November 2013
GLOBAL PETROCHEMICALS MEDIA BACKGROUNDER
BP Petrochemicals
BP is a world leader in the production of acetic acid, purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and paraxylene
(PX) - key intermediates in the production of everyday products as diverse as paints, clothes and
packaging.
Operations and strategy
Our global petrochemicals business has operations in the US, Europe and Asia. At the end of 2012
the business comprised 15 manufacturing sites, with BP’s share of the total capacity at 18.4 million
tonnes per year; approximately 40% of this capacity is in Asia and 30% each in Europe and the US.
The business buys a range of feedstocks for input into our manufacturing units, the majority of which
have been built and operate utilising our proprietary technology.
Our strategy is to leverage our industry-leading technology in the markets in which we choose to
participate, to grow the business and to deliver industry-leading returns. New investments are
targeted principally in the higher-growth Asian markets. We both own and operate assets, and have
also invested in a number of joint ventures in Asia, where our partners are leading companies within
their domestic market.
Product lines
We manufacture and market four main product lines:
 Purified terephthalic acid (PTA)
o PTA is a raw material used in the manufacture of polyesters used in fibres, textiles
and film, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles
 Paraxylene (PX)
o PX is the feedstock for PTA production. The feedstock for PX is primarily reformate,
the product of the catalytic reforming of naphtha
 Acetic acid
o Acetic acid is a versatile intermediate chemical used in a variety of products such as
paints, adhesives and solvents, as well as in the production of PTA
 Olefins and derivatives (O&D)
o In O&D we crack naphtha to produce ethylene and other products and derivatives.
Our O&D business is focused on serving the Chinese market through SECCO, our
joint venture with Sinopec
We also produce a number of other speciality petrochemicals products. Our products are sold to
customers in more than 40 countries.
Technology and licensing
Our proprietary processing technologies are continuously developed and deployed to reduce the
manufacturing costs and environmental impact of our plants, helping to maintain our competitive
advantage in PTA, PX and acetic acid production. In 2012, we started licensing our latest generation
aromatics technology to non-affiliated third parties; firstly PTA technology to JBF Petrochemicals, and
secondly PX technology to Reliance through our exclusive licensor, CB&I Lummus, both in India. In
2013, we licensed our PX technology to GS Caltex in Korea through CB& I Lummus.
Financials and capacity
In 2012, 14.7 million tonnes of petrochemicals were produced. BP’s total share of Petrochemicals
production capacity (at 31 December 2012) was 18.4 million tonnes per annum.
Petrochemicals production capacities summary
(000 tonnes per year)
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November 2013
By geographical area
US
Europe
Rest of World
Total BP share of
capacity (at 31
December 2012)
PTA
2,300
1,300
3,500
7,100
PX
2,400
700
3,100
Acetic acid
600
500
1,400
2,500
O&D
1,800*
3,300
5,100
Other
100
300
200
600
Total
5,400
4,600
8,400
18,400
*Due to the integrated nature of these plants with our Gelsenkirchen refinery, the income and expenditure of
these plants is managed and reported through the fuels business.
Financial and operating performance
Replacement cost profit before interest
and tax
Petrochemicals
$ million
2012
166
2011
1,120
2010
1, 232
For further information please contact Robert Wine, BP Group Press Officer
T: +44 (0)20 7496 4076
E: bppress@bp.com
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