LyondellBasell (Rotterdam / The Netherlands; www.lyondellbasell.com) plans to expand its distribution activities in Turkey with an eye to making the process more flexible. Starting in July, the polyolefins market leader said the “extended flexible distribution network” will provide a continuous supply of PE and PP from the group’s production facilities in Europe as well as its Saudi Arabian joint ventures. Bonded storage warehouses set up in Gaziantep as well as on the European and Asian sides of Istanbul will complement existing facilities in Mersin / Turkey and Thessaloniki / Greece. The latter supplies central and eastern Europe.

Given the “extreme volatility” of today’s polyolefins market, the improved flexibility of sourcing will benefit customers, said Jean Gadbois, LyondellBasell’s vice president of supply chain for Europe, Asia and international. According to Belkis Tamakan, general manager of the group’s Turkish operation, the country imports some 2m t of polyolefins annually.