SABIC to decide on Turkey PS expansion end-2007

22 March 2007 08:44  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) expects to complete by the end of 2007 a study on the possible expansion of its 40,000 tonne/year joint venture polystyrene (PS) plant at Adana, Turkey, a source close to the petrochemical major said late on Wednesday. 

“Nothing has been decided yet on whether to expand the plant, as also the scale of the possible expansion,” the source said.

SABIC acquired a 70% stake in the PS plant from Baser Petrokimya last December, with Baser holding the balance 30%, and the joint venture will officially take off on 1 April this year, the source said.

SABIC would be supplying styrene feedstock to the joint venture plant from its petrochemical complex at Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia, and marketing supply from the Turkish plant, he said.

Turkey imports around 200,000 tonnes/year of PS, mainly from Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Demand for PS in Turkey is expected to grow by 10% in 2007 from 2006, much higher than the 3% demand growth forecast for the Middle East, traders and suppliers said. 

PS consumption in Turkey, where Baser Petrokimya is currently the sole PS producer, is estimated at 240,000 tonnes last year, traders and suppliers said.

SABIC currently produces 175,000 tonnes/year of PS at its Al Jubail plant.

By: Prema Viswanathan
+65 6780 4359

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