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The article illustrates how to enhance the integration opportunities for aromatics complex, described as a combination of processing units that can be used to convert petroleum naphtha and pyrolysis gasoline into basic petrochemical intermediates. It is inferred that fully integrated refining and petrochemicals facilities are able to provide feedstock synergy and flexibility. The maximization of naphtha feedstocks for the aromatics complex is discussed.

The article discusses developments with adsorbents for efficient removal of mercury from naphtha streams. Mercury exists in a combination form in petroleum products. It can degrade catalysts involved in oil refining and petrochemistry, and can cause corrosion. To address this problem, new adsorbents have been developed using computational chemistry techniques with ingredients such as coconut husks, activated carbon using a sulfur alkaline metal, and sulfur alkaline-earth metals.

Discusses the challenges faced by the U.S. chemical industry. Information on a natural-gas bill that would be passed in 2004; Number of jobs lost in the textile industry due to low-cost imports; Reason for an increase in the value of stocks of Asian naphtha cracker operators.

Focuses on the steam cracker of Naphtachimie, which was equipped with online near infrared analysis of naphtha feedstock. Principle of operation; Advantages and benefits.

This section offers news briefs on the oil and gas industry as of August 2011. Revolutionary Guards Brigadier General Rostam Qasemi was appointed as minister of oil in Iran. A lawsuit by environmental organizations to prevent the U.S. Department of Defense from buying fuels from Canadian bitumen and heavy oil was dismissed by a federal court. According to analysts, India's natural gas use grew sharply because of increase in domestic production and stands to display naptha demand by a third.

The article focuses on the increase of revenue of Russian chemical producers in the first quarter of 2011. It states that producers' profitability rose in 2011 against 2010, although restricted by higher prices of raw materials and naphtha. It notes that a total of 16.3 million tons of naphtha was produced in 2010 and the largest producers include OAO Lukoil, Rosneft, and Gazprom. Moreover, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) export rose from 130.2 to 189.8 hundred dollar per ton in May 2011.

The article reports reports that weaker naphtha-crack spread and the strong performance of the euro have contributed to the stable margins of steam cracker operators in Europe.

The article reports the development and examples of the applications of a normalization model for monitoring the catalyst activity for the semiregenerative naphtha reformer. The advantages of its daily monitoring are explained with respect to the reformate yield. The reactor's weighted average inlet temperature (WAIT) is presented in relation to fixed operating parameters. Factors affecting reformate yield are discussed as well as the application of the model to achieve new operating variables.

Reports on Saudi Aramco's plan to invest in a naphtha cracker project in the Philippines. Company's 40 percent stake in Petron Corp., the national refinery corporation; Investment terms.

Reports on Formosa Plastics Group's plans to launch its own fleet of ship to transport raw materials to its naphtha cracker complex in Taiwan. Production capacity of the complex; Types of vessels ordered by the company.

Reports that the Taiwanese state oil firm Chinese Petroleum Corp. and the Chiayi County government have signed a letter of intent calling for CPC to build Taiwan's eight naphtha cracker. Regulatory hurdles the project needs to pass; Investors' alleged dissatisfaction with the project's site; Financing and timetable for the project's completion.

The article reports that oil and natural gas company CB&I has been awarded a naphtha cracker revamp contract by Indonesian petrochemical manufacturing company Chandra Asri that will cover the restoration of Chandra's existing furnaces in Cilegon, Indonesia.

Reports in August 1998 that India's Bharat Petroleum Corp. Limited will build a naphtha cracker. Cost of the cracker; Invitation of bids for the project; When the plant is expected to begin production.

Reports on developments in the petroleum chemical industry. Arcadian Corp.'s purchase of an ammonia plant in Trinidad; Daelim Industrial Co. Ltd.'s number two naphtha cracker in South Korea.

The article reports that higher petroleum values are increasing the price of feedstocks for naphtha-based producers in Asia. Asia integrated polyethylene margins have held up well in the year 2016 while the increasing petroleum price has pushed naphtha and ethylene costs higher. Demand for polyethylene in the region is also rising.

A market research report for butadiene (BD) in Asia as of September 2015 is presented from publisher Independent Chemical Information Service (ICIS) including buying trends, weakness in the upstream naphtha market, and the margins to be generated by cracker operators in the naphtha-BD market.

The article reveals that senior petrochemical company executives in Europe are confident that the strong performance in 2007 will carry into 2008 with sustained demand in both continental and export markets. Ethylene prices have tracked rising naphtha prices, and styrene prices have tracked those of benzene. That demand has been broad as well as deep, says Lambert van de Leemput, director/olefins and intermediates for Sabic Europe.

The article presents information related to the increasing demand for naphtha, one of the important oil products in China. In China, naphtha is mainly used to produce refining and chemical integrated complexes, such as ethylene and aromatics. As per statistics, the output of chemical light oil in China was 26.12 million tons in 2004, including 15.5 million tons of naphtha. Since 2005, the supply of naphtha in the country has changed greatly.

The article provides information on chemical markets as of September 7, 2006. The seasonal fall in Asian naphtha demand due to cracker turnarounds was apparent and numbers slipped further. European ethylene numbers have seen little movement and remain well above third-quarter contract levels. Benzene prices in Asia were under pressure on the back of weaker crude. A list of prices of chemicals per tonne is presented.

The article presents updates on market trends in the chemical industry. European naphtha cargoes were assessed at cif NWE. Prices tracked higher crude futures, but the market continued to be characterized by an overhang of supply and slack spot-demand given closed U.S. and Asian arbs. The ethylene market in Europe was quiet with no deals heard. INSET: ASIAN MARKETS SEE UPWARD TURN.

Reports that a number of benzene producers have looked into expanding or debottlenecking existing capacities to take advantage of the prices. Consideration of routes for producing benzene that are based on naphtha reforming and paraxylene production; Decision of UOP LLC to lower the initial boiling point and end point; Contribution of a change in isomerization catalysts in boosting benzene production.

The article reports on the naphtha-based cracker margins in Europe and Asia in 2015. Topics covered include the rising macroeconomic concerns on China, the slowing cracker run rates after Formosa Petrochemical Corp. reduced rates from full capacity and the decision by traders to continue sending naphtha volumes despite a closed arbitrage window.

This section offers petrochemical news for week ended August 31, 2015 including hazardous chemicals banned by Tianjin port in Tianjin, China, Asia's naphtha valuations experiencing further downward pressure possible with supply build, and robust U.S. August 2015 propylene production levels.

This section offers petrochemical industry news briefs for week ending on August 31, 2015. News discussed include the decision of People's Bank of China (PBoC) to cut interest rates and relax bank reserve requirements on August 25, 2015 will help calm financial markets that have influenced sentiment in the Asian petrochemical trade, decline in open-spec naphtha valuations, and higher assessment of prices of toluene at midday of August 26, 2015.

The article discusses the IHS Energy and IHS Chemical Light and Heavy Naphtha International Market Review of information firm IHS Inc. which found the increasing global production of light naphtha and the tendency for its global surplus to exceed market demand by 2020.

The article discusses the restructuring olefins industry of Asia, as old and inefficient naphtha crackers where being displaced by alternative feedstocks such as coal, methanol and propane. The region's ethylene capacity will not keep up with demand and will increase its dependence on imports from the Mideast and North America. It notes that the regions' shift in petrochemical industry was led by Japan and that China has turned to coal and methanol.

The author presents his outlook on Japan's petrochemical industry, citing ethylene production in 2014 that was about equal in 2013 while recorded increase in operating rates at naphtha crackers and ethylene demand. He noted the declining competitiveness of Asia's naphtha-based petrochemical production due to shale gas that lowered petrochemical production costs in North America. He also notes the 2015 annual Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference which will focus on sector's opportunities.

The article discusses factors that are expected to contribute to continuing pressure on naphtha prices in Europe in 2015. Topics covered include deeper penetration of petrochemical feedstocks such as ethane, propane and butane in the west, the addition of condensate capacity in Asia, and lower gasoline demand in the U.S. Also mentioned are increased global competition for the Asian market, expected Brent crude oil futures prices in 2015, and activities of petrochemical companies.

Cites Chem System's report predicting increased global demand for naphtha and petrochemicals. Predicted tightening of naphtha supplies; Increased demand for liquefied petroleum gas; Projected increase in world natural gas production; Contact information.

Predicts that there will be an increase in the use of naphtha, a non-premium oil product, in Asia-Pacific. Indications which suggest that naphtha will become more valued; Use of this product as a petrochemical feedstock; Naphtha identified as an attractive power fuel by Indian private power producers.

The article discusses the European market for benzene as of July 21, 2014, focusing on analysis of spot prices and the tightness of supply. Topics include increasing prices and the impact of naphtha prices on the market, the implications of European supply on global market dynamics, and the effect of hydrodealkylation (HDA) production to convert toluene to benzene.

This section offers construction-related news briefs. Oil and gas company Belgium Total S.A. plans to transform its naphtha cracker facility in Antwerp, Belgium, with company Maire Tecnimont SpA as the general contractor. Logistics firm Brazil Prumo Global Logistics will construct a support-base station at the Port of Acu in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Cement maker Mexico Cemex and energy company Fisterra Energy plan to construct the Ventika and Ventika II wind farms in Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

The article considers prices of naphtha in Asia. Increases in prices of naphtha for June and July 2014 delivery in May 2014 are examined and attributed to a decline in imports to the region from Europe and the U.S. due to demand there for its use in gasoline blends, increased demand in Asia and the high costs there of operating crackers in petroleum refining.

The article discusses the Asian naphtha market. Information is presented about the price of naphtha in February 2014, the potential impact on the market of gasoline blending economics in Europe, arrivals expected in Asia during the first half of April 2014 of deep-sea naphtha, and blending of naphtha with gasoline in Indonesia.

The article discusses the likelihood of higher ethylene prices in Asia in 2014. Topics addressed include an expected heavy turnaround schedule in Japan in the first half of the year, reduced production in China, and lower South Korean export volumes. Also mentioned are the shutdown of naphtha crackers in Japan for maintenance, the commencement of methanol-to-olefins (MTO) projects in China, and anticipation of the Borouge 3 project in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi.

The article explores the fundamental changes in the European naphtha market in 2014, which comes as the U.S. settles into its new role as a naphtha exporter after years of being an importer. The expected continued growth in the alternative cracker feedstock liquefied petroleum gas' (LPG) impact on the European naphtha sector's petrochemical market share is explored. A discussion on the competition between European and U.S. naphtha exporters in the Asian market is included.

The article discusses arbitrage naphtha flows to Asia as of September 2013, focusing on naphtha supplies in Asia and the shipping of Western cargoes to Eastern markets.

The article discusses the impact of supply and demand on the naphtha industry in Asia as of September 2013, reporting that the shutting down of chemical plants and refineries operated by companies such as Formosa Petrochemical Corp. could result in decreases in demand that impact naphtha prices. Topics include plant maintenance and cargo prices.

The article discusses the attitudes of some naphtha traders in Europe as of September 2013, reporting that some traders have predicted that refinery shutdowns will tighten supply for naphtha in September 2013. Topics include scheduled plant maintenance, supply and demand, and naphtha exports to Asia.

The article lists the top five stories related to the global chemicals industry which include the cracker blast in Giesmar, Louisiana, the impact of excessive cargo availability on the naphtha market in Asia and the sanctions on the petrochemical markets in Singapore.

The article reports on the condition of the naphtha industry in Asia as of June 2013. It forecasts the Asian naphtha market to become weak following concerns on petroleum chemical demand and cargo supply in the U.S. It notes that naphtha prices increased by $3.50 per tonne to $861.50-863.50 per tonne in the week ended May 31.

The article reports on the proposed price reduction of monthly monomer contracts by the buyers of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) in Europe. According to some producers, the move is taken inspite some of them aimed to increase the spread between monomer and polymer. It also states that producers maintain the strict control of output in the naphtha market to avoid oversupply.

The article lists the top five stories for the week of May 13, 2013 including the Asian naphtha industry, decline of ethylene prices in the U.S. and the synthetic rubber exports in Japan.