Regional developments

• Book ID: 104438246
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2002
• Weight: 335 KB
• Volume: 2002
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1468-5736
• DOI: 10.1016/s1468-5736(02)80019-7

✦ Synopsis

reduction in fixed costs by Yen 16 bn. Its sales in fiscal 2000 were Yen 9.5 bn.

Japan Chemical Week, 29 Nov 2001,42 (2149), 2

Akxo plans chlor-alkali expansion to offset plant closure; Shin-E&u expands VCM

Akzo Nobel is to close its 120,000 tonnes/y chlor-alkali unit at Delfzijl in the Netherlands in 2004. It hopes to expand its chlor-alkali plant at Botlek by 90,000 tonnes/y to 440,000 tonnes/y initially and then to 500,000 tonnes/y before 2004, subject to being granted a permit. Its customers include Shin-Etsu Chemical and Resolution Performance Products (RPP). Shin-Etsu intends to increase vinyl chloride monomer capacity from 550,000 tonnes/y to 600,000 tonnes/y at Botlek, with completion timed to coincide with the start-up of Akzo's expansion. Shin-Etsu has been granted permits to increase PVC capacity at Pernis from 295,000 tonnes/y to 350,000 tonnes/y. Akzo has capacity to produce 70,000 tonnes/y chlorine at Hengelo in the Netherlands, together with combined capacity of 375,000 tonnes/y chlorine at Skoghall and Bohus in Sweden and at lbbenburen and Bitterfeld in Germany. Akzo Nobel is to close its unprofitable 70,000 tonnes/y chlorinated solvents plant at Delfzijl and may expand its 230,000 tonnes/y unit in Rotterdam.