LyondellBasell has announced plans to form a 50/50 joint venture (JV) with Sinopec to build a propylene oxide (PO) and styrene monomer (SM) manufacturing complex at Zhenhai, Ningbo, China targeting domestic Chinese markets. The venture will build on the existing LyondellBasell/Sinopec PO/SM venture at the same location, which operates under the name Ningbo ZRCC Lyondell Chemical Co.The new complex is expected to produce 300,000 metric tons/year of PO and 600,000 metric tons/year of SM. Construction will begin in early 2020 with start-up expected in 2022. The facility will use LyondellBasell's PO/SM technology. Products produced will be marketed equally by both companies. The existing facility at Ningbo is designed to produce 620,000 metric tons/year of SM.
