Recent Stories
Speaker: India needs massive growth in ethylene capacity

India needs to add a world-scale ethylene complex turning out 2.64 billion pounds (1.2 million metric tons) per year, every year, to meet rising demand for plastics, based on estimated annual economic growth of 7 percent, a senior Indian petrochemical industry executive said at a recent conference.
Coal-to-chemicals grows in China, technology exports considered

China's use of coal-to-chemicals technology is poised to become a significant part of the country's feedstock mix, with analysts at a recent industry conference also raising the possibility that the technology could be exported.
Acquisition gives Sunningdale an injection molding footprint in India

SINGAPORE — Injection molder and toolmaker Sunningdale Tech Ltd. on Sept. 3 announced plans to buy First Engineering Ltd., a manufacturer of precision molds and engineering components, for the automotive, consumer/information technology and health care/medical device sectors.
Indorama planning $5.9 billion in capital spending

Bangkok-based polyester manufacturer Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd. plans to invest about $5.9 billion over 2014-2018 in capital projects. IVL expects the projects to result in 15 million tons of new product capacity.
Malaysian packaging firm SCGM investing $3 million in new production

Malaysian disposable packaging manufacturer SCGM Bhd is investing 10 million ringgits ($3.12 million) in a plastic cup manufacturing line.
Utility rate hike worries Malaysian plastics group

The Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA) has expressed its concern over the 16.85 percent increase in the electricity tariff for the industrial category, which was implemented Jan. 1.
Indorama joint venture building aromatics plant

BANGKOK — Thailand's Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd. and Abu Dhabi National Chemicals Co. will form a joint venture to build an aromatics plant in Abu Dhabi.
Indorama to mothball United Kingdom PET plant

BANGKOK — Thailand's Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd. is mothballing its PET plant at Indorama Polymers Workington Ltd. in the United Kingdom as part of a plan to restructure its European businesses.
Feedstock competition may drive Japan's chemical industry to niche products

SINGAPORE — Japan's chemical industry faces a tough feedstock competition and will have to intensify its focus on specialty and niche products, both for the domestic and export markets, say industry official at an industry conference in Singapore.
Management group buys Balda's injection operation in Malaysia

IPOH, MALAYSIA — The Malaysian management of Balda AG's injection molding plant in Ipoh, Malaysia, have purchased the plant's production and services, effective March 31.
Thailand bag maker DPAC setting up plant in Myanmar

BANGKOK — Thailand's DPAC International Corp. plans to set up a plastics bag manufacturing facility in Yangon, Myanmar. Some 50 percent of the plant's out put will be exported — mostly to Japan.
Sunningdale more optimistic about US and China markets

SINGAPORE — Sunningdale Tech Ltd. said the United States and Chinese markets seem more positive this year compared to last year, but the company remains concerned about uncertainty in Europe.
Petronas and BASF terminate joint venture

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA -- Malaysian national oil corporation Petronas, said it has mutually agreed to terminate an agreement with BASF SE to form a specialty chemicals venture.
Indorama plans PET site
Indorama planning more US PET capacity

BANGKOK (Nov. 16, 12:45 p.m. ET) &— More PET resin capacity is headed to North America. Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd. plans to build a 1.2 billion-pound capacity plant at an undisclosed location in the U.S. The Bangkok-based firm's board of directors approved the new plant Nov. 14.