Petrochemical News

PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (GC), a leading global chemical company, will become the first chemical producer to integrate U.S. imported ethane into its operations in Thailand as an alternative feedstock, enhancing cost efficiency, resilience, and sustainability. By leveraging existing infrastructure, this initiative secures a stable, long-term ethane supply with minimal investment, reinforcing GC’s competitiveness and long-term growth. This initiative aligns with GC’s Holistic Optimization strategy, ensuring long-term feedstock security, cost optimization, and strengthening Thailand’s continued leadership in the global chemical industry, while contributing to a balanced and mutually beneficial trade relationship between Thailand and the United States. GC is uniquely positioned to integrate ethane into its operations with minimal investment, leveraging its existing infrastructure at its facilities in Rayong, eliminating the need for costly upgrades and enhancing operatio...

LyondellBasell (LYB) and Covestro have jointly decided to permanently close the Propylene Oxide Styrene and Monomer (POSM) production unit (PO11) at the Maasvlakte site in the Netherlands . This decision comes after thorough and careful consideration and is driven by the continued pressure on Maasvlakte's profitability due to global overcapacities, a strong increase of imports from Asia and high costs of European production. Unfortunately, this situation is expected to continue, so longer-term profitable production is not anticipated. “While the decision to shut down the PO11 unit is difficult, we must ensure all assets within our portfolio are a long-term strategic fit,” said Aaron Ledet, executive vice-president, I&D and Supply Chain. “We are prioritizing our core assets which play a key role in our technology differentiation and circularity or provide attractive returns over the cost of capital. We take our obligations toward our employees, European employee reps, councils a...

LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) today announced an investment to expand propylene production capacity at its Channelview Complex near Houston.  Groundbreaking and construction are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2025, with a projected startup in late 2028. The unit will have an annual propylene production capacity of approximately 400 thousand metric tons, employ 750 people during peak construction and is expected to add 25 permanent jobs. “This capacity expansion strengthens our ability to meet increasing customer demand and improve our self-sufficiency as we grow and upgrade a core business line for LyondellBasell,” said Kim Foley, LYB executive vice president, Global Olefins & Polyolefins and Refining. “Additionally, it reduces our exposure to market volatility, which positions LYB to provide consistent returns for our shareholders.” The new metathesis unit will convert ethylene into propylene for use in the production of polypropylene and propylene oxide, which are buildi...