Aug 14 2009
Lyondell Chemical Company today announced that a propylene oxide / styrene monomer (PO/SM) unit at Channelview, Texas, will return to service in September due to increased demand for propylene oxide and its derivatives. The unit was temporarily idled in December 2008 due to declining market and economic conditions.
"Market conditions for propylene oxide are improving and we have the available capacity to support the increased demand," said Patrick Quarles, Senior Vice President of Intermediates & Derivatives for LyondellBasell. "Having three world-scale PO facilities in North America and three in Europe provides us with considerable flexibility. We are committed to remaining a leading supplier of propylene oxide and derivatives including propylene glycol."
LyondellBasell, through its global businesses and joint ventures, has the capacity to produce nearly 4.6 billion pounds per year of propylene oxide at facilities in the United States, Europe and Asia. These facilities include two units at Channelview, as well as propylene oxide units at Pasadena, Texas, at Botlek and Maasvlakte, Netherlands, Fos-sur-Mer, France, and a joint venture in Japan. In addition, an indirect subsidiary of LyondellBasell is a partner in a joint venture site in Ningbo, China, currently under construction.