Big PS producers plan joint ventures.

When two large joint ventures are completed later this year, they will reduce the number of polystyrene producers in North America from five to three, significantly altering the competitive landscape. Nova Chemicals Corp., Pittsburgh, and Ineos Ltd. in the U.K. announced plans to combine their North American assets into a 50:50 joint venture. Ineos will contribute a styrene monomer plant in Texas City, Texas, and a PS plant in Joliet, Ill. Nova will contribute a monomer plant in Bayport, Texas, and PS plants in Decatur, Ala.; Springfield, Mass.; Belpre, Ohio; and Montreal. Also included are both companies' specialty PS-based resins: Nova's NAS, Zylar, and Dylark and Ineos's Avantra resins. Nova and Ineos already have a styrenics joint venture in Europe.

Meanwhile, Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich., and Chevron Phillips Chemical Co., The Woodlands, Texas, announced their intention to form a 50:50 joint venture combining their PS and styrene monomer businesses in North and South America. Dow will contribute a styrene plant in Brazil and PS plants in Brazil, Columbia, Gales Ferry, Conn.; Ironton, Ohio; Joliet, Ill.; and Torrance, Calif. Chevron Phillips contributes a monomer plant in St. James, La., and a PS plant in Marietta, Ohio.