Braskem, the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas and leading producer of biopolymers in the world, has successfully launched commercial production at its newest, world-class polypropylene (PP) production line located in La Porte, Texas. The new line further strengthens Braskem’s position as North America’s premier polypropylene producer.
Braskem’s new line has a production capacity of over 450 kilotons (kt) or 1 billion pounds per year and has the capability to produce the entire PP portfolio including a broad range of products including homopolymer, impact copolymer and random copolymers. Construction began October 2017 with the final phase of mechanical construction completed in June 2020. The launch of commercial production follows the successful completion of the commissioning process as well as the achievement of Braskem’s high product quality assurance protocols.
“The launch of commercial production at our new world class PP production line in La Porte clearly affirms Braskem’s position as the North American PP market leader. Our investment of $750 million in the largest PP production line in the Americas, and the first new PP plant in North America since 2008, reflects our enduring commitment to meeting the needs of our clients today and for the long-term. With the upcoming launch of our new Global Export Hub in Charleston, South Carolina, we’ll significantly increase our ability to serve clients throughout North America, South America, Europe, and Asia with our newly expanded US production capability,” said Braskem America CEO Mark Nikolich.
“The startup of our new production line comes at a time when the North American PP industry needs it most. The market has adapted to the COVID pandemic and demand in North America has recovered to pre-COVID levels. This demand, coupled with recent operating challenges in the industry, has created a situation where clients in North America need our support. We are excited to bring the new production capability to clients not only in North America, but also to international clients,” commented Alexandre Elias, vice president-Polypropylene North America.
In June of 2020 Braskem America announced the development of its new Global Export Hub Facility in Charleston, South Carolina to better serve clients internationally from the US market. The new Global Export Hub facility will provide packaging, warehousing and export shipping services to support Braskem’s US PP production facilities. With the design and development phase well underway, the new Global Export Hub is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2020 and will have a capacity to support export shipments of up to 450 million pounds (204 kt) of PP and specialty polymers annually to Braskem customers worldwide.
Further, to support the sustainable use of PP through the development of, and investment in, the Circular Economy, Braskem America recently became a founding member and funding partner of the Polypropylene Recycling Coalition, with a primary focus on increasing US PP recovery and reuse.
