Westlake to Acquire Hexion’s Epoxy Business for $1.2 Billion

Westlake Chemical Corporation announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Hexion Inc. to acquire Hexion’s global epoxy business for approximately $1.2 billion. The deal is anticipated to be completed in the first half of 2022 following customary closing conditions. With this transaction, Westlake will significantly expand its integrated business by adding a … Read more

European Commission Fines Ethylene Cartel Orbia, Clariant, Celanese $296 Million

The European Commission has fined Orbia, Clariant and Celanese a total of € 260 million ($296 million) for breaching EU antitrust rules. Westlake was not fined as it revealed the cartel to the Commission. The companies took part in a cartel concerning purchases on the ethylene merchant market. They colluded to buy ethylene for the … Read more

Vinnolit Completes Paste PVC Plant Expansion in Germany

Vinnolit GmbH & Co. KG, a chlor-alkali and vinyls manufacturer announced the completion of expansion work at its paste PVC plant in Burghausen, Germany, and will use microsuspension technology to produce PVC with more flexible properties. “In Burghausen, we are now additionally producing with the microsuspension process, which we have already successfully used at our … Read more

Westlake Earnings and Sales Fall on Weak Pricing

Westlake Chemical Corporation saw lower profits in the fourth quarter of 2019, hurt by reduced global sales prices for its major products. The chemical maker posted a profit of $72 million down around 41% from $123 million it earned in the prior-year quarter. Decrease in profit was attributed to lower global sales prices for key … Read more

Lotte Chemical Inaugurates Ethane Cracker in US

Lotte Chemical Corp said on Thursday that it expects that its U.S. ethane cracker will start commercial operations in Louisiana in May. The U.S. ethane cracker from Lotte Chemical is a joint venture with Axiall Corp, now merged with Westlake Corp. In the plant, Lotte owns 88 percent, while the rest is held by Westlake Corp. … Read more

Westlake Chemical Partners LP to Increase Share of OpCo by 4.5%

Westlake Chemical Partners LP announced on Wednesday that it has agreed to acquire an additional 4.50% limited partner interest in Westlake Chemical OpCo LP on a fully diluted basis for approximately $201.4 million. The acquisition will increase the Partnership’s limited partner interest in OpCo from approximately 18.3% to approximately 22.8% and will represent the third … Read more

Westlake Chemical Joins Global Alliance to End Plastic Waste

Westlake Chemical Corporation announced that the company has joined the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW), an organization launched in January 2019 to advance solutions to eliminate plastic waste in the environment, especially in the ocean. “Westlake is pleased to have joined the Alliance to End Plastic Waste as part of our long-standing commitment to … Read more