Elf, Amoco form venture

Polypropylene is a recyclable plastic resin used in a wide variety of consumer applications, including carpeting, upholstery, clothing, packaging, food containers, bottles, appliances, toys and car interiors.

The European joint venture will have a production capacity of 1.2 million tonnes, putting it third behind Shell8217;s Montell unit and Germany8217;s Targor.

The venture will merge the polypropylene activities of Appryl, which has two plants in France and a third due to open in Scotland this year, and BP Amoco8217;s polypropylene business at Geel in Belgium.

Appryl, formed in 1986 by ajoint venture between Elf Atochem and BP, has an annual turnover of 240 million euros while BP Amoco8217;s European polypropylene turnover is 270 million euros.

The research joint venture will unite Elf Atochem and BP Amoco8217;s current technology and their long-term polypropylene research, with the goal of developing the best technology for a total production capacity of three million tonnes.

Besides its European production, BP Amoco also produces one million tonnes of polypropylene at its Texas plant.