Shin-Etsu evaluating US ethylene investment

摘要

Shin-Etsu (Tokyo) is studying plans to build a world-scale eth- ylene plant in the United States, executive chairman Chihiro Kanagawa tells CW. Ethylene capacity would be 1 million m.t./year and the com- pany is in preliminary discussions with technology suppliers, Kanagawa says. There is a “much more than 50%” chance that the company will decide in favor of building a US cracker, he adds. The company expects to make a final decision in 6-12 months. Site locations are under evaluation but the company is leaning toward Louisiana. “Plaquemine would be the most probable location,” Kanagawa says. “Ideally, we want the plant next door to our downstream operations.”