LyondellBasell sets sights on Latin America Acquisition, investment set stage for significant expansion

摘要

Latin America has faced political and economic challenges in recent years, but continued expansion of the middle class positions the region as a vital global market for chemical makers with potential for growth, says LyondellBasell CEO Bob Patel.”It is a story, just like in China, where a growing middle class is driving economic growth and supporting strong demand for plastics,”Patel says. LyondellBasell announced in June that it had entered into exclusive discussions regarding a potential acquisition of Odebrecht S.A.'s controlling stake in Braskem. And the company's recent acquisition of A. Schulman has also strengthened its position in the region, with compounding assets in Brazil and Mexico as well as a joint venture in Argentina. LyondellBasell's legacy assets in the region include a 49% stake in Indelpro, and a joint venture with Alfa, a leading Mexican producer of polypropylene(PP) with capacity of 1.3 billion lbs/year. The company also has wholly-owned PP compounding plants in Mexico and Brazil.