Jiangsu Sopo and DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers Sign Final Agreements for VAM Technology      

Jiangsu Sopo (Group) Co., Ltd. and DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers (DuPont) have signed definitive agreements to license DuPont technology for a new 330 000 t/a vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) manufacturing plant to be located in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province, eastern China. DuPont will provide VAM technology under license and technical assistance for this new Sopo VAM facility. DuPont released on October 28th.
    The planned VAM facility will be integrated into other Sopo petrochemical facilities currently located on their Zhenjiang site. The site includes manufacturing of chlorine alkali products and rubber accelerants; a methanol plant and a 1 200 000 t/a acetic acid plant which will supply the acid feedstock to the VAM project. The VAM plant is scheduled to be operational in 2013.
    Sopo is one of the influential acetic acid manufacturing enterprises globally.  Sopo possesses a relatively complete chain for the coal industry, with a focus on acetic acid, while integrating upstream and downstream products. The new VAM project will further optimize the corporate structure.
    "Licensing our technology to Sopo demonstrates our commitment to using market-driven technology to meet customer needs and enable growth in emerging global markets. Our relationship with Sopo is a model for future growth." said Steven Ogle, licensing business director DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers.