Brazilian petrochemical company Braskem will start up its second Houston-area plastics plant this month.
Construction for Braskem’s new area plant was completed in October. Latin America’s largest petrochemical company has a strong presence in Texas after buying Sunoco plants (one of which is also in La Porte) and Dow Chemical Co. plants over the last few years.
The new plant marks the first time the company will produce its ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene “UTEC” in the United States. UTEC is a stronger version of the common plastic polyethylene and is designed to be used in more industrial purposes, even competing with steel.
Braskem looked to expand in the Houston area because of the easy access to cheap natural gas and the Houston Ship Channel.
Source: Houston Chronicle “Brazilian petrochemical company expands in Houston area” by Jordan Blum, December 8, 2016