Brazil’s Braskem to start up PE specialty plant in Houston

According to media reports, Brazilian Braskem is readying to start up a second petrochemical plant in La Porte in Houston, Texas, after acquiring polypropylene plants from Sunoco and Dow in the same area in 2010-2011. This move will reportedly have positive contributions to the already growing petrochemical industry of the region and give the company a larger footprint in the country.

The plant is expected to be opened after the construction is completed in October, 2017, the reports revealed. With this plant, the company’s global business director said that Braskem will produce ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene for the first time. This is a stronger kind of polyethylene and used for more industrial purposes to compete with steel.

According to media reports, the new products will be sold mostly in the local market within the US as the global market for these products is currently very small at 200,000 tons/year. However, a limited amount will be exported to mainly Asia and other markets.