Continental Chemical Expands Phthalic Anhydride Production Capacity in Singapore

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Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated; Houston, Texas). Continental Chemical Corporation Private Limited (Jurong Island, Singapore) is planning and pursuing investments to increase their current chemical production capacities. Continental is planning to construct a new phthalic anhydride (PA) unit on Jurong Island in Singapore that will cost approximately $85 million. The unit will have a production capacity of 80,000 metric tons per year with half of the PA output sent to a newly commissioned $35 million dioctyl phthalate (DOP) unit at the same site. Construction is scheduled to begin during the first half of 2003 with completion estimated for the first half of 2004.

Continental is also looking to complete a new plant in Panyu, China in April of 2003 that will produce 48,000 metric tons per year of specialty resins and polyunsaturated polyesters. By the end of 2003, Continental will debottleneck an existing PA plant in Bangna, Thailand to an estimated capacity of 50,000 metric tons per year.

Continental Chemical has established a manufacturing presence in China, Thailand, and Indonesia and markets its products globally. Continental produces solvents, intermediates, resins, and PVC compounds. Continental was formed in 1997 and began with two production sites, one in Thailand and one in Indonesia. They have developed into a company that produces over 315,000 metric tons a year of specialty chemicals and resins.