIA is busy reshaping its petrochemical industry to reflect a drastic shift in priorities. Such is the change in the kingdom that commentators are going so as […]
China, Russia To Boost Iranian Ethylene Trade?
Iran’s South Pars gas field Source of picture: www.petropars.com By John Richardson THE ability of Iran to further exploit its huge natural gas reserves – and in so doing maintain ethylene exports at constant levels throughout the year – now appears to hinge on Chinese investment (Western companies have withdrawn from the Iranian energy […]
European Polyolefins: The Luxury of Unintended Consequences
Another excuse for a Dylan picture – ref “Shelter From The Storm” Source of picture: www.israbox.com By John Richardson WEST EUROPEAN polyolefin markets remain tight thanks to the lingering effects of lack of spending on maintenance, several market sources have told the blog. “Companies were so short of cash from late 2008 that they began […]
Typhoon triggers shutdowns in Taiwan
By Malini Hariharan More news of plant shutdowns emerged today with Chinese Petroleum Corp (CPC) forced to stop production at its 500,000 tonnes/year No 5 cracker in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, after typhoon Fanapi resulted in extensive flooding. Operations were suspended to avoid potential damage from disruption to power supply caused by the flooding, industry sources told […]
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