Industry: Commodity plastics

AMERICAS Axiall partners with Lotte for a cracker Axiall and Lotte Chemical have signed a preliminary agreement for a 50/50 joint venture for the construction of a 1,000 KTA ethane cracker in Louisiana. The cracker, which would be fed by shale gas, could begin operations in 2018, subject to the project approval by the companies’ […]

AMERICAS Kraton Performance Polymers to merge with SB copolymers unit of LCY Chemical Corp Kraton Performance Polymers Inc. is merging with the styrenic block copolymers business of LCY Chemical Corp to create a new materials firm, which will have annual sales of over USD 2 billion. LCY is the third largest SBC producer with plants […]

AMERICAS Nova starts petrochemical utilization of Marcellus shale NOVA Chemicals has started the consumption of ethane sourced from Marcellus Shale Basin at its Corunna, Ontario cracker. NOVA initiated the consumption of the new feedstock in late December 2013, as a part of the project to revamp its Corunna, Ontario cracker to utilize up to 100% […]

ADI Analytics has launched a multi-client study on bio-based chemical start-ups, many of which are evolving from biofuel technologies. The study benchmarks their technologies, economics, market potential, and competitive landscape, offering strategic insights for investors and stakeholders navigating this rapidly growing space. Specific objectives include the following: We welcome you to join this study. As […]

Süd-Chemie launches improved PDH catalyst for Catofin technology Süd-Chemie, a Clariant subsidiary, says that its “breakthrough” catalyst used in the Lummus Catofin propane dehydrogenation (PDH) technology has been successful in delivering a significant increase in propylene selectivity, while simultaneously reducing energy consumption. The new catalyst, introduced just more than a year ago, has delivered a […]

Coke and AT&T using more PlantBottle resin All conventional 500ml PET bottles for Coca-Cola, Coke Zero and diet Coke sold in the United Kingdom are being replaced by the company’s PlantBottle, which includes materials partly sourced from plants, according to Coca-Cola Great-Britain. In addition, AT&T Inc. announced Sept. 12 that it will use PlantBottle resin […]

Braskem buying Dow’s PP business Brazilian plastics giant Braskem SA has made another big move in the polypropylene market, this time acquiring the PP business of Dow Chemical Co. For $323 million. The deal makes São Paulo-based Braskem the largest PP producer in North America, and includes two U.S. plants and two in Germany, with […]

AMERICAS Nova selling its stake in Ineos Nova joint venture Nova Chemical Corporation has sold its 50 percent stake in the Ineos-Nova polystyrene joint venture to its partner Ineos Group for an undisclosed price. Nova confirmed the sale on November 12 in its third-quarter earnings report. Nova and Ineos already had a similar JV in […]

AMERICAS LyondellBasell’s profit was boosted by strong polyolefin demand LyondellBasell announced a third-quarter net income of USD 467 million, compared to a net loss of USD 651 million in the third quarter of 2009, driven by increased demand for polyolefins and higher selling prices for ethylene. Globally, LBI’s olefins and polyolefins results have been approximately […]

AMERICAS P&G to use Braskem’s bioplastic Procter & Gamble (P&G) will use sugarcane based HDPE made by Braskem in some of its packaging for its Pantene Pro-V®, COVERGIRL® and MaxFactor® brands. Pilot products will be introduced globally over the next two years with first commercial products expected on the shelf in 2011. The products will […]

AMERICAS LyondellBasell Updates LyondellBasell could emerge from Chapter 11 LyondellBasell Industries (LBI) has reached an agreement that could help it emerge from Chapter 11. LBI’s unsecured creditors swapped sides after being offered an extra USD150 million worth of shares. Unsecured creditors, including bondholders, are estimated to hold around USD 3 billion of debt and had […]

Basell to acquire Solvay Engineered Polymers, Inc. Basell, the global leader in advanced polyolefins, announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with Solvay by which Basell will acquire Solvay Engineered Polymers, Inc., a leading supplier of polypropylene compounds in North America. The transaction is subject to relevant regulatory approvals and is expected to close […]