Arco to enter European PGE production with new Rotterdam plant

Journal Article · Wed Mar 03 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Chemical Week; (United States)

OSTI ID:6937237

Young, I

Arco Chemical (Newtown Square, PA) will enter production of propylene glycol ethers (PGEs) in Europe by building a 70,000-m.t./year plant at its Rotterdam site. Arco's board has approved the project, with construction to begin this year and completion expected in mid-1995. This new plant supports the company's long-standing strategy to increase its downstream integration in value-added derivatives of propylene oxide,' says Jack Oppasser, president of Arco Chemical Europe (Maidenhead, U.K.). It allows the company to sustain its strong position in the growing European glycol ether market.' Arco's move represents a challenge to Dow Europe (Horgen, Switzerland), which dominates the European PGE market. Dow is Europe's biggest producer of PGEs, with its Dowanol brands commanding a share greater than 50% of the estimated 90,000-m.t./year methyl-based PGE market. This was recently boosted by completion of the expansion of its plant at Stade, Germany, from 60,000 m.t./year to 110,000 m.t./year. While Arco does not currently make PGEs in Europe, it is the second-largest supplier, with about 15,000 m.t.-20,000 m.t./year, via third-party manufacturing arrangements' with European producers, including BP Chemicals, and imports from its 90-million lbs/year plant at Bayport, TX. However, Arco refuses to comment on this because of antitrust aspects.'

• OSTI ID: 6937237
• Journal Information: Chemical Week; (United States), Vol. 152:8; ISSN 0009-272X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
EUROPE
PETROCHEMICAL PLANTS
CONSTRUCTION
ETHERS
EXPANSION
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
GLYCOLS
IMPORTS
MANUFACTURING
MARKET
PRODUCTION
PROPYLENE
SUPPORTS
SWITZERLAND
ALCOHOLS
ALKENES
CHEMICAL PLANTS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
020700* - Petroleum- Economics
Industrial
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