Bulk Distributor Mar/Apr 16

BULKDISTRIBUT0R www.bulk-distributor.com March/April 2016 Est. 1990 Your single information source for bulk and semi-bulk logistics Tank Containers • Flexitanks • IBCs • Drums • FIBCs • Bulk Liners • Road Tankers • Loading/Bagging • Bulk Logistics • Cleaning & Repair Depots • Components Stagnant growth for EU chemicals sector IN THIS ISSUE Shipper 2 Asset Management 4 Tank Containers 9 Rail Logistics 12 Components 13 IBCs & Drums 14 FIBCs & Bagging 15 Flexitanks & Bulk Liners 18 Logistics 20 Terminals & Storage 22 Managing Editor: Neil Madden [email protected] Tel: +33 (0)3 88 60 30 68 Advertising Director: Anne Williams [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)20 854 13130 Business Development Executive: Mike Reardon [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)1565 653283 Circulation: Berni Chetham [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)1565 653283 E uropean chemical output grew just 0.3 percent during 2015 compared with the previous year, according to the latest Cefic Chemicals Trends Report. Producer prices fell 4.7 percent year-on-year. Sales were estimated to be down 2.9 percent during January-December 2015, compared with 2014. Data for the fourth quarter of 2015 showed output just 0.6 percent up against the corresponding quarter the previous year, while EU chemicals prices plunged 5.1 percent. The EU net trade surplus was €38.4 billion during the first 10 months of the year, up by €2 billion, and capacity utilisation rose slightly during the fourth quarter and was close to its long-term average. It remained 2.8 percent below the postcrisis peak (Q1-2011). Consumer chemicals output generated a drop in output of about 1.6 percent in the fourth quarter compared to the previous year quarter. Petrochemicals fell 2.6 percent compared with the last quarter of 2014. The drop was partially offset by 4.3 percent growth in output of specialty chemicals. Basic inorganics grew by 1.4 percent. Polymers grew 2 percent during the same period. Overall, EU chemicals output for the 12 months was up just 0.3 percent compared to 2014. Total EU chemical sales dropped 3 percent during the first 11 months of 2015 compared with the same period the prior year. Sales in the fourth quarter were estimated to have declined by 2 percent, reaching the same level of sales in the second quarter of 2010. As for the EU net trade surplus of €38.4 billion the largest contributors were a group of other European countries – including Russia, Turkey and Switzerland – and the USA were by far the largest two. However, the EU chemicals sector recorded a trade deficit with India, China and Japan during the first 10 months of 2015. Taking together the three countries, the EU chemicals deficit reached © Ashley & Dumville Publishing Ltd Bulk Distributor is published by Ashley & Dumville Publishing Ltd Caledonian House, Tatton Street, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 6AG, United Kingdom www.bulk-distributor.com To advertise or contribute please email [email protected] or [email protected] FEATURES IN THE NEXT ISSUE Tank Containers China FIBCs EU producer prices and sales were down but the net trade surplus rose the value of €1.2 billion during Jan-Oct 2015. On the other hand, the trade surplus with Asia – excluding Japan and China – increased by €58 million to €6.16 billion. The EU’s net chemicals trade balance with China contracted by €578 million. The United States further increased its chemicals trade deficit with the EU by €3.0 billion to €7.55 billion during the ten-month period. Capacity utilisation reached a robust 82.2 percent in Q4, up from 81 percent in Q3. Capacity utilisation remains 2.8 percentage points below the post-crisis peak recorded in the first quarter of 2011, and only 0.9 percentage points below the long term average from 1995 to 2014. Sober year for German chemicals A turbulent business year in 2015 ended with sober realities for the German chemical-pharmaceutical industry, according to the latest quarterly report by the German chemical industry association Verband der Chemischen Industrie (VCI). All indicators of importance to the industry pointed downward at the end of the year; this held true for chemical production, producer prices and sales. Chemical business at home in Germany was adversely affected by the weak domestic demand, while weaker dynamics in China and in the USA made themselves felt in foreign trade. By contrast, in Europe – the most important market outside Germany – the chemical industry saw a minor plus. For 2016 the VCI forecasts an increase in chemical production by 1 percent. Chemical prices are projected to drop by 0.5 percent. Thus, in the current year chemical industry sales could rise slightly by 0.5 percent to €191 billion. Den Hartogh, Interbulk complete union I nterBulk and Den Hartogh officially joined forces on 9 March. As a result, InterBulk was delisted from the London Stock Exchange and is now part of the family-owned Den Hartogh. A statement said that the integration will create a stronger global organisation, and offer significant operational benefits to customers. The company will have a combined asset base of approximately 25,800 liquid, gas and dry bulk containers, 550 trucks and 400 road tankers, with 47 offices in 23 countries. We keep The Port of Antwerp is not your average transport partner. Every challenge you bring drives us to serve you even better. By constantly adapting to your needs we achieve faster distribution, smarter logistics, smoother customs, greener activities and clearer processes. Improved solutions that keep inspiring you. At the Port of Antwerp standing still is no option. Moving is. Challenge us at [email protected] Follow