Polymers
LyondellBasell to shut two polypropylene lines in Germany
LyondellBasell will shut down two polypropylene (PP) lines in Wesseling, Germany, by mid-2012, seeking to reduce costs and maintain its competitive position.
Celanese finalizes deal to acquire polyvinyl acetate lines from Ashland
US-based specialty materials producer Celanese completed its acquisition of certain polyvinyl acetate assets from Ashland. The deal was first announced in November, and financial terms were not disclosed.
Apply new enhanced tubes to optimize heat transfer in LNG trains
New developments for heat exchangers reduce capital and plot size of key equipment
HP Construction: Asia Pacific
Davy Process Technology Ltd., a Johnson Matthey company, and The Dow Chemical Co.’s Oxygenated Solvents Business, have announced that Wison (Nanjing) Clean Energy Co., Ltd., has selected LP Oxo S..
Dow, Aksa form carbon fiber venture in Turkey
Dow Chemical and Turkey-based Aksa on Tuesday formed a joint venture to manufacture and commercialize carbon fiber and derivatives. Total investment in the project, including third-party investments, is expected to reach $1 billion in five years and create up to 1,000 employment opportunities, the companies said.
Coca-Cola plans to have 100% plant-based bottle
Coca-Cola expects to have a plastic bottle made entirely from plant-based materials ready for commercial use in the next few years as it looks to reduce its reliance on petroleum used in traditional plastic bottles. Coca-Cola believes it can have the plant-based bottle developed by 2015 so that, by 2020, all of its plastic bottles can be using the new material.
Chevron Phillips Chemical plans new Texas ethane cracker for 2017
The company will build a world-scale cracker at its existing Cedar Bayou complex as well as two nearby polyethylene units.
Momentive, UPC form China phenolic resin venture
Momentive Specialty Chemicals and UPC Technology Corp. have now signed a definitive joint venture agreement creating Momentive Union Specialty Chemicals, a venture that will build manufacturing capacity in China to produce specialty phenolic resins.
DuPont cuts profit outlook on weakening demand
US-based chemicals major DuPont on Friday lowered its 2011 full-year earnings outlook to a range of $3.87-$3.95 earnings per share (EPS), excluding significant items – down from a forecast last month of $3.97-$4.05/share. The projected earnings still represent an 18% to 20% increase from 2010.
Saudi Polymers JV to start up integrated petchem complex in Q1 2012
Saudi Polymers Co. (SPCo) – the joint venture comprised of Chevron Phillips Chemical and partner National Petrochemical Co. – has completed construction of its petrochemical manufacturing facility located in Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia. Commercial production is expected in the first quarter of 2012.

- Sumitomo Chemical achieves scale-up of its process for producing propylene directly from ethanol 8/20
- EcoCortec, Jakob Schober GmbH awarded sustainability award for closed-loop circular films solution 8/20
- Addverb reinvents its factory automation development with Siemens Xcelerator 8/20
- Sanctions-hit Indian refiner Nayara turns to ‘dark fleet’ 8/20
- EIA: Crude and gasoline inventories fall, distillates rise 8/20
- Czech refinery outage forces Orlen Unipetrol to seek state help to meet diesel demand 8/20