Brazilian petrochemicals giant Braskem, which claims to be the largest thermoplastics resins producer in the Americas, has announced plans to build a new plant for its Utech ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) at its La Porte, Texas site.

Capacity details were not disclosed. Targeted start-up date is H1 2016.

Output of the facility, which will complement an existing plant at Camaçari in in Brazil's Bahia state, is earmarked for the US market.

"This is the next logical step for our UTEC business as we have been providing UTEC to clients in the United States and Europe for over ten years." said Fernando Musa, CEO, Braskem America. The new plant will potentially enable Braskem to serve more markets than we have been able to serve in the past," Musa added.