2004-3-5 Asia Chemical Weekly

S Korea's Hanwha aiming to become global top-10 PVC player

South Korea's Hanwha Chemical Corp is planning to invest at least Won300bn ($256.3m/Euro210.1m) by 2007 to help build the company into one of the world's top-ten polyvinyl chloride (PVC) producers, a company spokesman said.

The spokesman said Hanwha expected to post Won1.2trn in annual sales after expanding its PVC operations over the next three years.

Hanwha is studying the feasibility of building new PVC plants and lines, both in South Korea and China, but has yet to decide on the locations or size of the facilities.

Hanwha has already announced that it is planning to shut down its 330 000 tonne/year vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and 220 000 tonne/year PVC plants at Yeochun in October for maintenance and limited debottleneckings, although the company has yet to decide on the extent of these expansions.

The spokesman said the company has earmarked Won150bn for PVC maintenance turnarounds over the next three years, Won120bn for new PVC investments, Won 20bn for debottleneckings and Won50bn to change the electrolysers in its chloralkali plants to the ion-exchange membrane-cell route from the diaphragm route.

The spokesman said the planned expansion, mostly of its PVC operations, was based on the belief that China's rapidly increasing demand for PVC construction materials would continue to boom and the closure of older PVC facilities in Europe and North America would lead to a worldwide tightness in supply.

The company is planning to increase its PVC output by 20% by 2007. Currently it operates two PVC plants at Ulsan and Yosu with a combined capacity of 500 000 tonne/year.


Platts 2005/8/24

S Korea's Yeochon plans SM expansion despite poor margins

South Korea's Yeochon NCC plans to proceed with its styrene monomer plant expansion in October despite being dogged with poor margins for the past two years, a source close to the firm said Wednesday. Yeochon is slated to boost its plant capacity in Yeochon to 285,000 mt/yr from 140,000 mt/yr during a 40-day outage scheduled for Oct 20 through Nov 30. Another local SM producer, Dongbu Chemical, has postponed its debottlenecking project from October to early next year.
When Yeochon's expansion is complete, it would expect to sell about 10,000mt of styrene per month in the spot market, compared with 4,000mt currently.
The new styrene capacity would absorb Yeochon's benzene surplus, and would even require it to buy a small quantity if the styrene plant were to be run at full capacity through the year. Yeochon typically sells two 3,000mt benzene spot cargoes per month.
The firm would remain an ethylene net seller even after the styrene debottlenecking, the source added.


November 19, 2007  AZDEL

Hanwha Acquires AZDEL, Inc. from SABIC Innovative Plastics, PPG Industries

Hanwha Living & Creative (L&C) Corporation announced today that it has finalized the acquisition of AZDEL Inc., a 50/50 joint venture of SABIC Innovative Plastics (formerly GE Plastics) and PPG Industries. The acquisition of AZDEL will allow Hanwha to expand its offering of composite and advanced material solutions for the transportation and industrial segments. Terms were not disclosed.

Hanwha Living and Creative Corp.

Established in Jul 1999
 (100% owned by Hanwha Chemical)

Products:Flooring, Window, Home Door, PVC Compound, Film & Sheet, GMT, EPP, Upholstery, SMC, Conpanel,
      Hanex, Decor Sheet, etc

AZDEL Inc. manufactures high performance thermoplastic composites designed for both interior and exterior applications across many different industries. Major segments served include automotive, heavy truck, recreational vehicles, industrial, and other transportation applications.

Were thrilled to add this leading brand to our world-class portfolio of products, said Woong Jin Choi, chief executive officer, Hanwha L&C Corporation. The acquisition of AZDEL is another step along our path for global expansion and will position us as a premier supplier of composite and high performance material solutions to the transportation and industrial segments.

Mr. Hee-Cheul Kim, who currently serves as the vice president, Auto & Industrial Material Division, has been named the chief executive officer for AZDEL Inc. Melanie Cook, currently AZDEL, Inc. president, will remain in her role. AZDEL will continue to operate with its headquarters in Lynchburg, Virginia, USA and sell its products under the AZDEL brand.

Going forward, AZDEL has entered into a long-term strategic supply arrangement with SABIC Innovative Plastics and PPG Industries, whereas
SABIC Innovative Plastics will supply thermoplastic resins to AZDEL and will continue to work with AZDEL through a joint development agreement to bring new innovative products to the industry. In the same way, PPG will continue to supply fiberglass reinforcement materials to AZDEL under a long-term supply agreement.

Hanwha and AZDEL are complementary, bringing a variety of different products and technology to the combined business.
We are very excited to be part of Hanwha, which already offers a broad range of technologies and services to the transportation and industrial segments. Hanwha is a good strategic fit for AZDEL and our expertise is an excellent foundation for further growth in the composites sector, said Cook. "Our customers will benefit greatly from the global presence and the R&D resources that Hanwha brings to the table.

Hanwha L&C Corporation was represented by Takenaka Partners LLC as the advisor.