Braskem: No Immediate Plans for Sunoco's Largest Plant

Braskem said it has no immediate plans affecting Sunoco's largest plant, located in La Porte, TX, the Houston Business Journal has reported. The Brazilian petrochemical company recently agreed to buy the company's polypropylene business, said it has no immediate plans affecting the company's La Porte facility.

"La Porte is Sunoco Chemicals' largest plant and the one with the most competitive raw material contract, supplying its feedstock from Equistar," said Luciana Ferreira, a spokeswoman for Braskem.

The $350 million deal, which includes two other facilities in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, all operated by Sunoco Chemicals, which operates the polypropylene business unit, is expected to close in early April, the newspaper reported.

"Braskem will take charge of managing the company after the closing," Ferreira said. "After taking charge, Braskem will analyze the plants and its operations in depth and will then decide on an operational strategy."

The three plants, which account for approximately 13% of installed U.S. polypropylene production capacity, are Braskem's first foray into the U.S. market. The company has said it intends to make more acquisitions in the future. Ferreira said the Sunoco acquisition will be used as "a growth platform in the North American market."