(ICIS) -- Qatar Chemicals (Q-Chem) is in the process of starting up its new 350,000 tonne/year high density polyethylene (HDPE) plant at Mesaieed, Qatar, a source close to the company said on Tuesday.
⌠We are now in start-up mode and have begun to produce some on-spec and some off-spec product, but it will take a couple of months before we begin regular exports, the source added.
The market would feel the impact of the new capacity only by end December or early January, he said.
The HDPE plant will produce mostly blow-moulding grade [and] also some HDPE 80 pipe and film grades, a second source said.
Q-Chem, a joint venture between US major Chevron Phillips Chemical and state-owned Qatar Petroleum, currently operates a 450,000 tonne/year HDPE plant at Messaieed.