Saudi polypropylene manufacturer Advanced is receiving additional propylene feedstock as it works to boost capacity by 18% at its PP plant at Jubail. Debottlenecking will raise capacity to 530,000 t/y from 450,000 t/y. The Jubail-based Aramco/Total Satorp JV refinery will provide the additional 80,000 t/y propylene with first volumes received 1 October. Statorp started up its first 200,000 b/d CDU in September 2013 and has been ramping up in advance of the start-up of its second 200,000 b/d CDU at end-2014 (MEES, 3 October). Advanced expects the additional 80,000 t/y of throughput to add SR35mn ($9.3mn) to its annual income, subject to propylene price fluctuations. Advanced is one of the smaller Saudi petchems producers, with market capitalization of SR6.7bn ($1.79bn) at the end of 2013 and profit for last year of SR556.9mn ($148.5mn).
Advanced is also buying 35% of a 600,000 t/y propane dehydrogenation PDH plant in Korea being developed by LPG supplier SK Gas for $1bn. (CONTINUED - 155 WORDS)
