In a move aimed at improving its access to European markets, Saudi International Petrochemical Company’s (Sipchem, Al Jubail / Saudi Arabia; www.sipchem.com) marketing and services affiliate SMSC on 14 December 2011 announced that it had acquired Swiss petrochemical trading and marketing company Aectra (Lutry). Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

Commenting on the purchase, Sipchem chairman Ahmad Al-Ohali said, “Aectra gives Sipchem immediate access to experienced and proven marketing, logistics and trading expertise in the key European market.” During the official signing ceremony in Dubai, Aectra CEO Rene Fresco called the deal “a winning combination”.

A look at Plasteurope.com’s Polyglobe capacity database indicates that Sipchem currently has capacity to turn out slightly more than 1m t/y of methanol as well as 330,000 t/y of VAM. In addition, the Saudi group plans to commission a 200,000 t/y EVA line by the end of 2013 as well as a 125,000 t/y PVA line, with start-up still unknown.