Petrochemical News

Bayport Polymers LLC (“Baystar”), a 50/50 joint venture (JV) between Borealis and TotalEnergies, today announces the start-up of commercial operations of a new ethane cracker with an annual production capacity of one million tons of ethylene. This almost USD 2 billion project built on the site of the TotalEnergies Refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, represents 14 million hours worked with more than 2,500 workers at peak construction. The ethylene produced by the cracker will be used as feedstock to supply Baystar’s existing polyethylene (PE) units, as well as a new Borstar® technology polyethylene unit currently under construction in Bayport, Texas. “I am excited to see the start-up of this new ethane cracker, an important milestone for us as we are expanding our global footprint through Baystar. We are pleased to bring Borealis’ proprietary Borstar® technology to North America for the first time, allowing Baystar to produce enhanced polyethylene products for the most demanding applicatio

INEOS and SINOPEC have today signed three back-to-back deals worth a combined value of $7bn. These landmark agreements are expected to generate a combined turnover of around $10bn from 7 million tonnes of capacity. The three agreements will significantly reshape INEOS’ petrochemicals production and technology in China. Firstly, INEOS has agreed to acquire a 50% stake in Shanghai SECCO Petrochemical Company Limited (“SECCO”), a subsidiary of China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (SINOPEC). SECCO currently has a production capacity of 4.2 million tonnes of petrochemicals - including ethylene, propylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, styrene, polystyrene, acrylonitrile, butadiene, benzene and toluene. It is a 200-hectare facility, located inside the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park. Secondly, INEOS has agreed to establish a new 50:50 joint venture with SINOPEC with the intent to build production capacity of up to 1.2 million tonnes of ABS, to meet rapidly growing demand in China.