Industry: Specialty chemicals

AMERICAS ExxonMobil Chemical introduces new Vistamaxx grade ExxonMobil Chemical is introducing a new grade to its Vistamaxx portfolio. The new grade, Vistamaxx 3588FL provides excellent seal performance in cast PP and heat-sealable BOPP films designed for fast and reliable packaging operations. Comments: Exxon has introduced the new grade to cater to the fast-growing general packaging […]

AMERICAS Formosa considering a new PE unit in Point Comfort Formosa Plastics is considering the construction of a PE unit at its Point Comfort complex in Texas. This will be the second new PE plant to be built at Point Comfort. Construction on the new PE unit is expected to begin in the last quarter […]

AMERICAS  North Dakota to have new PE Facility Badlands NGL is developing a new polyethylene facility in North Dakota with an investment of about USD 4 billion. This facility will use North Dakota’s natural gas liquid-sourced ethane gas coming out of Williston Basin as a byproduct of oil production. Badlands is working with Tecnicas Reunidas […]

AMERICAS  ExxonMobil Chemical divests its stake in Univation Technologies ExxonMobil Chemical has divested its stake in Univation Technologies, a PE licensing joint venture with Dow Chemical. Univation Technologies will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dow Chemical. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2014 and is subject to regulatory approval. Comments: Univation […]

AMERICAS  Borealis to expand in South America Borealis is expanding its activity in its plant at Itatiba, Brazil. The expansion project includes the construction of two PP compounding extruders, besides the improvement of plant facilities. All the improvements along with the expanded PP compounding extruders are expected to be online by the fourth quarter of […]

AMERICAS  Sinopec licenses PP technology to US plant Sinopec will be licensing its gas-phase PP continuous pre-polymerization technology to Formosa Plastics in the USA. The technology has been licensed to four plants in China and this is the first license in the USA. Comments: Sinopec having licensed its PP technology to Formosa in the US, […]

AMERICAS  Mexichem acquires HDPE pipe and conduit producer  Mexichem will be acquiring Dura-Line for about USD 630 million. Dura-Line manufactures HDPE conduit, duct, and pressure-pipe products for telecom and data communications, energy, and infrastructure industries. Comments: Dura-Line is one of the largest plastic pipe manufacturers in the US. The company has a wide regional presence […]

AMERICAS  CB&I to market Versalis’ LDPE and EVA technologies in North America  Versalis and CB&I have signed an agreement through which CB&I will market and provide Engineering services for Versalis’ EVA and LDPE technology plants in North America. CB&I will offer both tubular and autoclave high-pressure processes. Comments: Versalis, a subsidiary of Italy-based Eni S.p.A, […]

AMERICAS  CPChem to go ahead with alpha olefins expansion  CPChem plans to begin a 100 KT expansion of its normal alpha-olefins plant at Cedar Bayou in Texas. CPChem has obtained the approval of its board and the required environmental permits. Comments: The expansion of the alpha-olefins plant further reflects CPChem’s strategy to take advantage of […]

AMERICAS   CPChem begins construction of PE plants   Chevron Phillips Chemical has broken ground for the construction of 500 KTA PE plant in Old Ocean, TX. This is a part of Chevron Phillips Chemical’s USD 6 billion US Gulf Coast Petrochemicals Project which includes a 1,500 KTA ethane cracker at Cedar Bayou, Baytown, TX. […]

AMERICAS   Sasol and Ineos to move forward with HDPE JV   Sasol and Ineos will be proceeding with a 50-50 JV for the manufacture of bimodal HDPE at Ineos’ manufacturing site in LaPorte, TX. The JV will construct a 470 KTA HDPE plant which is expected to begin operations in 2016. The plant will […]

AMERICAS   Flint Hills Resources to acquire PetroLogistics   Flint Hills Resources will be acquiring propylene producer PetroLogistics for USD 2.1 billion. PetroLogisticsis a major producer of propylene and operates the only propylene dehydrogenation facility currently operating in the United States. The propylene production facility has a capacity of about 725 KTA. Comments: As a […]