PHILADELPHIA and CHARLESTON, S.C., Feb.
3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Braskem (B3: BRKM3, BRKM5 and BRKM6;
NYSE: BAK; LATIBEX: XBRK) ("Company"), the largest polyolefins
producer in the Americas and leading producer of biopolymers in the
world, today announced the first international shipment of
polypropylene from the Company's new Global Export Hub in
Charleston, S.C.
Braskem's new Global Export Hub facility provides packaging,
warehousing and export shipping services to support the Company's
six U.S. polypropylene (PP) production facilities: four in
Texas (La Porte, Oyster Creek and Seadrift), one in Pennsylvania (Marcus
Hook), and one in West
Virginia (Kenova). The
Global Export Hub has the capacity to support export shipments of
up to 450 million pounds (204 Kilotons) of polypropylene and
specialty polymers annually to Braskem clients worldwide.
Braskem is partnered with the Port of Charleston and third party logistics providers
to construct, lease, and provide services to Braskem under a
five-year agreement. Braskem will also continue to leverage its
existing international export capabilities out of Houston, Texas. The new South Carolina facility also complements
Braskem's existing network of Global Export Hubs which include
facilities in North America,
South America, and Europe.
Mark Nikolich, Braskem America
CEO commented, "As the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas
and the leading producer of polypropylene in North America, Braskem is focused on
reinvesting in its business and leadership positions to support our
clients worldwide. Our new Global Export Hub in South Carolina provides additional flexibility
to our global Polypropylene business."
Alexandre Elias, Vice President,
Olefins & Polyolefins North America, additionally commented
that "Given the current tight North American market, we are
prioritizing our domestic clients, but over time, the hub will
allow us to leverage our feedstock advantaged, polymer production
assets in the U.S Gulf Goast, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, to best meet our international
clients needs. With excellent access to national rail and highway
networks this important new logistics and distribution facility in
the South Carolina port region
significantly enhances Braskem America's international export
capability."
The Port of Charleston features
daily express intermodal and merchandise rail services and more
than 20 ocean carriers delivering export cargo between Charleston and more than 150 nations around
the world. In 2019, the South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA)
handled a record high 2.44 million twenty-foot equivalent container
units (TEUs).
Construction activity to support Braskem America's new Global
Export Hub in Charleston has
positively impacted the economic activity in the region with
approximately 150 development and construction workers contracted
throughout the process to fully design and build the
facility. Additionally, approximately 60 new permanent
jobs have been created in the Charleston region to support the facility
covering on-site operations management, packaging, logistics, and
more. The total economic impact that comes about through the
SCPA yields a statewide employment multiplier of 2.4. This implies
that, on average, for every 10 new jobs that are directly supported
by SCPA port operations or port users, an additional 14 jobs are
created elsewhere in South
Carolina.
ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA PORTS
AUTHORITY
South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA), established by the
state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport
and intermodal facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown and Greer. As an economic development engine for
the state, Port operations facilitate 225,000 statewide jobs and
generate nearly $63.4 billion annual
economic activity. SCPA is soon to be home to the deepest harbor on
the U.S. East Coast at 52 feet, and the Port is an industry leader
in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility
to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market
reach and environmental responsibility. For more information on
SCPA, please visit www.scspa.com.
ABOUT BRASKEM
With a global vision of the future oriented towards people and
sustainability, Braskem is committed to contributing to the value
chain for strengthening the Circular Economy. The petrochemical
company's almost 8,000 team members dedicate themselves every day
to improve people's lives through sustainable chemicals and
plastics solutions. Braskem has an innovative DNA and a
comprehensive portfolio of plastic resins and chemical products for
diverse segments, such as food packaging, construction,
manufacturing, automotive, agribusiness, healthcare and hygiene,
among others. With 40 industrial units in Brazil, the United
States, Mexico and
Germany, and net revenue of
R$52.3 billion (US$13.2 billion), Braskem exports its products to
clients in more than 100 countries.
Braskem America is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
Braskem S.A. headquartered in Philadelphia. The company is the leading
producer of polypropylene in the United
States, with six production plants located in Texas, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, an Innovation and Technology
Center in Pittsburgh, and
operations in Boston focused on
leveraging groundbreaking developments in biotechnology and
advanced materials. For more information,
visit www.braskem.com/usa.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains projections and other
forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) regarding future
events. These statements reflect Braskem's current beliefs and
expectations with respect to Braskem's business, the economy and
other future conditions and are based on assumptions, are subject
to risk and uncertainties and are subject to change at any
time. Actual events or results may differ materially from
those contained in such forward-looking statements. Important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
the forward-looking statements contained herein include, without
limitation: (i) the continuation of restrictions related to the
COVID -19 Pandemic or the continuing effects of the Pandemic; (ii)
the contraction or lack of growth in the market segments in which
Braskem competes and in which its products are sold (ii) unexpected
delays in commissioning, (iii) increased competition from imports
or in the export markets, (iv) inability to anticipate future
market trends and the future needs of Braskem's customers, (v) the
impact of natural disasters on Braskem's La Porte facility and its suppliers and (vi)
other factors detailed in documents Braskem files from time to
time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions contained in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Braskem on English social
media:
www.facebook.com/BraskemGlobal
www.linkedin.com/company/braskem
www.twitter.com/BraskemSA
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SOURCE Braskem