Japan's Idemitsu, Mitsui to build petrochemical complex in U.S.

Japan’s Idemitsu Kosan Co. and Mitsui & Co. will team up with Dow Chemical Co. to build a petrochemical complex in the U.S., to take advantage of low-cost natural gas from shale deposits. Dow will construct one of the world’s largest plants making ethylene from shale gas in the state of Texas.
The firms will build a plant next to Dow’s plant, using ethylene to produce such chemicals as surfactants and alpha olefins, a raw material for lubricants. The plant will have an annual production capacity of around 300,000 tons and may begin production as early as 2017. The two plants will be connected via pipeline, creating a petrochemical complex. Investment could total around ¥100 billion (US$1.05 billion).
With the U.S. plant as an export base, the companies aim to meet growing demand around the world, especially in emerging markets, for basic chemicals used in plastics, detergents and other products.