Equistars' Texas olefins unit rendered temporarily inactive by dull demand

11-Nov-08

Deteriorating demand and pessimistic outlook for polymer markets as US economy heads fro recession, have compelled Equistar Chemicals, a subsidiary of LyondellBasell to idle its olefin unit at La Porte, Texas until early 2009. A maintenance operation will be conducted at the plant in the months that it is idled. Capacity at the complex includes 770,000 tpa of ethylene and 317,000 tpa of propylene. Other operations at the site, including LDPE/LLDPE and vinyl acetate monomer units, have not yet been affected and will continue to operate.