SABIC’s PMMA still preparing to start commercial ops: report

Saudi Methacrylates Co.’s (SAMAC) poly methyl methacrylates (PMMA) unit is still in the preparation phase for commercial production, ICIS reported, citing a source close to the company.

The upstream methyl methacrylate monomer (MMA) unit restarted early last month, after a shutdown due to equipment issues that initially occurred early in December, it was reported.

SAMAC is a $346.6 million (SAR 1.3 billion) joint venture (JV) equally owned by Mitsubishi Rayon (MRC) and SABIC.

Last month, MRC said that the PMMA unit would go on stream in March 2018.

In 2014, SAMAC entered into a strategic partnership with MRC to build and operate two manufacturing plants in Jubail Industrial City – an MMA unit with a 250,000-metric-ton annual capacity, and a PMMA unit with an annual capacity of 40,000 metric tons.