Sipchem, Hanwha form Wire and Cable Polymers Compounding JV Saudi Inernational Petrochemical Co. (Sipchem; Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia) and HanwhaChemical (Seoul) have signed an agreement to create an equally owned joint venture to produce special compounds for the wire & cable industry. The company, Wire & Cable Polymers Compounding Company, will invest SR225 million ($60 […]

Polymer-Chemie launches expansion of Russian plant German plastics compounder Polymer-Chemie has formally launched the first expansion phase of the compounding plant of Tula Polymer, its Russian production subsidiary in Russia’s Tula region. Stage one of the project was formally inaugurated in the presence of top company, regional and municipal officials on 8 April. The compounder […]

ExxonMobil, Sabic choose new JV site Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (Sabic) and ExxonMobil Chemical Co. have selected Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia, as the location of a new joint venture plant that will include plastic production. In a March 1 news release, officials with Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-based Sabic and ExxonMobil of Houston said they selected the site […]

Honam Petrochemical Corp to establish PP manufacturing facility in Auburn Honam Petrochemical Corporation is to establish a manufacturing facility for polypropylene resin materials in Auburn, its first US manufacturing operation. HPM Alabama Corporation will initially invest an estimated US$9.25 million dollars and create 30 jobs by next year. HPM will also collaborate with Auburn University […]

Former Dow scientist convicted of selling trade secrets A former Dow Chemical Co. scientist has been convicted of selling information on production of Tyrin-brand chlorinated polyethylene to Chinese firms. Wen Chyu Liu – also known as David Liou – was convicted by a jury in U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge on Feb, 6 and […]

AMERICAS Dow to complete closure of two VCM units this year Dow Chemical will close two vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) production lines this year. Dow will shut down a production unit at its Freeport, TX VCM facility in the first quarter of 2011. A second VCM unit at the company’s Plaquemine, LA complex will cease […]

The current pursuit of US gas export terminals contrasts sharply with the situation five years prior, when oil and gas majors actively developed LNG import facilities. This shift is largely attributable to the shale gas revolution.

Hyundai awarded US$169 mln project to build XLPE unit by Borouge Borouge has awarded a US$169 mln contract to Hyundai Engineering and Construction of South Korea to build a cross-linkable polyethylene (XLPE) unit at its petrochemical plant in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi. With an annual capacity of 80,000 tonnes, the unit is an added-value complement to […]

AMERICAS Mexichem buying AlphaGary for USD 300 million Mexichem SAB de CV is paying USD 300 million to buy compounder AlphaGary Corp. from Rockwood Holdings Inc. AlphaGary is the largest division in Rockwood’s specialty compounds segment and it develops high-technology compounds for niche applications. It has multinational clients in such sectors as communications cables, disposable […]

While renewable energy costs decline, some developing nations prioritize energy access over economic considerations.

Today the Wall Street Journal published a great piece on efforts by leading automakers such as Honda, Nissan, and General Motors to develop cheap cars for China’s millions.  These auto industry leaders are all collaborating with local, often state-owned Chinese companies to develop and produce cheap, small cars costing anywhere from $4,000 to $14,000.  While pessimists […]

AMERICAS Sasol to build a co-monomer plant at Lake Charles Sasol will build the world’s first commercial ethylene tetramerization unit designed to produce more than 100 KTA of combined octene-1 and hexene-1 co-monomers at its Lake Charles, LA complex. The unit will use Sasol’s proprietary technology converting ethylene to octene-1 and hexene-1. Construction is scheduled […]