Egyptian state petchems firm Echem last week signed an agreement with the US Trade & Development Agency (USTDA) for a feasibility study into a 50,000 t/y polyoxymethylene (POM) plant.

POM is a polymer of formaldehyde and is an engineering thermoplastic used to make precision parts widely used in the automotive and consumer electronics industries. USTDA says Echem will select an American firm to conduct the study. (CONTINUED - 146 WORDS)