China’s Fujian Zhongjing Petrochemical has selected LyondellBasell’s Spheripol PP technology for two 600,000 t/y plants to be installed in Fuzhou. LyondellBasell said the deal represents the world’s largest single PP plant license to date.

Weng Shengjing, chairman of the board of Fujian Zhongjing, said the company selected Spheripol for its proven track record, advantaged economics and its ability to produce the industry benchmark products that are demanded by its customers.

The contract is the second PP award from a Chinese company this year. In March, the Dutch headquartered, Texas managed group announced that its Spheripol technology had been chosen by Dongming Hengchang Petrochemical for a 200,000 t/y plant in Heze City, Shandong.

In separate news, LyondellBasell said it aims to complete the conversion to non-phthalate catalysts for all PP food packaging grades by year end. The company has already converted roughly 80% of its European PP portfolio to non-phthalate catalysts with work continuing.

The move is in response to requirements from customers and leading end-users. “The focus for this change has been on food packaging applications (flexible, rigid packaging and caps & closures), but also in healthcare, textile and blow molding, most grades have been converted,” said Ben Buckers, LyondellBasell’s director, polypropylene and catalloy Europe.