After completing phase one of its new PVC complex in Port Said / Egypt at the end of last year, TCI Sanmar Chemical (Port Said / Egypt) already has kicked off the next phase. By mid-2013, the group plans to set up an own ethylene production to feed the PVC line. In addition, parent company Sanmar Group (Chennai / India; www.sanmar.com) reports that another 200,000 t/y PVC line will be built at the site to complement the existing one.

Reports indicate that the 200,000 t/y caustic soda and 400,000 t/y VCM lines began production in spring 2011, as soon as the dust from the political upheaval in Egypt had settled. However, the lines are apparently still conducting trial runs. By 2013 an undisclosed amount of ethylene production is to be added, to go towards feeding the planned 400,000 t/y PVC hub. Given the latter output, the C2 capacity will probably be 200,000 t/y.

The Sanmar conglomerate subsidiary Chemplast Sanmar (Cuddalore / India; http://chemplastsanmar.co.in) already operates two PVC lines in southeast India, with a total capacity of 235,000 t/y. The group is partially integrated into the chlorine chain and also operates a chlorine, ethylene dichloride and caustic soda line in Karaikal, not far from Cuddalore.