Petronas enters oxyalkylates market

Petronas Chemicals (PCG) has acquired PCC’s 50% stake in its Malaysian unit, PCC Oxyalkylates Malaysia. CEO Datuk Sazali Hamzah called this “another milestone for PCG in our quest to develop the group’s specialty chemicals business segment”.

PCG and German-based surfactants producer PCC are already planning an oxyalkylates facility at the Kerteh integrated petrochemical complex in Terengganu (pictured above), plus a joint R&D centre. This is due to begin construction in 2021 and enter production in 2023.

Oxyalkylates comprise two main produt families: ethoxylates, non-ionic surfactants used in the production of detergent, home care and personal care products; and polyether polyols, which are mainly used in foam mattresses and upholstery applications.  Demand for both is growing rapidly in South-East Asia and the Asia-Pacific region generally.