Companies Polymer Materials Petrochemicals

US technology-based group starts pilot plant for green aromatics production / Process converts non-food biomass into benzene, toluene and xylene

Acquisition of PetroLogistics for USD 2.1 bn / World's largest PDH plant processes shale gas

Agreement to acquire fellow Russian petrochemicals giant Sanors / Expecting significant oil and gas synergies

“Oleflex” technology selected for China propylene project

Chinese MDI joint venture with Huntsman to double output / Chongqing plant delayed

Spin-off of Performance Chemicals under review / Analysts see merger with Tronox as possible route

Butadiene expansion in Austria brought on stream

Ethane vessel order increased from four to six / Value of over EUR 1 bn / Grangemouth tank approved

Borouge 3 mega facility in Emirates ready for start-up / HDPE in Burghausen set to go offline in October

Lucite lifts force majeure on MMA in UK

CO2-to-polyols plant to start in 2016 / Output for mattresses / Converters show interest

Net profits jump in Q1 2014 on better performance / Borouge 3 starting up / Rebranding to reflect company transformation

Pilot production for PA 6.12 feedstock successful / US company plans commercial plant in Malaysia

New 40,000 t/y neopentylglycol plant with Sinopec at Nanjing / Meeting demand from Asian customers

"Chinaplas" exclusive: PIE speaks to Sibur managing director and head of Basic Polymers Sergey Komyshan / Sell-and-build strategy / Focus on integrated sites / Export share expected to rise / Ukraine crisis has no significant impact on operations

Ethylene projects shelved or delayed in response to pressure from cheap US shale gas / Projects with more than 4m t of C2 hanging in the air / Increasingly exploring options for coal-to-olefins

PA 6.6 jv Butachimie to be retroffited with new ADN technology / Resolution of ownership dispute

PA portfolio extended / Further investment in Asia-Pacific under consideration

Performance Plastics drives sales and earnings growth again in Q1 2014 / Margin expansion is “solid proof” of good portfolio management, CEO says / Investments and divestments on track

Environmental permit sought for new cracker in Louisiana / Captive use for PVC

Nanjing-based BASF-YPC joint venture commences acrylic acid and superabsorbent polymers production

Serbian polyolefin player has its back to the wall / Limited feedstock supply / In need of EUR 200m investment / Searching for a strategic partner

Ethane feedstock agreement for Ascent cracker and PE project in USA

Groundbreaking ceremonies held for 1.5m t/y Cedar Bayou ethane cracker / Ethylene largely for domestic consumption / Two 500,000 t/y PE plants part of USGC project

Start-up of new chlor-alkali joint venture in Texas / Facility replaces older unit