Braskem has formed a new US distribution partnership with PolyQuest, a leading North American polymer resin distributor and recycler, for Braskem’s growing US polypropylene (PP) business. As a distributor of PP and largest distributor of PET in US, PolyQuest has long-standing relationships with customers in the sheet, film, textiles, strapping and BCF markets.

Braskem has committed up to $675 million towards the design and construction of its new PP production line named Delta which is being constructed next to Braskem’s existing production facilities in La Porte, Texas, according to a press release by Braskem. With main construction ongoing, Delta is targeted for initial production in early 2020. The new plant will have a production capacity of 450 kilotons (kt), or the equivalent of approximately 1 billion pounds, per year.

The new Delta line will represent additional production capacity of homopolymers, random copolymers, impact copolymers, and reactor TPOs, building upon Braskem’s current PP production plant in La Porte which has a production capacity of 354 kt annually and will continue operations. Braskem also maintains a UTEC Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) production plant located at the same La Porte site.

The construction of Braskem’s new Delta production line is positively impacting economic activity in the La Porte region, employing approximately 1,000 development and construction workers to fully construct the facility. The Delta production line design is being developed directly in-line with Braskem’s commitment to sustainability and attention to eco-indicators such as emissions, water, and energy efficiency, as well as recycling and waste reduction.

With an increased focus from both producers, converters and brand-owners towards a sustainable and recyclable raw material, PolyQuest aims to provide a solution for post-consumer PP products in the marketplace through its recycling facilities in New York and South Carolina. PolyQuest’s goal is to introduce several post consumer PP recycled capabilities to customers in 2019.

“We’re pleased to be partnering with PolyQuest to expand our reach and presence with new clients and sectors, accelerating our market share growth, as well as supporting our position as the largest producer of polypropylene in the Americas,” said Mark Nikolich, Braskem America CEO. “Just as importantly, PolyQuest shares a focus on advancing the future of the circular economy through a commitment to sustainable development. We look forward to leveraging our expertise in PP recycling and closed-loop technologies with PolyQuest’s established US recycling facilities. Our leverage across these activities will only grow in importance as Braskem remains on track to launch Delta, our new US 450 kiloton PP production line in early 2020.”

“There is no better partner for PolyQuest in the PP market than Braskem and we look forward to expanding our relationship responsibly and rapidly. The expansion of our resin offerings in the US to include PP was a logical one for us as it further enhances our position as a value-added supplier to an important and growing segment of the industry. We’re delighted that the partnership occurred organically through one of our joint strategic packaging clients,” said Tod Durst, PolyQuest executive vice president. (PC)