Celanese Opens Integrated Chemical Complex in Nanjing
Year:2007 ISSUE:27
COLUMN:PROJECT NEWS
Click:203    DateTime:Sep.25,2007
Celanese Opens Integrated Chemical Complex in Nanjing   

By Lily Wang   

On September 19th, 2007 Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE), a global hybrid chemical company, celebrated the inauguration of its integrated chemical complex in Nanjing. The Complex is located in the Nanjing Chemical Industrial Park, Jiangsu province, East China, one of the two national chemical parks approved by the National Development and Reform Commission. Celanese's integrated chemical complex in Nanjing brings world-class scale and leading technology to one site for the production of acetic acid, vinyl acetate monomer, acetic anhydride, emulsions, Celstran (R ) long fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (LFRT) and GUR R ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE).
   "The chemical complex in Nanjing is our largest integrated chemical complex globally. This again underscores our long-term commitment to investing in the Asia market and China in particular," said David Weidman, Chairman and CEO of Celanese Corporation. "China is a very important market for Celanese. It is a key link in our global business strategy and a significant contributor to our growth and development."
   The complex will further enhance Celanese's capabilities to better meet the growing needs of its customers in a number of industries across Asia. The acetic acid facility has been running at full production rates since June 2007 and production of vinyl acetate emulsions is set to commence by the end of 2007. Operations for four other plants will begin throughout 2008.
   Celanese expects the 2009 sales in the Nanjing Integrated Chemical Complex will be US$500 million.
   The acetic acid plant in Nanjing boasts world-leading technology and is the largest train manufacturing unit of acetic acid in China, with annual capacity of 600 thousand tons - which can be easily upgraded to 1 200 thousand tons if market demand keeps growing.
   The emulsion plant features a state-of-the-art pressure reactor to make vinyl acetate ethylene (VAE) emulsions as well as a conventional reactor for the production of homo- and co-polymers of vinyl acetate and acrylic emulsions. The products will be integral in the manufacture of high-performance adhesives, high-tech glass fiber and cutting-edge low VOC / low odor paint. This new plant in Nanjing is the 10th emulsions facility in the Celanese global network.
   In addition to the complex in Nanjing, the company currently has joint venture manufacturing sites in Nantong, Jiansu province; Kunming, Yunnan province; Zhuhai, Guangdong province and Bazhou, Hebei province and estimates that by 2010, 45%-55% of earnings will come from the Asia region.   


Manufacture Sites in China
Sites Interest    Products    Commencement of Production
Nantong    JV      Acetate Tow and Flake    1987
           JV      POM                     2001
Kunming    JV      Acetate Tow             1993
Zhuhai    JV      Acetate Tow              1993
Bazhou    JV      Vinyl Easter of Neodecanoic Acid    2007
Nanjing    Wholly-owned    Acetic Acid            2007
                  Vinyl Acetate Monomer       2008
                Acetic Anhydride             2008
                Vinyl Acetate Emulsions     2007
                 UHMW-PE                     2008
                 Long fiber-reinforced thermoplastics    2008