Asahi Kasei, Sabic May Build Saudi Acrylonitrile Plant

Japanese synthetic fibre maker Asahi Kasei Corp said it was considering building a plant in Saudi Arabia with other firms including Sabic to make products used in resin and acrylic fibre. Asahi Kasei has been looking for an opportunity to take advantage of its technology, and if the formal decision were made, it would be its first contract in Saudi Arabia, a company spokesman said. The plant would use propylene and propane gas as feedstock to produce acrylonitrile, he said. Sabic last month signed a letter of intent with Japan's Mitsubishi Rayon to set up a methyl joint venture at an estimated cost of $1 billion.