2005 has seen the consolidation of the EU petrochemicals industry, including operations across the borders in Central/Eastern Europe.
Czech Republic
In June 2004, Poland's PKN Orlen agreed to buy Unipetrol, the large national refinery and petrochemicals group. The ownership transfer process is still going on. The petrochemicals demand has been stimulated by the good performances of the automotive and electronic sectors, and the per-capita consumption is gradually rising to the West-European levels.
Poland
PKN Orlen is bringing extra capacities in olefins, polyethylene, polypropylene and aromatics. The country is the biggest market for refinery and petrochemicals products in Central and Eastern Europe and has a huge potential for growth.
Hungary / Slovakia
MOL, the Hungarian oil and gas group, has established partnerships with major oil refining / petrochemical companies in the region: TVK in Hungary, Slovnaft in Slovakia and INA in Croatia. TVK are adding extra capacities for olefins and polyethylene in 2005.
Dynamic GDP growth is expected to continue in the EU economies, which should support the growth momentum of the EU petrochemicals markets.
print
