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Yatong establishes plastics pipe commercialisation base
F O C US
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Call Consensus estimate of $0.51/diluted share. The company expects chlorovinyls to show significant improvement over the 2Q 2002 as a result of increased vinyl resin sales prices, which more than offset higher raw materials costs. In addition, the company expects a smaller loss in aromatics than in 2Q 2002, as a result of higher sales prices outpacing higher raw materials costs. Also, as a result of favourable conditions in the institutional loan market, Georgia Gulf completed a refinancing and amendment of its senior secured credit facility earlier in 3Q 2002. Georgia Gulf Corp, headquartered in Atlanta, is a major manufacturer and marketer of two highly integrated product lines, chlorovinyls and aromatics. Georgia Gulf expected 3Q 2002 earnings, 23 Sep 2002, (Georgia Gulf Corp, 400, Perimeter Center Terrace, Suite 595, Atlanta, GA 30346, USA. Tel: +1 770 395 4500. Website: http://www.ggc.com)
Yatong establishes plastics pipe commercialisation base Fujian Yatong New Material Science and Technology Co Ltd is the only company included by the Ministry of Construction in a plastics pipe commercialisation base to be established in Yatong, China during 2002. Polymeric materials such as PE and UPVC are to be developed at the base for use in pipes for applications such as water drainage, conservation and irrigation together with communication. China Chemical Reporter, 6 Sep 2002, 13 (25), 5
P O LY V I N Y L C H L O R I D E
and waterproofing applications. Pannon Aldra upgraded its two calendering lines and cut the work force by 50 (over 20%). Pannonplast said in Feb that it expected Pannon Aldra to achieve sales of about Forint 3.7 bn in 2002, with exports reaching 75% of output. But the subsidiary was hurt badly by the state of the German construction industry and by rapidly rising raw material costs. Pannon Aldra had sales of about Forint 3 bn ($12 M) in 2001, a 25% rise on 2000. Exports accounted for 52%. The firm saw a strong rise in its insulating tape foils business in 2001. Plastics News, 13 Sep 2002 (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com)
Coastline Plastics invests $4 million to expand A $4 M investment in its unit in Yulee, FL will make Coastline Plastics Inc the 1st chlorinated polyvinyl chloride pipe extruder to blend its feedstock onsite. The company has increased the size of its facility from 25,000 to 45,000 sq ft and is to increase the size of its workforce from 40 to 52 people. Onsite blending will ensure better product quality. Coastline is also to install 3 new extrusion lines by end 2002 and in 2003 will launch a complete range of new products. The company estimates its share of the 80-100 M lbs/y US market at 5% and its share of the chlorinated polyvinyl chloride market in Florida at 30-40%. Plastics News, 6 Sep 2002 (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com)
Hungary’s Pannon Aldra to stop making film
Central Glass to pull out of vinyl chloride business
Pannon Aldra Plastics Ltd is to halt production before the end of 2002, eliminating 130 jobs. The company makes calendered PVC sheet and is a 50-50 venture between Pannonplast plc and Alkor Draka SA, a flexible foils subsidiary of Solvay SA. Pannon Aldra will continue as a trading company only. Around Forint 1 bn was invested in attempts to raise Pannon Aldra’s product quality and production efficiency. The company withdrew from consumer products and the PVC flooring market, and now makes plastic foils for stationery, small leather goods, and adhesive
In Mar 2003, Central Glass Co plans to close its vinyl chloride-related operations at its Kawasaki subsidiary, which produces 132,000 tonnes/y of a raw material used in production of the chemical, as well as carrying out marketing activities for vinyl chloride produced for the company by outside firms. The closure will reduce the subsidiary’s sales by Yen 3 bn, but will increase profits by Yen 300-500 M. Following the move, the firm will move into new areas such as urethane foaming agents. Reduced demand for vinyl chloride in Japan is likely to lead to losses of Yen 10 bn in
NOVEMBER 2002
fiscal 2002 for the industry. Nikkei Net, 9 Oct 2002 (Website: http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/)
ShinEtsu 2002: review of operations – organic and inorganic chemicals For fiscal 2002 (ends 31 Mar 2002), the Organic and Inorganic Chemicals division of Japanese company ShinEtsu Chemical Co Ltd has reported sales of Yen 398 bn (-3% on fiscal 2001) and operating income of Yen 48.8 bn (+3.8%). The division’s main products are PVC, cellulose derivatives, silicones, vinyl acetate, and polyvinyl alcohol. There is an extensive business review, covering: PVC, silicones, cellulose derivatives, and other products. ShinEtsu Annual Report 2002, 27 Jun 2002, 9-11 (Shin-Etsu Chemical Co Ltd, 6-1, Otemachi 2-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Tel: +81-3-3246-5091. Fax: +81-3-3246-5096. Website: http://www.shinetsu.co.jp)
ENVIRONMENT CPSC staff report appears to clear phthalate (DINP) According to a report published by the US Consumer Product and Safety Commission on 24 Sep 2002, polyvinyl chloride and soft vinyl toys pose no risks to child health. At end 1998 the CPSC had recommended that the plasticizer diisononyl phthalate should not be used in teething rings, rattles and dummies for babies because of fears of liver and other damage. Manufacturers followed that advice. The latest study found that children’s exposure to the phthalate was much lower than previously thought. The Phthalate Esters Panel of the American Chemistry Council welcomed the findings and said activists should stop circulating scare stories. In response Greenpeace said that the CPSC should have included other phthalates in its study and not have concentrated solely on diisononyl phthalate. Plastics News, 26 Sep 2002 (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com)
Sincol develops recycled vinyl chloride flooring Sincol will produce environmentfriendly interior flooring sheets by
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O N
Call Consensus estimate of $0.51/diluted share. The company expects chlorovinyls to show significant improvement over the 2Q 2002 as a result of increased vinyl resin sales prices, which more than offset higher raw materials costs. In addition, the company expects a smaller loss in aromatics than in 2Q 2002, as a result of higher sales prices outpacing higher raw materials costs. Also, as a result of favourable conditions in the institutional loan market, Georgia Gulf completed a refinancing and amendment of its senior secured credit facility earlier in 3Q 2002. Georgia Gulf Corp, headquartered in Atlanta, is a major manufacturer and marketer of two highly integrated product lines, chlorovinyls and aromatics. Georgia Gulf expected 3Q 2002 earnings, 23 Sep 2002, (Georgia Gulf Corp, 400, Perimeter Center Terrace, Suite 595, Atlanta, GA 30346, USA. Tel: +1 770 395 4500. Website: http://www.ggc.com)
Yatong establishes plastics pipe commercialisation base Fujian Yatong New Material Science and Technology Co Ltd is the only company included by the Ministry of Construction in a plastics pipe commercialisation base to be established in Yatong, China during 2002. Polymeric materials such as PE and UPVC are to be developed at the base for use in pipes for applications such as water drainage, conservation and irrigation together with communication. China Chemical Reporter, 6 Sep 2002, 13 (25), 5
P O LY V I N Y L C H L O R I D E
and waterproofing applications. Pannon Aldra upgraded its two calendering lines and cut the work force by 50 (over 20%). Pannonplast said in Feb that it expected Pannon Aldra to achieve sales of about Forint 3.7 bn in 2002, with exports reaching 75% of output. But the subsidiary was hurt badly by the state of the German construction industry and by rapidly rising raw material costs. Pannon Aldra had sales of about Forint 3 bn ($12 M) in 2001, a 25% rise on 2000. Exports accounted for 52%. The firm saw a strong rise in its insulating tape foils business in 2001. Plastics News, 13 Sep 2002 (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com)
Coastline Plastics invests $4 million to expand A $4 M investment in its unit in Yulee, FL will make Coastline Plastics Inc the 1st chlorinated polyvinyl chloride pipe extruder to blend its feedstock onsite. The company has increased the size of its facility from 25,000 to 45,000 sq ft and is to increase the size of its workforce from 40 to 52 people. Onsite blending will ensure better product quality. Coastline is also to install 3 new extrusion lines by end 2002 and in 2003 will launch a complete range of new products. The company estimates its share of the 80-100 M lbs/y US market at 5% and its share of the chlorinated polyvinyl chloride market in Florida at 30-40%. Plastics News, 6 Sep 2002 (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com)
Hungary’s Pannon Aldra to stop making film
Central Glass to pull out of vinyl chloride business
Pannon Aldra Plastics Ltd is to halt production before the end of 2002, eliminating 130 jobs. The company makes calendered PVC sheet and is a 50-50 venture between Pannonplast plc and Alkor Draka SA, a flexible foils subsidiary of Solvay SA. Pannon Aldra will continue as a trading company only. Around Forint 1 bn was invested in attempts to raise Pannon Aldra’s product quality and production efficiency. The company withdrew from consumer products and the PVC flooring market, and now makes plastic foils for stationery, small leather goods, and adhesive
In Mar 2003, Central Glass Co plans to close its vinyl chloride-related operations at its Kawasaki subsidiary, which produces 132,000 tonnes/y of a raw material used in production of the chemical, as well as carrying out marketing activities for vinyl chloride produced for the company by outside firms. The closure will reduce the subsidiary’s sales by Yen 3 bn, but will increase profits by Yen 300-500 M. Following the move, the firm will move into new areas such as urethane foaming agents. Reduced demand for vinyl chloride in Japan is likely to lead to losses of Yen 10 bn in
NOVEMBER 2002
fiscal 2002 for the industry. Nikkei Net, 9 Oct 2002 (Website: http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/)
ShinEtsu 2002: review of operations – organic and inorganic chemicals For fiscal 2002 (ends 31 Mar 2002), the Organic and Inorganic Chemicals division of Japanese company ShinEtsu Chemical Co Ltd has reported sales of Yen 398 bn (-3% on fiscal 2001) and operating income of Yen 48.8 bn (+3.8%). The division’s main products are PVC, cellulose derivatives, silicones, vinyl acetate, and polyvinyl alcohol. There is an extensive business review, covering: PVC, silicones, cellulose derivatives, and other products. ShinEtsu Annual Report 2002, 27 Jun 2002, 9-11 (Shin-Etsu Chemical Co Ltd, 6-1, Otemachi 2-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Tel: +81-3-3246-5091. Fax: +81-3-3246-5096. Website: http://www.shinetsu.co.jp)
ENVIRONMENT CPSC staff report appears to clear phthalate (DINP) According to a report published by the US Consumer Product and Safety Commission on 24 Sep 2002, polyvinyl chloride and soft vinyl toys pose no risks to child health. At end 1998 the CPSC had recommended that the plasticizer diisononyl phthalate should not be used in teething rings, rattles and dummies for babies because of fears of liver and other damage. Manufacturers followed that advice. The latest study found that children’s exposure to the phthalate was much lower than previously thought. The Phthalate Esters Panel of the American Chemistry Council welcomed the findings and said activists should stop circulating scare stories. In response Greenpeace said that the CPSC should have included other phthalates in its study and not have concentrated solely on diisononyl phthalate. Plastics News, 26 Sep 2002 (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com)
Sincol develops recycled vinyl chloride flooring Sincol will produce environmentfriendly interior flooring sheets by
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