Saudi International Petrochemicals (Sipchem) said on Monday it expects to begin exports of its first shipment of acetic acid in January. The firm started trial operations at its plant in Jubail on Sunday, it said in a statement on the bourse website. This is the second plant of Sipchem's acetyl complex to begin operations. In August, it started testing production at the carbon monoxide plant which will provide feedstock for the production of acetic acid and other products. The acetic acid plant has a production capacity of 460,000 tonnes per year and 50,000 tons of acetic anhydride, Sipchem said. Acetic acid is used as a solvent and in the manufacture of rubber, plastics, acetate fibers and pharmaceuticals. Almost half of the acetic acid is used as a feedstock for the vinyl acetate monomer plant which Sipchem plans to commission next month, it said in the statement. Sipchem started developing the acetyls complex in 2005. The complex will produce 450,000 tons of acetic acid, 330,000 tons of vinyl acetate monomer and 345,000 tons of carbon monoxide annually, Sipchem said in August.
