The bisphenol-A (BPA) industry is expected to be more competitive in 2011 with addition of 475,000 tpa new capacity. As a result BPS prices will face downward pressure in Q1-2011 as per Platts.
Over half of this (57%) will come from Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Company's new phenolics complex at Jubail Industrial City, with capacity to produce 270,000 tpa BPA, expected to begin operations in the final week of December. Most of Saudi Kayan's BPA output will feed its 260,000 tpa polycarbonate plant within the same complex.
The balance 43% of new BPA capacity will come onstream in Asia:
Thailand's PTT Phenol expects to begin commercial operations at its new 150,000 tpa BPA plant at Map Ta Phut, Rayong province in Q1-2011.
Bayer Thai plans to increase BPA production capacity by 24% and polycarbonate by 10% by the end of 2010 at Map Ta Phut, increasing BPA production to 280,000 tpa and polycarbonate production to 275,000 tpa.
BPA, derived from phenol and acetone. is a feedstock for making polycarbonate.
15-Dec-10 
