Braskem (São Paulo / Brazil; www.braskem.com.br) plans to invest USD 50m in modernising its North American PP business through 2011. The Brazilian producer said the modernisation includes expanding one PP line and closing another at its La Porte site in Texas. Braskem will expand the more modern “Spheripol” line by 70,000 t/y and idle its 100,000 t/y slurry line, resulting in a net 30,000 t/y decrease in the La Porte PP capacity to 390,000 t/y, a company spokesman explained.

Braskem acquired the North American PP business when it purchased Sunoco Chemicals’ PP operation earlier this year – see Plasteurope.com of 02.02.2010. The acquisition also included plants in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania and Neal, West Virginia.

The company expects to spend approximately USD 15m on the Spheripol expansion and other improvements at La Porte, USD 20m on improvements in Marcus Hook and Neal and USD 15m on management systems to integrate business processes with the parent company. The La Porte site will play a key role in supporting the growth of Braskem America’s overall business, company officials said.