Polyolefin supplier Borealis AG has completed a restructuring and 45 million euros ($48.8 million) of expansion of its polypropylene compounding operations in Brazil, adding capacity at a plant in Itatiba to supply materials to South America's automotive and appliance industries.
Vienna, Austria-based Borealis said the restructuring included transferring some production from a facility in Triunfo, Brazil, to the upgraded Itatiba plant. It said it lacked space to expand in its existing petrochemical complex in Triunfo and that Itatiba, near Sao Paolo, was closer to most of its Brazilian customers.
Borealis said the expansion will boost capacity beyond the 60,000 metric tons per year it had at both plants, but it declined to provide details.
The company, which is a joint venture of the International Petroleum Investment Company of Abu Dhabi (64 percent) and by European energy group OMV AG, said the expansion includes another production plant in Itatiba and utility and water system upgrades.
It said production started up in late 2014. The Brazilian operations, which employ 150, are part of Borealis Brasil SA, a joint venture of Borealis and Brazilian petrochemical firm Braskem.