Foreign PE Investments Underway in U.S.
Taking advantage of U.S. shale-gas economics.
Over the next two years, new PE plants will be brought on stream by foreign companies who have sought to benefit from U.S. shale-gas economics. They are South Africa’s Sasol Chemical and Thailand’s PTT.
Sasol Chemicals North America and Ineos Olefins & Polymers USA, both Houston-based, will see their 50/50 joint venture come to fruition in the third quarter. The new plant will be operated by Ineos at LaPorte, Tex., to produce 940-million lb/yr of bimodal HDPE using Ineos’ Innovene S process.
PTTGC America LLC, a newly formed affiliate of PTT, Thailand’s largest petrochemical and refining company, recently selected Ineos’ Innovene S HDPE process for a new complex near Dilles Bottom, Ohio. Included in this project is a 2-billion lb/yr ethylene cracker and a 1.4-billion lb/yr HDPE plant with two lines that will produce a wide range of PE grades to serve growing demand in U.S. and export markets. Startup dates are not yet available but are likely to occur closer to 2017.
Related Content
-
The Fundamentals of Polyethylene – Part 2: Density and Molecular Weight
PE properties can be adjusted either by changing the molecular weight or by altering the density. While this increases the possible combinations of properties, it also requires that the specification for the material be precise.
-
Improving Twin-Screw Compounding of Reinforced Polyolefins
Compounders face a number of processing challenges when incorporating a high loading of low-bulk-density mineral filler into polyolefins. Here are some possible solutions.
-
Commodity Resin Prices Flat to Lower
Major price correction looms for PP, and lower prices are projected for PE, PS, PVC and PET.
