The European Commission (EC) has approved, under the European Union Merger Regulation, the creation of a joint venture by Ineos and Sinopec for an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plant under construction by Sinopec in Tianjin, China. The 300 kta ABS facility, based on Ineos Terluran ABS technology, is expected to come on stream in April 2025. The Tianjin unit is the second of three new-build ABS plants announced by both companies last year, each to be managed as a joint venture between Ineos Styrolution and Sinopec. The first new-build is a 600 kta ABS facility in Ningbo that is scheduled to begin operation this year.  The location of the third ABS unit has yet to be decided.