The other olefin boom. 150302

  Shale plus a lot of new polyethylene plants equals heady time for the U.S. a-olefins industry.

  Altogether, companies are planning about 900,000 metric tons of annual a-olefins capacity in North

 America by the end of the decade on top of 350,000 that has recently opened, according to the

 consulting firm Nexant. If built, that capacity will represent almost a 70% expansion over 2013

 levels.

 a-Olefins are a curious enclave within the petrochemical industry. Unlike other petrochemical

sectors where dozens of rivals can compete ,the a-olefin industry is dominated by three major plays:

Shell chemicals, Ineos, and Chevron Phillips chemical.

  From : CEN  Aug 25. 2014