- Email: [email protected]
10
FOCUS SR-2377 (for general purpose applications); Sichuan Lomon’s LR971 for polyvinyl chloride) and LR-108 (for masterbatches); Henan Billions’ BLR-699 (for weather-resistant applications) and BLR-621 (for paints); Pangang Chonqing Titanium’s R-248 (for plastics), R-258 (for paints) and R-298 (for general purpose applications); and Jiangsu Zhentai’s ZR-940+ and ZR-965 (both for paints). Domestic TiO2 demand was relatively weak during the early months of 2009, but it picked up onwards from the second quarter, under the influence of the Chinese Government’s huge economic stimulus programme. By the end of 2009, the average operating rate at Chinese TiO2 plants exceeded 80%. Reflecting stronger demand, domestic TiO2 prices began to improve. For example, Chonqing Titanium (part of the Pangang group) reported exfactory selling prices for its popular R-258 pigment at Rmb 14,700 ($2153) per tonne at the end of December 2009, compared against Rmb 12,800 ($1872) per tonne in early January 2009. China’s exports of TiO2 pigments shot up by 39% from 74,500 tonnes in 2008 to 103,600 tonnes in 2009. Of the latter total, exports to countries within the ASEAN bloc amounted to 18,337 tonnes, representing 17.7% of the total. Exports to ASEAN are expected to increase rapidly, now that China can export to this region free from import duties. Meanwhile, China’s own imports of TiO2 pigments dropped by 2.3% from 250,690 tonnes in 2008 to 245,000 tonnes in 2009. (This trade data relates only to pigments classified as IHC 3206.1110, without counting in uncoated TiO2 grades classified as IHC 2823. Exports of uncoated grades more than doubled from 23,500 tonnes in 2008 to 48,600 tonnes in 2009, while imports fell back from 13,000 tonnes to 9700 tonnes). At present, virtually all China’s TiO2 capacity is based on sulfate-route technology. However, the China Petroleum & Chemical Industry Association (CPCIA) confidently declared last October: “Efforts will be made to increase the proportion of TiO2 manufactured by the chlorination of high-grade feedstocks to 15% by 2015.” In this context, the commissioning of DuPont’s 200,000
4
ON
PIGMENTS
tonnes/y plant at DongYing will be an important contributor. So too will the 60,000 tonnes/y plant being built by Yunnan Xinli Nonferrous Metals Co. The Pangang Group claims to have signed an agreement for the purchase of chloride-route technology for a 100,000 tonnes/y project, which should also come to fruition before the end of 2015. Meanwhile, Jinzhou Titanium (a wholly-owned subsidiary within the Pangang group) plans to run its 30,000 tonnes/y chloride-route plant in Liaoning province at full capacity during 2010. China Chemical Reporter, 21 Feb 2010, 21 (4), 26-28
Japan’s TiO2 production fell by 15% in fiscal year 2009/10 According to the Japan Titanium Dioxide Association (JTDA), the country produced 172,852 tonnes of TiO2 pigment in the fiscal year to endMarch 2010. Of this total, 82.4% (or 142,346 tonnes) was rutile-type TiO2 and 17.6% (30,506 tonnes) was anatase-type TiO2. Production in the previous year was 202,640 tonnes. Total shipments for the latest fiscal year amounted to 181,986 tonnes, representing a 4.3% fall on the figure for fiscal year 2008/09. Exports increased by 17.7% from 56,900 tonnes to 66,986 tonnes, thanks to an upturn in sales to Southeast Asia and China onwards from October 2009. Meanwhile, domestic deliveries for the year fell by 13.6% to 115,000 tonnes. Increases in domestic shipment volumes to the printing ink, pigment and rubber sectors were not sufficient to offset decreases in domestic shipments to the paint, plastic and paper sectors. The latter three enduse sectors accounted for 50,896 tonnes, 11,690 tonnes and 5379 tonnes respectively. Japan Chemical Web, 7 May 2010, (Website: http://www.japanchemicalweb.jp)
PLANTS Brazil: Lanxess – iron oxides At a cost of €8 M and following a construction period of about 17 months, Lanxess has completed and started-up a new 4.5 MW cogeneration facility for the production
of steam and electricity at Porto Feliz in Sao Paulo province (See ‘Focus on Pigments’, Oct 2008, 4). The facility caters for the requirements of the 36,000 tonnes/y iron oxide pigments plant here, the products from which are sold globally under the Bayferrox brandname and regionally under the Po Xadrez brandname. 144,000 tonnes/y of bagasse – the fibrous residues, high in cellulose, produced at cane sugar refineries – constitutes the fuel for the new facility. Sao Paulo province is one of the country’s most important regions for sugar cane cultivation. Thanks to the use of this renewable raw material, energy can now be produced on a carbon-neutral basis: the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere when burning the bagasse fuel equals the amount of CO2 absorbed by the sugar cane during its growth. About 250 people are currently employed at the Porto Feliz complex, including 12 employees specifically recruited to operate the cogeneration facility. Lanxess also plans to open cogeneration facilities at three more sites during 2010, one in Belgium (at Zwijndrecht, near Antwerp) and two in India (at Nagda and Jhagadia). The capital investment in these three projects will be around €17 M. Lanxess recently reported that its global inorganic pigments capacity at more than 350,000 tonnes/y. This comprises mainly capacity for making Bayferrox iron oxides in Germany, China and Brazil, but also includes chrome oxide green pigments. Press Releases from: Lanxess AG, 51369 Leverkusen, Germany. Website: http://www.lanxess.com (9 Mar & 19 Apr 2010) & BNAmericas Petrochemicals News, 11 Mar 2010, (Website: http://www.bnamericas.com)
China: ColorMatrix – liquid colorants ColorMatrix (of Berea, OH), reportedly the world’s largest supplier of liquid colorants, plans to expand its production facility at Suzhou (Jiangsu province). The plant came on-stream in early 2008, producing liquid colorants for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and it now employs more than 30 people. (See ‘Focus on Pigments’, Jun 2008, 5). The expansion will entail the installation of facilities for making PET resin enhancers and additives. Plastics News, 22 Apr 2010, (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com)
JUNE 2010
4
ON
PIGMENTS
tonnes/y plant at DongYing will be an important contributor. So too will the 60,000 tonnes/y plant being built by Yunnan Xinli Nonferrous Metals Co. The Pangang Group claims to have signed an agreement for the purchase of chloride-route technology for a 100,000 tonnes/y project, which should also come to fruition before the end of 2015. Meanwhile, Jinzhou Titanium (a wholly-owned subsidiary within the Pangang group) plans to run its 30,000 tonnes/y chloride-route plant in Liaoning province at full capacity during 2010. China Chemical Reporter, 21 Feb 2010, 21 (4), 26-28
Japan’s TiO2 production fell by 15% in fiscal year 2009/10 According to the Japan Titanium Dioxide Association (JTDA), the country produced 172,852 tonnes of TiO2 pigment in the fiscal year to endMarch 2010. Of this total, 82.4% (or 142,346 tonnes) was rutile-type TiO2 and 17.6% (30,506 tonnes) was anatase-type TiO2. Production in the previous year was 202,640 tonnes. Total shipments for the latest fiscal year amounted to 181,986 tonnes, representing a 4.3% fall on the figure for fiscal year 2008/09. Exports increased by 17.7% from 56,900 tonnes to 66,986 tonnes, thanks to an upturn in sales to Southeast Asia and China onwards from October 2009. Meanwhile, domestic deliveries for the year fell by 13.6% to 115,000 tonnes. Increases in domestic shipment volumes to the printing ink, pigment and rubber sectors were not sufficient to offset decreases in domestic shipments to the paint, plastic and paper sectors. The latter three enduse sectors accounted for 50,896 tonnes, 11,690 tonnes and 5379 tonnes respectively. Japan Chemical Web, 7 May 2010, (Website: http://www.japanchemicalweb.jp)
PLANTS Brazil: Lanxess – iron oxides At a cost of €8 M and following a construction period of about 17 months, Lanxess has completed and started-up a new 4.5 MW cogeneration facility for the production
of steam and electricity at Porto Feliz in Sao Paulo province (See ‘Focus on Pigments’, Oct 2008, 4). The facility caters for the requirements of the 36,000 tonnes/y iron oxide pigments plant here, the products from which are sold globally under the Bayferrox brandname and regionally under the Po Xadrez brandname. 144,000 tonnes/y of bagasse – the fibrous residues, high in cellulose, produced at cane sugar refineries – constitutes the fuel for the new facility. Sao Paulo province is one of the country’s most important regions for sugar cane cultivation. Thanks to the use of this renewable raw material, energy can now be produced on a carbon-neutral basis: the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere when burning the bagasse fuel equals the amount of CO2 absorbed by the sugar cane during its growth. About 250 people are currently employed at the Porto Feliz complex, including 12 employees specifically recruited to operate the cogeneration facility. Lanxess also plans to open cogeneration facilities at three more sites during 2010, one in Belgium (at Zwijndrecht, near Antwerp) and two in India (at Nagda and Jhagadia). The capital investment in these three projects will be around €17 M. Lanxess recently reported that its global inorganic pigments capacity at more than 350,000 tonnes/y. This comprises mainly capacity for making Bayferrox iron oxides in Germany, China and Brazil, but also includes chrome oxide green pigments. Press Releases from: Lanxess AG, 51369 Leverkusen, Germany. Website: http://www.lanxess.com (9 Mar & 19 Apr 2010) & BNAmericas Petrochemicals News, 11 Mar 2010, (Website: http://www.bnamericas.com)
China: ColorMatrix – liquid colorants ColorMatrix (of Berea, OH), reportedly the world’s largest supplier of liquid colorants, plans to expand its production facility at Suzhou (Jiangsu province). The plant came on-stream in early 2008, producing liquid colorants for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and it now employs more than 30 people. (See ‘Focus on Pigments’, Jun 2008, 5). The expansion will entail the installation of facilities for making PET resin enhancers and additives. Plastics News, 22 Apr 2010, (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com)
JUNE 2010