$675 Million Petrochemical Plant Newest In Houston Downstream Boom

Houston's petrochemical boom continues.

Brazilian company Braskem just announced it will expand its footprint here with a $675 million plant.

Polypropylene plant "Delta" will be built next to the company's existing facility in La Porte.

It will have capacity to produce 1 billion pounds of the plastic per year, according to the Brazilian petrochemical firm.

Just three months ago, Braskem opened its first polyethylene plant in the United States at this location.

The new plant will add to more than $50 billion worth of petrochemical construction in the Houston region in the past four years.

But that growth is projected to drop to under $5 billion next year.

Braskem's Delta plant is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2020. The company says it will employ about 1,000 workers during the construction phase and an additional 50 people long-term when the plant is operational.