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Polymers

NOVA Chemicals to build new polyethylene lines in Canada, expand ethylene output

As a part of a strategy to capitalize on emerging feedstock opportunities and growing North American demand, NOVA Chemicals said it has begun feasibility and engineering work for the construction of two new polyethylene assets to be located at its sites in Alberta and Ontario.

Specialty chem firm Momentive plans regional hub, R&D center for India

Momentive Performance Materials and Momentive Specialty Chemicals will open a new regional business headquarters and state of the art Global Research and Development Centre in Bangalore, India, the company said on Wednesday.

Westlake shuts PVC pipe plant amid excess supply

Westlake Chemical said on Thursday that its subsidiary North American Pipe has shut down its polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe production facility in Springfield, Ky., in an effort to reduce costs and optimize production operations amid excess capacity in the PVC pipe market.

AkzoNobel plans €140mn expansion, upgrade to German chlorine plant

AkzoNobel will invest €140 million to convert its chlorine plant in Frankfurt, Germany, to state-of-the-art membrane electrolysis technology, the company said on Monday.

IEA sees increasing natgas use, warns of high oil prices curbing demand

Annual growth in oil demand could average 1.2 million barrels per day (mb/d) between now and 2016, while natural gas demand could grow by around 500 billion cubic meters – around 2.5 times Russia’s current gas exports – during the same time, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) medium-term oil and gas market outlook.

SABIC plans new carbon fiber plant in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) announced on Wednesday that it signed a technology agreement with Montefibre S.p.A (Montefibre) granting SABIC and its affiliates an extensive international licence on carbon fiber technology developed by Montefibre. SABIC said it will first use the technology for a new carbon fiber plant to be built in Saudi Arabia.

Tessenderlo to sell Europe PVC, chlor-alkali units to INEOS for €110mn

Tessenderlo will sell its polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and chlor-alkali businesses to INEOS subsidiary Kerling for €110mn, the companies said on Tuesday.

BASF raises compounding capacity for engineering plastics in Europe

BASF is increasing its compounding capacities for the engineering plastics Ultramid (polyamide) and Ultradur (PBT: polybutylene terephthalate) at its Schwarzheide site in eastern Germany by 10,000 metric tons/year, the company said on Tuesday.

Dow opens water technology R&D center in Spain

Dow Water & Process Solutions, a business unit of Dow Chemical, celebrated the grand opening of its Global Water Technology Development Center in a ceremony at the Dow facilities in Tarragona, Spain.

Momentive begins expansion of specialty ceramics plant in Ohio

Momentive Performance Materials has begun expanding specialty ceramic powders production at its manufacturing facility in Strongsville, Ohio, the company said on Friday.