Expansions: SCG to invest US$22 mn in BOPET project in Vietnam; Sabic to up capacity of polyolefin materials in South Korea

Thailand-based conglomerate Siam Cement Group (SCG) is to invest in a US$22.7 million project to produce biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET) in Vietnam. The project will be undertaken by AJ Plast (Vietnam) Co Ltd, a 45:55 joint venture between SCG subsidiary SCG Chemicals and Thailand-listed flexible packaging producer AJ Plast.

The BOPET project, first announced in 2020, is expected to start commercial production in the first half of 2024.

The two companies also have an ongoing US$19 million biaxially oriented polypropylene film (BOPP) project in Vietnam slated for commercialisation in the first half of 2023.

SCG says that the BOPP and BOPET projects reaffirm its ongoing strategic investment and commitment in Vietnam, “particularly value-added product designed to meet the growing consumer demand by providing raw material to serve the flexible packaging sector”.

In other news, chemical industry firm Sabic says that its Sabic SK Nexlene Company (SSNC) joint venture with SK Geo Centric (formerly SK Global Chemicals) in South Korea will expand the capacity of its plant in Ulsan for production of advanced material solutions using Nexlene technology. The plant, operated by Korea Nexlene Company (KNC), supports the production of Sabic’s broad portfolio of Cohere metallocene polyolefin plastomers (POP), Supeer metallocene linear low density polyethylenes (mLLDPE) and Fortify polyolefin elastomers (POE).

The capacity expansion will become operational in the second quarter of 2024 to meet a growing demand for Nexlene-based polyolefin solutions in several differentiated high-end market segments. Target applications include encapsulant film for use in photovoltaics, enabling energy transition, as well as innovations in new mobility, lighter weight & resilient footwear applications and enhanced packaging solutions to reduce food wastage.

The Nexlene technology combines a bimodal solution process with a proprietary metallocene catalyst to yield ethylene copolymers with tailored molecular weight distribution and modality, says Sabic.

Sami Al-Osaimi, Vice President of PE & Sales, Sabic, and Board Chairman for SSNC said, “We have identified a strong trend towards customized and high-performance polyolefins, especially metallocene polyethylene materials, in several important new technology markets.” He added, “The KNC plant capacity increase will provide the operational efficiency to boost the growth of these Nexlene-based materials.”

(PRA)

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