April 6, 2020

Recticel Divestitures Update

Press Release of Recticel – 06 April 2020

Recticel divests its Automotive Interiors division and its 50% stake in the Eurofoam Flexible Foams joint venture

Recticel announces that it has entered into a binding agreement in order to bring its Automotive Interiors business in a new joint venture under the control of Munich-based privately owned investment company Admetos GmbH. In addition, Recticel has also reached a binding agreement with Greiner AG to divest its 50% participation in the Eurofoam joint venture. Following the divestment of the Proseat activities in 2019, these two deals will fundamentally refocus Recticel on its higher value added activities, and provide increased flexibility to pursue strategic development opportunities in the future.

Chief Executive Officer Olivier Chapelle commented: “Both transactions are essential and transformational steps to realize our strategic objectives. Divesting from the Automotive business, simplifying our Group structure and constituting a solid financial base will enable the execution of our growth strategy. I’m happy that we have found with Admetos a partner with strong capabilities to leverage the potential of the Automotive Interiors’ proprietary technology and of its qualified team. I also want to thank the Greiner AG group for the more than 27 years of fruitful cooperation with Recticel as co-shareholder of Eurofoam.”

https://www.recticel.com/?press-release=920881

March 31, 2020

Rogerson On Leave

Hexion CEO on leave due to coronavirus

March 31/2020

MOSCOW (MRC) — Hexion CEO and chairman Craig Rogerson has taken a medical leave of absence after showing signs of coronavirus, said the company.

The company has appointed the company’s CFO George Knight as interim CEO until Rogerson returns from his leave of absence. Knight has served in his current role since January 2016 and has been continuously employed by the company or its predecessor in various roles since 1997.

Earlier it was reported that Hexion in mid-January announced force majeure for the supply of BPA from the plant in Deer Park (Deer Park, Texas, USA). It was expected that this enterprise with a capacity of 140 thousand tons of BPA per year will resume its work in mid-February.

Large manufacturers of BPA and epoxy in the United States are companies such as Hexion, Huntsman and Olin.

Bisphenol A is used as a hardener in the manufacture of plastics, as well as plastic-based products. It is one of the key monomers in the production of epoxy resins and polycarbonate (PC).

According to the ICIS-MRC Price Report, in December last year, imports of PCs and compositions to Russia excluding supplies from Belarus amounted to 1,400 tonnes compared to 1,520 tonnes a month earlier and 1,110 tonnes in December 2017. According to the results of last year, in general, imports of PCs and compositions to Russia excluding Belarus grew by 13% to 16,200 tonnes against 14,300 tonnes in 2017.

Based in Columbus, Ohio, Hexion Inc. is a global leader in thermoset resins. Hexion Inc. serves the global adhesive, coatings, composites and industrial markets through a broad range of thermoset technologies, specialty products and technical support for customers in a diverse range of applications and industries.

Anna Larionova

http://www.mrcplast.com/news-news_open-368424.html

March 31, 2020

Rogerson On Leave

Hexion CEO on leave due to coronavirus

March 31/2020

MOSCOW (MRC) — Hexion CEO and chairman Craig Rogerson has taken a medical leave of absence after showing signs of coronavirus, said the company.

The company has appointed the company’s CFO George Knight as interim CEO until Rogerson returns from his leave of absence. Knight has served in his current role since January 2016 and has been continuously employed by the company or its predecessor in various roles since 1997.

Earlier it was reported that Hexion in mid-January announced force majeure for the supply of BPA from the plant in Deer Park (Deer Park, Texas, USA). It was expected that this enterprise with a capacity of 140 thousand tons of BPA per year will resume its work in mid-February.

Large manufacturers of BPA and epoxy in the United States are companies such as Hexion, Huntsman and Olin.

Bisphenol A is used as a hardener in the manufacture of plastics, as well as plastic-based products. It is one of the key monomers in the production of epoxy resins and polycarbonate (PC).

According to the ICIS-MRC Price Report, in December last year, imports of PCs and compositions to Russia excluding supplies from Belarus amounted to 1,400 tonnes compared to 1,520 tonnes a month earlier and 1,110 tonnes in December 2017. According to the results of last year, in general, imports of PCs and compositions to Russia excluding Belarus grew by 13% to 16,200 tonnes against 14,300 tonnes in 2017.

Based in Columbus, Ohio, Hexion Inc. is a global leader in thermoset resins. Hexion Inc. serves the global adhesive, coatings, composites and industrial markets through a broad range of thermoset technologies, specialty products and technical support for customers in a diverse range of applications and industries.

Anna Larionova

http://www.mrcplast.com/news-news_open-368424.html

March 31, 2020

India TDI Plant Update

GNFC undertakes unscheduled shutdown at TDI plant in India

MOSCOW (MRC) — Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd (GNFC), has shut its toluene diisocyanate (TDI) units at Bharuch & Dahej, according to Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in India informed that, the company has halted operations at the units last week owing to a nation-wide lockdown caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. Further details on duration of the shutdown could not be ascertained.

Located in Gujarat, India, the Bharuch unit has a production capacity of 50,000 mt/year and the Dahej unit has a production capacity of 17,000 mt/year.

TDI is a chemical used in the production of polyurethanes, primarily for flexible foam applications including furniture, bedding and carpet underlay, as well as packaging applications. TDI is also used in the manufacture of coatings, sealants, adhesives and elastomers.

As MRC wrote previously, India lockdown adds uncertainty for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) exports. Last week India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide lockdown from Wednesday for 21 days in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus in the world’s second-most populous country, which has 1.3 billion people. The lockdown applies to ports, which will slow imports of all kinds of goods, including PVC, to a country that was dependent on PVC imports to meet demand before the pandemic gripped the globe.

According to MRC’s ScanPlast report, contrary to seasonal factors, Russian producers of unmixed PVC have maintained a high level of capacity utilisation. Russia’s overal PVC output totalled 91,700 tonnes in January 2020, up by 4% year on year. January production of unmixed PVC was 91,700 tonnes versus 87,760 tonnes in January 2019 and 81,400 tonnes in December 2019. Thus, despite relatively weak demand for resin from the domestic market, the average capacity utilisation exceeded 95% last month. Russia’s overall PVC production reached 975,000 tonnes in 2019, compared to 958,600 tonnes a year earlier.

Author:Margaret Volkova

http://www.mrcplast.com/news-news_open-368449.html

March 31, 2020

India TDI Plant Update

GNFC undertakes unscheduled shutdown at TDI plant in India

MOSCOW (MRC) — Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd (GNFC), has shut its toluene diisocyanate (TDI) units at Bharuch & Dahej, according to Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in India informed that, the company has halted operations at the units last week owing to a nation-wide lockdown caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. Further details on duration of the shutdown could not be ascertained.

Located in Gujarat, India, the Bharuch unit has a production capacity of 50,000 mt/year and the Dahej unit has a production capacity of 17,000 mt/year.

TDI is a chemical used in the production of polyurethanes, primarily for flexible foam applications including furniture, bedding and carpet underlay, as well as packaging applications. TDI is also used in the manufacture of coatings, sealants, adhesives and elastomers.

As MRC wrote previously, India lockdown adds uncertainty for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) exports. Last week India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide lockdown from Wednesday for 21 days in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus in the world’s second-most populous country, which has 1.3 billion people. The lockdown applies to ports, which will slow imports of all kinds of goods, including PVC, to a country that was dependent on PVC imports to meet demand before the pandemic gripped the globe.

According to MRC’s ScanPlast report, contrary to seasonal factors, Russian producers of unmixed PVC have maintained a high level of capacity utilisation. Russia’s overal PVC output totalled 91,700 tonnes in January 2020, up by 4% year on year. January production of unmixed PVC was 91,700 tonnes versus 87,760 tonnes in January 2019 and 81,400 tonnes in December 2019. Thus, despite relatively weak demand for resin from the domestic market, the average capacity utilisation exceeded 95% last month. Russia’s overall PVC production reached 975,000 tonnes in 2019, compared to 958,600 tonnes a year earlier.

Author:Margaret Volkova

http://www.mrcplast.com/news-news_open-368449.html