Petrobas to commence PET production at Petroquímica Suape by end of year

26-Aug-13

Brazil's state-controlled energy giant Petrobras plans to begin production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin and polyester fibers at its Petroquímica Suape complex in northeastern Brazil by the end of the year, as per Business News Americas. Total investment outlay by Petrobras amounts to 6.7 bln reais (US$2.8 bln) in the two units. Petroquímica Suape comprises three units. One unit has been producing purified terephthalic acid (PTA), the main raw material for PET resin and polyester fibers, since the beginning of the year. The site's production capacity for PTA is 700,000 tpa. When complete, the complex will have the capacity to produce 450,000t/y of PET resin and 240,000 tpa of polyester fibers. It will also produce partially oriented yarn (POY), draw textured yarn (DTY) and full draw yarn (FDY).