Westlake Corporation
 | |
| Formerly | Westlake Chemical Corporation |
|---|---|
| Type | Public |
| Industry | |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | Ting Tsung Chao |
| Headquarters | Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Key people |
|
| Revenue |  US$12.1 billion (2024) |
 US$875 million (2024) | |
| US$602 million (2024) | |
| Total assets | US$20.8 billion (2024) |
| Total equity | US$10.5 billion (2024) |
Number of employees | 15,540 (2024) |
| Website | westlake |
| Footnotes [1] | |
Westlake Corporation is an international manufacturer and supplier of petrochemicals, polymers and fabricated building products, which are fundamental to various consumer and industrial markets.[2] The company was founded by Ting Tsung Chao in 1986.[3] it is the largest producer of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) in the US and ranks among the Forbes Global 2000.[4][5] Westlake Chemical operates in two segments: Olefins and Vinyls, and is also an integrated producer of vinyls, with substantial downstream integration into polyvinyl chloride (PVC) building products.[6]
In 2026, it was ranked 388th among Houston-area Fortune 500 companies in the Greater Houston area.[7]
Facilities
[edit]In 2014, Westlake made a significant expansion in their ethylene production facilities in Sulphur, Louisiana.[8] In the same year, Westlake acquired the German polyvinyl chloride manufacturer Vinnolit.[9]
In 2016, Westlake acquired U.S. chlor-alkali producer Axiall Corporation for US$3.8 billion.[10]
In June 2021, Westlake purchased the United States building products business of Boral for $2.2 billion.[11][12] In 2022, Westlake took over Hexion's epoxy division.[13]
Safety Incidents
[edit]In September 2021, an explosion at a Westlake ethylene plant in Sulphur, Louisiana injured six workers. In January 2022, an ethylene dichloride tank exploded at a Westlake facility in Westlake, Louisiana injuring 6 workers and triggering a shelter-in-place order.[14]
Westlake facilities in Louisiana have had uncontrolled chemical releases including benzene, chloroform, ethylene dichloride, hydrogen chloride and vinyl chloride.[15]
Westlake's operations in Calvert City, Kentucky, have faced scrutiny from regulators. In 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced findings from a long-term air monitoring study in the surrounding community, and determined emissions of ethylene dichloride were driving elevated cancer risk.[16] Westlake's Calvert City operations are the main source of ethylene dichloride emissions in the area, according to the EPA.
References
[edit]- ↑ "2024 Annual Report (Form 10-K)". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. February 25, 2025.
- ↑ "Westlake Chemical". Fortune. Archived from the original on 2019-04-03. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
- ↑ Abram, Lynwood (16 March 2008). "Chao, pioneered petrochemical ventures around the world". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ↑ "ICIS Top 100 Chemical Companies: Westlake Chemical is the ICIS Company of the Year". ICIS. September 30, 2013.
- ↑ "The World's Biggest Public Companies". Forbes.
- ↑ "WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORP (Form: S-1/A, Received: 08/09/2004 08:19:24)". content.edgar-online.com. SEC. Retrieved 2026-07-14.
- ↑ "Houston expands to 27 Fortune 500 companies as Amazon ends Walmart's 13-year reign". Houston Business Journal. 2026-06-03. Retrieved 2026-07-14.
- ↑ Larino, Jennifer (23 October 2014). "Westlake Chemical to spend $330 million on ethylene plant expansion in Sulphur". Times-Picayune. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
- ↑ "Merger proves the right formula for Westlake Chemical - HoustonChronicle.com". www.houstonchronicle.com. 2018-06-07. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
- ↑ "Merger proves the right formula for Westlake Chemical - HoustonChronicle.com". www.houstonchronicle.com. 2018-06-07. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
- ↑ Boral agrees to sell its North American building products business Boral June 21, 2021
- ↑ "Westlake Buys Boral's Building Products Arm for $2.2 Billion". Bloomberg News.
- ↑ "Westlake Chemical completes Hexion epoxy business acquisition". CompositesWorld, published 2/4/2022.
- ↑ Askelson, Kristin (26 January 2022). "At least six people injured in Westlake Chemical plant explosion". The Acadiana Advocate. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ↑ Mitchell, David (10 March 2019). "A detailed look at Westlake Chemical plant in Geismar's string of accidental leaks". The Acadiana Advocate. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ↑ US EPA, REG 04 (2024-01-05). "Calvert City, Kentucky Air Monitoring". United States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
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External links
[edit]- Official website
- Business data for Westlake Corporation:
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