BASF petrochem division sales for Q2 rise 9% on Port Arthur cracker expansion

25-Jul-14

Sales in the petrochemical division of German chemical company BASF in the second quarter of the year grew 9% to Eur2.019 bln, driven by the expansion of its cracker in Port Arthur, Texas, the company said Thursday, as reported in Platts. BASF Total Petrochemicals started up its 10th furnace at the Port Arthur facility in March. The additional furnace increased ethylene production capacity at the plant to above 1 mln tpa from 935,000 tpa and boosted feedstock flexibility. The company revamped the steam cracker to process ethane. "The startup of the tenth oven in the Port Arthur, Texas, steam cracker and the higher capacity utilization rate of the condensation splitter -- which uses distillation to separate light crude oil grades in products such as kerosene and diesel -- led to considerable volumes growth in North America," the company said. BASF Total Petrochemicals is a joint venture between BASF and Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA. BASF's net profit in the quarter rose to Eur1.299 billion from Eur1.157 billion in Q2 2013, driven by the industrial and specialty chemicals division.