MOSCOW (MRC) -- Braskem, Brazilian petrochemicals producer, has partly stopped operations at its Sao Paulo complex, reported S&P Global with reference to the company's statement.
Thus, the chemicals and polyethylene (PE) units in the complex were shut on 5 April for a 51-day planned maintenance, Braskem said.
The work includes modifying the steam-based turbines in one of the chemical plants to allow for the use of high performance electric motors. Braskem warned there might be some flaring during the first and last days of the maintenance.
The company said it has planned an increase in its inventory levels so the supply chain will not be affected by the maintenance.
As MRC informed before, Braskem's 450,000 mt/year polypropylene (PP) plant in LaPorte, Texas, along the Houston Ship Channel completed its initial commercial production on 10 September, 2020. "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 polypropylene market leader," Braskem America CEO Mark Nikolich said in a statement. With a USD750 million investment, the new PP plant's construction started in October 2017 and was completed in June, 2020.
According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 241,030 tonnes in January 2021 versus 217,890 tonnes a year earlier. Only shipments of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market reached 141,870 tonnes in January 2021 versus 123,520 tonnes a year earlier. Supply of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased.
Braskem S.A. produces petrochemicals and generates electricity. The Company produces ethylene, propylene, benzene, toluene, xylenes, butadiene, butene, isoprene, dicyclopentediene, MTBE, caprolactam, ammonium sulfate, cyclohexene, polyethylene theraphtalat, polyethylene, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
MRC