In one of its first major moves since acquiring the Hoechst (Trevira) business in 1998, US-based polyester producer KoSa (Europe: Lyoner Str. 38a, D-60528 Frankfurt) has signed a letter of intent to form a 50:50 PET packaging resins joint venture with Catalana de Polimers (Avda. Remolar 2, E-08820 E1 Prat de Llobregat), a subsidiary of La Seda de Barcelona. The new jv would jointly own the resins plant at Catalana´s El Prat de Llobreat site, where the Spanish company currently produces 75,000 t/y of resin as well as staple fibre. Plans are to expand resins output at the site by 35,000 t/y through debottlenecking, bringing total capacity to 110,000 t/y.

The deal has advantages for both potential partners. Rafael Espanol, chairman of La Seda, said the link with KoSa would provide Catalana with “world class technology” as well as enhancing its market presence, while KoSa chairman Isaac Saba noted that his group would gain access to the Mediterranean market without having to build its own facilities.