華夏プラスチック（ＣＧＰＣ） 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

　　　　趙グループーーーＸ−ー→　ＣＧＰＣ

　　　　　　　　　　　　−−−−−−→ Westlake Group (USA)

　　　　　　　　　　−−−−−−→　Ｔｉｔａｎ Group (Malaysia)

　ＣＧＰＣ概要

　Westlake概要　　　　　　Borden Geismar 買収

　Titan

　2008/3/11　T.T. Chao　逝去

ＣＧＰＣ概要　

・趙グループ（Ｔ.T.Chao)と米国 GulfとのＪＶとしてスタート
　　　　　　(社名：China Gulf Petrochemical Corp.)
　　　　　↓
・Gulf 撤退（→　社名：China General Petrochemical Corp.)
　　　　　↓
・趙が名目上撤退、BTR Nylex中心（British Tire & Rubberの豪州子会社）

　　　　この時点の各社出資比率（％）
　　　　

　　　　　↓
・ 1997 BTR Nylex 持分を 下記のように分割所有
　　　USI Far East(UCCが44.7%保有）80%／聯成石油化学（可塑剤メーカー） 20%

　

事業　　CGPC　　：PVC
　　　　　台湾VCM：VCM　　
　　　　　台湾ＰＰ（下記）：　ＰＰ　　　　
　　　　　台達化学：ＰＳ、ABS 　　→　中国ABS計画
　　　　　Asian Polymer：LDPE　　　　　　　

　　　　　　別紙「台湾の石油化学」の赤字　　　　

　

　　台湾PPの現状　（Basell homepage)

Taiwan Polypropylene Co. Ltd. (TPP) is a joint venture company owned 35% by Basell and 16% by the Koos Group of Taiwan, with the remaining 49% held by more than thirty thousand public shareholders. TPP was the first polypropylene producer in Taiwan, starting with Hercules technology more than 25 years ago, and today is the leading polypropylene supplier in the country. TPP operates two Spheripol technology production lines at its site in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, with annual capacity of 360 KT. In addition, TPP operates a polypropylene compounding line and a staple fibre plant at the same site. The company's business office is located in Taipei.

　

CGPC

Westlake概要　 　　　　　　　http://www.westlakegroup.com/

　　　　　　　　　Westlake and The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Announce MoUnderstanding; Ethylene Project

　　　　　　　　Trinidad and Tobago concludes agreement for ethylene project with Westlake

Westlake Chemical Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Eastman Agrees to Sell Polyethylene Business to Westlake

Westlake Chemical Closes Purchase of Eastman's Polyethylene Business

Westlake Chemical's North American Pipe to Open New PVC Pipe Plant

Westlake Chemical to Construct Chlor Alkali Plant inGeismar, Louisiana

Westlake Chemical to Commence Construction of Chlor-Alkali Plant in Geismar, Louisiana

Westlake Chemical Acquires 50% of Cypress Pipeline

Westlake Chemical to Increase Capacity of Chlor-Alkali Plant

The Westlake Group is a member of Chao Group, which also includes our sister company, the Titan Group in Malaysia.

Chao Group is a leading global petrochemical and plastics manufacturer. Strategic vertical integration and operating synergies facilitate the efficient supply of our products to world markets while keeping cost low. These operating strengths help ensure added value, uncompromising quality and dependable supply for our customers.

The Westlake Group owns and operates facilities for the manufacture of petrochemicals, plastics, and fabricated plastic products in North America, with sales on a global basis. Integration of commodity petrochemicals and intermediates to polymers and fabricated plastic products has been key to the growth strategy. Westlake has focused on integration in both the olefins and vinyls markets. The Westlake Group is comprised of the companies listed below:

　　Chemicals / Petrochemicals

Westlake Petrochemicals Corporation
Westlake Polymers Corporation
Westlake Monomers Corporation
Westlake PVC Corporation
Westlake Styrene Corporation
Westlake CA&O

Geismar Vinyls, an affiliate of The Westlake Group

　　Fabricated Products

North American Pipe Corporation
Ameriflow (PE Pipe)
Westech Fence
Engineered Profiles Limited (EPL)
Fiberlux

　

Westlake Chemical の現在の能力は以下の通り。（単位：100万ポンド、2.2で割るとトン能力） 2007 annual report

事業部	製品	立地			合計
		Lake Charles （LA）	Calvert City （KY）	Geismar （LA）
		Olefins Business	Vinyls Business
Westlake Petrochemicals	エチレン	2,500
Westlake CA&O	エチレン		450		2,850
	塩素		450	new	450
	ソーダ		485	new	485
Westlake Polymers	LDPE	1,500			850
	LLDPE	980			550
Westlake Monomers	VCM		1,300	600	1,900
Westlake　PVC	PVC		800	600	1,400
Westlake Styrene	SM	485			485
North American Pipe	PVC Pipe				915
Westech Building Products	Fence, Deck and Railing				75
	Doors and Window Profiles				30
Suzhou Huasu Plastics Company （蘇州）	PVC	Westlake 43%/Norsk Hydro　32%/ Jiangsu Chemical Pesticide Group 14%/ China Taicang Petrochemical 3%			726
	PVC film & Sheet				132

---

Westlake Petrochemicals Corporation

Westlake Petrochemicals Corporation operates a 2.3 billion-pound per year ethylene complex near Lake Charles, Louisiana. The company was established in 1988, began construction in 1989, and commenced operation in 1991. The plant is located on a 320-acre site with ample space for future expansion and additional projects.

Westlake Polymers Corporation　

Established in 1985, Westlake Polymers Corporation acquired the polyethylene manufacturing facilities of Cities Service Company near Lake Charles, Louisiana in 1986. Located on 40 acres, this low-density polyethylene (LDPE) utilizes some of the largest reactors in the industry. Westlake Polymers began production in 1986 with a capacity of 220 million pounds per year. Capacity was expanded in 1988 to 750 million pounds per year and again in 1993 to 850 million pounds per year. One tubular and four autoclave reactors are used in the manufacturing process. The primary raw material for LDPE is ethylene, which can be supplied totally by Westlake Petrochemicals.

Westlake Monomers Corporation

Westlake Monomers Corporation acquired its vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) plant from the B.F. Goodrich Company in 1990. The plant is located within a 300-acre chemical complex in Calvert City, Kentucky, approximately 15 miles east of Paducah on the Tennessee River. It is strategically located to serve downstream polyvinyl chloride facilities located in the Midwest and Northeast United States. Capacity of the plant is 1.1 billion pounds of VCM per year.

Westlake PVC Corporation　

Our polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin manufacturing facility in Calvert City, Kentucky is owned and operated by Westlake PVC Corporation. The plant was acquired in 1991 and was formerly operated by Air Products and Chemicals.

Westlake Styrene Corporation

Westlake Styrene Corporation is located on 11.5 acres of the 320-acre Westlake Petrochemical complex. The plant started commercial production in 1992. Capacity of the facility is 430 million pounds per year.

Westlake CA&O Corporation

Westlake CA&O Corporation's Calvert City, Kentucky facilities were acquired from BFGoodrich in August 1997. In addition to a 400 MM pound ethylene facility, the site includes a chlor-alkali facility with a capacity of 250 MM pounds of chlorine and 275 MM pounds of high purity (rayon grade) caustic soda.

2008/8/29 Westlake

Westlake Chemical to Construct Chlor Alkali Plant; New unit located in Geismar, Louisiana

Westlake Chemical Corporation announced today it will construct a new chlor alkali plant to be located at its vinyls manufacturing complex in Geismar, Louisiana.

The new chlor alkali unit is estimated to produce 250,000 electro chemical units (ECU's,) annually, bringing the company's total estimated ECU capacity upon completion to 525,000 per year. This new plant is in line with Westlake's vertical integration strategy for its vinyls business and allows the company to achieve chlorine integration.

同社はCalvert City（KY）とGeismar（LA）にVCM、PVCプラントを持つが、電解は前者のみ。
Calvert Cityの能力は225,000ECUだが、275,000ECUに増設中。
今回はGeismarにも電解をつくり、PVCまで一貫生産する。能力は250,000ECUで、全社合計能力は525,000ECUとなる。

In October 2007, Westlake announced that they intend to expand our chlor-alkali plant at Calvert City manufacturing complex.
The expanded chlor-alkali unit is expected to add 50,000 ECUs, bringing our total capacity to 275,000 ECUs per year.

　　1.0 tonne of chlorine and 1.1 tonne of caustic soda (often called the electrochemical unit or ECU)

---

2010/8/31 Westlake

Westlake Chemical to Commence Construction of Chlor-Alkali Plant
　　New unit located in Geismar, Louisiana

Westlake Chemical Corporation announced today it is proceeding with the previously announced construction of a new chlor-alkali plant to be located at its vinyls manufacturing complex in Geismar, Louisiana. 　

The new chlor-alkali unit is estimated to produce 250,000 electrochemical units (ECU's ) annually, bringing the company's total estimated ECU capacity upon completion to 525,000 per year. This new plant is consistent with Westlake's vertical integration strategy for its vinyls business and will allow the company to achieve chlorine integration.

The construction costs for this chlor-alkali facility are estimated to range between $250 million and $300 million. The project is targeted for start-up in the second half of 2013 and will be partially funded by the Gulf Opportunity Zone bonds issued by the company. The plant will utilize state of the art membrane technology and is expected to create approximately 100 permanent positions and 400 to 500 construction jobs. The new unit will be adjacent to the existing vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) facilities at the Geismar complex.

---

2011/12/21 Westlake Chemical

Westlake Chemical to Increase Capacity of Chlor-Alkali Plant

Westlake Chemical Corporation announced today it is increasing the capacity of the previously announced chlor-alkali plant to be located at its vinyls manufacturing complex in Geismar, Louisiana.

The chlor-alkali unit originally estimated to produce 250,000 electrochemical units (ECU's) annually will now be designed for a capacity of up to 350,000 ECU's annually.
This new plant is consistent with Westlake's vertical integration strategy for its vinyls business and will allow the company to expand and optimize the vinyls chain over time.

The construction costs for this chlor-alkali facility are estimated to range between $370 to $420 million.
Site work is currently underway for this new facility and the project is targeted for start-up in the second half of 2013. The project will be partially funded by the Gulf Opportunity Zone bonds issued by the company.
The plant will utilize state of the art membrane technology and is expected to create approximately 100 permanent positions and 400 to 500 construction jobs. The new unit will be adjacent to the existing vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) facilities at the Geismar complex.

＊ 1 ECU＝1.0 tonne of chlorine ＋1.1 tonne of caustic soda

---

2008/3/19 Westlake

North American Pipe to Open New PVC Pipe Plant

North American Pipe Corporation, a subsidiary of Houston-based Westlake Chemical Corporation, announced today that it will open a new PVC pipe plant in Yucca, AZ.

The new plant is expected to begin operations by the 1st quarter of 2009 and will annually produce approximately 120 million pounds of PVC pipe in its initial phase. With an initial investment of approximately $30 million the plant will add approximately 75 new positions to the local economy.

The facility will produce PVC pipe for the water, sewer, irrigation and related industrial and residential markets in diameters ranging from 2 to 36 inches. When this plant is completed, the company's annual PVC pipe capacity will be increased to approximately 985 million pounds.

North American Pipe Corporation
North American Pipe is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Westlake Chemical Corporation and currently operates eight (8) PVC pipe plants throughout the United States. Last fall the company announced it was beginning construction of a PVC pipe plant in Calvert City, KY with a capacity of 55 million pounds per year of large diameter pipe which is expected to be completed in the second half of 2008.

---

2010/10/4

Westlake Chemical Acquires 50% of Cypress Pipeline
　　Pipeline from Mont Belvieu, TX to Lake

Westlake Chemical Corporation announced today that, pursuant to a long term contract right held by Westlake, it has purchased a 50% equity interest in Cypress Interstate Pipeline, LLC from Kinder Morgan Energy Partners for an undisclosed price. The 104 mile Cypress Pipeline supplies natural gas liquid feedstocks to Westlake's Lake Charles, Louisiana petrochemical complex for the production of ethylene and ethylene derivatives such as polyethylene and styrene.

In describing this purchase, Albert Chao, President & CEO of Westlake Chemical Corporation, stated, "We are very pleased to have completed the purchase of an interest in this important supply pipeline. This acquisition will help improve our long-term operating efficiency and will provide us with overall improvement in the reliability of essential feedstock supply at the site."

The pipeline will continue to be operated by KMP under a long-term agreement.

Titan　

Westlake's sister company, The Titan Group, is a joint venture of the Chao Group and Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) and is committed to the development of the Malaysian petrochemical industry. Titan built Malaysia's first and largest integrated petrochemicals complex. It is also the first to produce olefins and polyolefins. The Titan Group's complex is an important resource toward meeting the growing demand for petrochemical and plastic products in Malaysia and the Asian market. 　（Westlake's　homepage)

　　　　　株主　 Chao group (a 53.2% stake), Permodalan Nasional Bhd (45.5%) = government-controlled PNB Equity Resource Corp
　　　　　　　　　and SC Polymer Inc, a US subsidiary of China National Chemical Import and Export Corp (1.3%).　　　　

　　　　　立地：パシールクダン

エチレン	Titan Petrochem→Titan Chemicals	700
HDPE	Titan　PE	100
LLDPE	Titan　PE	200
LDPE	Titan　PE	200
プロピレン	Titan Petrochem→Titan Chemicals	330
PP	Titan　PP→Titan Petchem (M)	370

Phase I commenced operations in 1991 and the development was completed in 1995. Phase I comprised of:
1.	A Polypropylene plant with a capacity of 130,000 MTA
2.	A Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) / High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plant with a capacity of 200,000 MTA
3.	A Naphtha / LPG Cracker with an annual capacity of 230,000 MTA of Etylene and 115,000 MTA of Propylene
Phase II expansion commenced in 1996 and was completed in 2000. Phase II comprised of:
1.	A second Naphtha/LPG cracker with Ethylene capacity of 330,000 MTA and Propylene capacity of 165,000 MTA
2.	A second Polypropylene Plant with capacity of 200,000 MTA
3.	A LDPE Plant with a capacity of 200,000 MTA
4.	An HDPE Plant with a capacity of 100,000 MTA
5.	A BTX Plant which uses the Pyrolysis Gasoline from the first and second Crackers to produce 110,000 MTA of Benzene and 60,000 MTA of Toluene
6.	Two Co-generation Plants to generate and supply electricity and steam to the Titan’s petrochemical complex at Pasir Gudang and Tanjung Langsat
7.	A Tank Farm
8.	Associated facilities including a 12km pipeline corridor linking the Pasir Gudang and Tanjung Langsat sites

Titan PP will acquire the businesses and assets of Titan Petrochemicals and Titan Polyethylene

Titan benefiting much from sister firm in US

PVC計画については別紙

Titan Chemicals raises $211-mil from IPO

　　　　　Titan Chemicals (Malaysia) to acquire PT PENI (Indonesia)

By P.W. Thong （The Star Online 2002/10/28）

Titan committed to invest in Malaysia　　

Titan Petrochemical and Polymers Bhd, the country’s biggest private petrochemical company, is committed to invest in Malaysia for many years to come after setting foot in the country more than a decade ago.

Its group managing director James Chao said Titan to date has put in some RM5.5bil for its petrochemical and plastics facilities in Johor.

This is by far the largest integrated petrochemical investment made by its 53.2%-owned shareholder, the Chao Group International of Taiwan.

Permodalan Nasional Bhd and China National Chemical Import and Export Corp (Sinochem) are the other shareholders of Titan. PNB holds a 45.5% stake while Sinochem has a 1.3% interest.

---

2006/4/18 Westlake Chemical

Westlake Chemical and The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Announce Memorandum of Understanding; Development of an Ethane-Based Ethylene, Polyethylene and Other Ethylene-Derivatives Project
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=180248&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=844253&highlight=

Westlake Chemical Corporation ("Westlake") and The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago ("Trinidad and Tobago") announced today that the parties have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Westlake to develop an ethane- based ethylene, polyethylene and other derivatives project in that country. The project evaluation will be undertaken in conjunction with The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago, Ltd. (NGC), and the National Energy Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago, Ltd. (NEC). Trinidad and Tobago has expressed an interest in becoming a minority equity partner in the project.

As currently envisioned, the project would use 37,500 barrels per day of ethane to produce 570,000 tonnes per year of ethylene, which would in turn be used to produce polyethylene and other derivative products. The project could be expanded in the future as more ethane becomes available. The capital cost is initially estimated to be approximately US$1.5 billion. The size, scope, and cost of the project are subject to further definition as the parties undertake a detailed feasibility study pursuant to the MOU. It is expected that the project would be financed through a project financing arrangement. The preliminary project schedule shows that construction would start in late 2007 and that the project would start operations in late 2010.

---

Platts 2006/7/6 　　

Trinidad and Tobago concludes agreements for two projects

One agreement covers development of a $1.5 billion ethane-based ethylene/polyethylene complex by US-based Westlake Chemical Corp, and the T&T government, following the signing of a project MOU earlier this year. The complex, comprising an ethylene cracker and a polyethylene facility, will be built on 250 acres at a site to be identified.

Construction will be done in three phases with work scheduled to start in the last quarter of 2007, Saith said, and production is expected to start in 2010. The government said earlier it expected to produce 570,000 mt/yr of ethylene and ethylene derivatives. The project will be financed by equity (30%), and debt (70%), with the T&T government allowed the option of acquiring a project equity stake of no less than 10% and up to 30%.



The other agreement covers development of a maleic anhydride processing facility by Isegen (PTY) Ltd, a wholly-owned private company in South Africa that manufactures chemicals for food additives, Saith noted.

Platts 2002/10/25

Malaysia Titan to expand petchem capacity by 10% by 2006

Malaysia's Titan Petrochemical has plans to expand both its naphtha crackers and its downstream petrochemical plants by 10% until around the end of 2005 or the beginning of 2006, a company source said Thursday.

2002/12/30 Financial Times

Titan benefiting much from sister firm in US

TITAN Petrochemical & Polymers Bhd, Malaysia's first fully integrated petrochemical complex and the largest integrated olefin and polyolefin producer in the country, has benefited enormously by being able to tap into the technical and management expertise of its sister company in the US.

The Titan group is 54% owned by the Chao group and 46% by PNB Equity Resource Corp Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Bhd. The Chao group also wholly owns Westlake Corp, one of the most competitive petrochemical players in North America.

　

Platts 2002/5/15　

China's Taita mulls 150 kt/yr ABS investment at Zhongsan （中山）

China's Taita Zhongsan is considering to build an ABS plant at Zhongsan to complement its existing 100,000 mt/yr expandable polystyrene plant there, industry sources said Wednesday.

The proposed plant is expected to have a nameplate capacity of at least 150,000 mt/yr, they added.

Taita Zhongsan is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Taiwan's Taita Chemical, which has the capacity to produce 100,000mt of PS, and 60,000mt each of ABS and EPS at Kaohsiung.

Rubberworld 2004/9/28

Titan Petrochemicals & Polymers to Merge 3 Units

Titan Petrochemicals & Polymers Bhd, Malaysia's first and largest integrated producer of olefins and polyolefins, announced Monday plans to merge its three primary operating subsidiaries to improve efficiency and save on costs.

Under the merger, Titan PP Polymers Sdn Bhd will acquire the businesses and assets of Titan Petrochemicals Sdn Bhd and Titan Polyethylene Sdn Bhd. Titan managing director Donald M. Condon Jr. said the improved efficiencies and cost savings will help the company improve its market position in Malaysia and in the region.

2004/12/15 Platts

Malaysia's Titan Petchems & Polymers renamed Titan Chemicals

Malaysia's Titan Petrochemicals & Polymers Berhad changed its corporate name to Titan Chemicals Corp Bhd effective Dec 10, it announced belatedly Wednesday. Its main subsidiary, Titan PP Polymers (M) Sdn Bhd, has been renamed Titan Petchem (M) Sdn Bhd, it added.

The name changes have been approved by the Companies Commission of Malaysia and Titan's shareholders. In November this year, Titan reiterated that it was preparing for an IPO in the local bourse Bursa Malaysia. The listing was initially supposed to have taken place a year ago but was deferred due to the firm's weak financial standing. Titan also announced in November that it was also considering an international institutional offering. Titan is a joint venture between the between the local Chao group (which owns a 53.2% stake), Permodalan Nasional Bhd (45.5%) and SC Polymer Inc, a US subsidiary of China National Chemical Import and Export Corp (1.3%). It has two naphtha crackers and associated polyolefin and aromatic complexes in Pasir Gudang.

Platts 2005/6/10

Malaysia's Titan Chemicals raises $211-mil from IPO

Malaysia's Titan Chemicals Corp has raised Malaysia Ringgit 801.8-mil($211-mil) from its initial public offering of 438,240,000 new ordinary shares, the company said in an announcement.

2005/12/22 Titan Chemicals

Titan Chemicals Corp. BHD. to acquire PT PENI, Indonesia's largest polyethylene producer through its subsidiary, Titan Petchem(M) SDN BHD
http://www.titangroup.com/MediaRoom/PRv7.pdf

Titan Petchem (M) Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Titan Chemicals Corp. Bhd. has entered into a conditional sale and purchase agreement with Golden Park Limited-Indika Group to acquire 100% of the equity of Chemical Brothers Limited, 100% equity owner of PT Petrokimia Nusantara Interindo ("PT PENI"). PT PENI, the largest Indonesian polyethylene producer, is the owner of a petrochemical complex in Cilegon, Banten Province, comprising 3 Linear Low Density Polyethylene ("LLDPE")/High Density Polyethylene("HDPE") lines with a nameplate capacity of 450,000 MTA. The complex was built by British Petroleum("BP") and the plant utilizes BP's renowned Innovene Technology.

2006/3/21 Titan Chemicals

Titan Chemicals Corp, Bhd. becomes SEA's largest polyolefins producer with acquisition of PT PENI

Titan Chemicals Corp, Bhd. announced today that it has completed the acquisition of 100% of the equity of PT Petrokimia Nusantara Interindo (PT PENI) via its subsidiary, Titan Petchem (M) Sdn. Bhd. PT PENI, the largest Indonesian polyethylene producer, is the owner of a petrochemical complex in Cilegon, Banten Province, comprising 3 Linear Low Density Polyethylene ("LLDPE")/High Density Polyethylene ("HDPE") lines with a nameplate capacity of 450 KTA. The three lines utilize the world renowned Innovene Technology.


Elaborating further, Mr. Condon said, "Moving forward, the company will be rebranded PT TITAN Petrokimia Nusantara or PT Titan in short. Having spent his most recent years at Titan leading international business development, making forays into China, Vietnam and the Middle East, Mr. Diau will bring great depth to PT PENI's marketing capabilities."

Westlake Chemical 　2006/9/12　

Westlake Chemical Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Westlake's 20 years of growth
In 1986, following three decades of success in Asia, the Chao Group entered the U.S. market and began producing polyethylene at its first plant in Lake Charles, La., on Sept. 12. From that beginning Westlake has grown to 14 operating sites with 13 facilities in the U.S., an operation in Alberta, Canada, and a joint venture in Suzhou, China.

The vinyl segment's products include vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), caustic soda, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and an array of downstream PVC fabricated products such as PVC pipe, fence, window, door and decking components, garden accessories and PVC film.
The olefin segment produces and markets ethylene, styrene, propylene, low density polyethylene (LDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE).
In addition to producing and marketing products under the Westlake Chemical Corporation name the PVC pipe products are sold through the North American Pipe Company subsidiary and the other PVC components are manufactured and marketed through Westech Building Products.

Suzhou Huasu Plastics Company, Ltd.

Westlake International Investments Corp. (BVI): 43% Norsk Hydro a.s. (Norway): 32% China Jiangsu Chemical Pesticide Group Co. (China): 14% China Taicang Petrochemical Co. (China): 3%

Suzhou Huasu Plastics Announces Intended PVC Expansion

Suzhou, Jiangu Province, PRC, December 14th, 2004 ? Suzhou Huasu Plastics Company, Ltd., (SHPC) announced today that it plans to expand the capacity of its polyvinyl chloride resin facility in Suzhou, Jiangu Province, PRC, from its current 130,000 MTA (metric tons per annum) to approximately 330,000 MTA.

SHPC began operations in China in 1993 with 4 state-of-the-art IHI calendering lines for the manufacturing of 24,000MTA of Soft and Semi-Rigid PVC film & Sheeting products. The company backward integrated into PVC manufacturing with a 130,000 MTA PVC resin plant, which started up in 1999. In year 2000 SHPC added 2 more calendering lines and effectively increased its film and sheeting capacity to 40,000 MTA. A new 4 meter wide calendaring line, SHPC’s 7th calender line, due to be on stream in December 2004, will increase SHPC’s film and sheeting capacity to 60,000 MTA thus making it the largest soft PVC film and sheeting producer in China.

The new 200,000 MTA PVC resin expansion planned for SHPC is in keeping with the phenomenal growth the Chinese PVC demand, which has increased from approx 3.2MM MTA in 1999 to over 6.8MM MTA in 2004. Due to the lack of domestic PVC capacity, more than 25% of the PVC demand in China is currently supplied by imports.

James Chao, Chairman of SHPC has noted, “In spite of the cool down measures promulgated by the government to subdue an overheated economy, the domestic demand for building materials made of PVC, particularly for the infrastructure improvements and new constructions, will continue to grow at a healthy pace, in excess of the GDP growth. The planned expansion is designed to allow SHPC to continue to meet our customers needs and maintain our market leadership position”

SHPC has embarked on the permitting and project planning work. As the original plant layout already included consideration for future expansion, project implementation can be expedited.

SHPC, an integrated producer of PVC resin, film and sheeting, is a joint venture partnership comprised of Westlake Chemical Corporation, (NYSE: WLK) --a Houston, Texas based international manufacturer and marketer of petrochemical, plastics and fabricated products; Norsk Hydro?one of the largest publicly listed company in Norway engaged mainly the North Sea oil and gas exploration and production, International Finance Corporation, a subsidiary of World Bank, Jiangsu Suhua Group Corporation Limited，a major regional manufacturer of fine chemicals and pesticide, and China Taicang Petrochemical Company，a local state owned petrochemical company. (You can learn more about SHPC from the company’s website@www.huasugroup.com)

2008/3/11　T.T. Chao　逝去

Westlake Chemical は10日、同社の創設者で元会長のT.T. Chao が7日に逝去したと発表した。86歳だった。

同氏は1921年、蘇州に生まれ、1946年に台湾に移住した。
1954年に台湾初のPVC工場を建設、1964年にCGPCを設立した。

CGPCは当初は米国 Gulf とのJVで、China Gulf Petrochemical Corp と称したが、その後 Gulf 撤退で、China General Petrochemical Corp.に改称した。（略称は同じ）
その後、T.T. Chao は同社を手放しているが、現在、同グループはCGPCでPVC、子会社の台湾VCMでVCM、台湾PPでPP、台達化学でPS/ABS、Asian Polymer でLDPEと、幅広く事業を行っている。

T.T. Chao は1986年に米国に進出、Westlake Chemical を設立した。
その後、事業を拡大し、ルイジアナ州に2箇所、ケンタッキー州に1箇所のコンプレックスでエチレン、塩素、LDPE/LLDPE、VCM、PVC、SMを生産、他に、PVCパイプ、窓枠/ドア材なども扱っている。

更にマレーシアに進出、Titan Chemicals を設立し、パシールクダンにエチレン、HDPE、LDPE/LLDPE、プロピレン、PPのコンプレックスを建設、運営している。

1992年には故郷の蘇州にNorsk Hydro とのJVのSuzhou Huasu Plastics を設立し、PVC、PVCフィルムを生産している。

3/10/2008 Westlake

Westlake Founder and Former Chairman, T.T. Chao, Dies at 86

Westlake Chemical Corporation today announced the passing of Ting Tsung "T.T." Chao, a global leader in the petrochemical and plastics industry and founder and former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Westlake Chemical Corporation. Mr. Chao passed away peacefully on March 7, 2008. He was 86 years old.

During his 60-year career, Mr. Chao pioneered the petrochemical industry in Taiwan and Southeast Asia. He also founded plastics and fabrication companies throughout the world, including ventures in the United States, Canada, China, and Hong Kong.

Born in Suzhou, China in 1921, Mr. Chao moved to Taiwan with his family in 1946. In 1954, he built Taiwan's first polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plant; and in 1964, he founded China General Plastics Group, which grew to include many of the largest plastics manufacturers in Asia. Mr. Chao entered the U.S. market in 1986 with the creation of what is today Westlake Chemical Corporation, a NYSE listed company. Concurrently, he also established Titan Chemicals Corporation, the first and largest petrochemical company in Malaysia. For his contributions to the country, he was conferred the title of Datuk (P.J.N.) by the King of Malaysia. In 1992, Mr. Chao completed the circle by investing in PVC resin and film plants in Suzhou, China. In 2005, Mr. Chao was recognized by the Chemical Heritage Foundation in the U.S. for his contribution to the development of the petrochemical industry and was awarded the Petrochemical Heritage Award.

T. T. Chao was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He will be remembered as an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, and a man of singular generosity. Throughout his life, Mr. Chao made significant contributions to healthcare, educational, social, and cultural organizations around the world. He inspired all who met him and set a standard of excellence for others to follow.

Mr. Chao is survived by his wife, Wei Fong Chao, and his family, including Dorothy Jenkins, a company director, James Chao, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Albert Chao, President & CEO and a director of the company, their spouses, and seven grandchildren.

2008/3/19 Westlake Chemical

North American Pipe to Open New PVC Pipe Plant
Facility to be located in Yucca, AZ

North American Pipe Corporation, a subsidiary of Houston-based Westlake Chemical Corporation, announced today that it will open a new PVC pipe plant in Yucca, AZ.

The new plant is expected to begin operations by the 1st quarter of 2009 and will annually produce approximately 120 million pounds of PVC pipe in its initial phase. With an initial investment of approximately $30 million the plant will add approximately 75 new positions to the local economy.

North American Pipe Corporation
North American Pipe is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Westlake Chemical Corporation and currently operates eight (8) PVC pipe plants throughout the United States. Last fall the company announced it was beginning construction of a PVC pipe plant in Calvert City, KY with a capacity of 55 million pounds per year of large diameter pipe which is expected to be completed in the second half of 2008.