Feiplastic ’19: Brazil’s Videolar-Innova increases styrene capacity

SAO PAULO (ICIS)–Videolar-Innova has finished works in its styrene monomer plant in Triunfo, increasing production capacity to 420,000 tonnes/year, according to an executive at the Brazilian polystyrene (PS) producer.

Clarissa Westphalen, Videolar-Innova’s marketing manager, said the expansion works, which started in February, were originally scheduled to last 30 days, although it took about 50 days.

The plant is now running, she said.

Westphalen was speaking on the sidelines of this year’s Feiplastic.

During the period the plant was down, the company was using existing styrene inventories complemented by styrene obtained from competitor Unigel.

With shortages of styrene, PS exports from all producers declined and all production was targeted to the domestic market.

Exports to regional countries have resumed and will be gradually increasing.

When Unigel and Videolar Innova operate their plants at normal capacity, Brazil’s domestic market is slightly oversupplied, but increased production of expandable polystyrene (EPS) by Videolar-Innova could help balance the market, a source at Unigel said to ICIS.

The optimism about the new Brazilian government is wearing off after GDP growth projections were downgraded to less than 2% for 2019, after initially being projected around 2.5%.

General purpose PS (GPPS) is used in food packaging, disposable utensils, cutleries and various other consumer items.

High impact PS (HIPS) is used in consumer electronics and toys while extruded PS is used in the construction industry as insulation.

Feira Internacional do Plastico (Feiplastic) takes place on 22-26 April in Sao Paulo, Brazil.