LyondellBasell Expands Capabilities in India's Automotive Plastics Market

October 6, 2015

Ryan Gehm

The Aurangabad facility will produce LyondellBasell's Hostacom glass fiber-reinforced, mineral filled and unfilled colored grades as well as Hifax high impact thermoplastic olefins. Toyota’s Auris model (pictured), for example, features instrument panels produced using LyondellBasell’s Hostacom resins. (Courtesy: Toyota)

LyondellBasell recently acquired SJS Plastiblends Pvt. Ltd., advancing its position in India’s expanding automotive market. LyondellBasell announced in August a definitive agreement to acquire SJS, a polypropylene (PP) compounds manufacturer located in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India. “This acquisition underscores our strategy of investing in growth projects that provide a competitive advantage in targeted markets and a strong return on assets,” said Bhavesh (Bob) Patel, CEO and chairman of the management board of LyondellBasell.

The Aurangabad compounding plant has an annual production capacity of approximately 12,000 t (13,225 ton). In addition to the already existing product lines, the facility will produce LyondellBasell's Hostacom glass fiber-reinforced, mineral filled and unfilled colored grades as well as Hifax high impact thermoplastic olefins. These products are used in the manufacture of automotive parts and other applications. LyondellBasell has supplied the Indian market through imports and tolling arrangements since 2009.