MOSCOW (MRC) -- LyondellBasell, one of the major petrochemical global producers and the world's largest maker of polypropylene, and Oiltanking Stolthaven Antwerp has announced that Lyondell Chemie Nederland BV and Oiltanking Stolthaven Antwerp NV have signed a 10-year agreement for the storage and handling of Glacial Acetic Acid (GAA) and Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) in Antwerp, reported LyondellBasell on its site.
As part of the agreement, Oiltanking Stolthaven will invest in new stainless steel storage capacity and rail loading infrastructure at Antwerp.
"GAA and VAM are industrial chemicals that are in high demand. Europe has an increased need for these imports. This agreement allows us to solidify our commitment to the European acetyls market and continue to serve our customers' needs far into the future," said Justin Hommes, Marketing Manager, Acetyls and BDO-Derivatives of LyondellBasell in Europe.
GAA is one of the world's most essential intermediate chemicals. It is used to manufacture VAM, purified terephthalic acid (PTA), acetic anhydride, monochloroacetic acid and acetate esters.
VAM is a chemical building block used to manufacture a wide variety of industrial and consumer products such as polyvinyl acetate for paints, adhesives and coatings. Polyvinyl alcohol is also used to make adhesives, coatings and water soluble packaging films. Polyvinyl acetals are used to produce insulation for magnetic wire, interlayers for safety glass, wash primers and coatings. Other related applications of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers include flexible films, coatings, adhesives, moldings and insulation and packaging.
As MRC informed previously, LyondellBasell has just announced the opening of the 70,000-square-foot Houston Technology Center to develop process technologies and chemical catalysts for its Intermediates and Derivatives business. Research and development activities at the facility will focus on improving catalyst and process technologies to reduce manufacturing costs, improve yields, and lower capital costs of new construction for LyondellBasell's global chemicals business. Proprietary technologies supported at the site include propylene oxide, butanediol and derivatives, glycols and glycol ethers, acetyls, olefins and solvents.
Headquartered in the Netherlands, LyondellBasell is one of the world's largest plastics, chemical and refining companies. LyondellBasell manufactures products at 58 sites in 18 countries. The company produces chemicals, fuels, and polymers used for packaging, clean fuels, durable textiles, medical applications, construction materials, and automotive parts. LyondellBasell is also a leading licensor of polypropylene and polyethylene technologies. The more than 250 polyolefin process licenses granted by LyondellBasell are twice that of any other polyolefin technology licensor. LyondellBasell is also a global supplier of GAA and VAM. Its customers are served by a global storage and distribution network that spans North America, Europe and Asia.
MRC