WESTLAKE
A global manufacturer and supplier of petrochemicals, polymers, and fabricated building products.
Last updated October 26, 2026
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Overview
Westlake Corporation is a United States-based chemical and building-products company whose operations span petrochemicals, polymers, chlor-alkali chemicals, epoxy materials, and fabricated products used in construction and industrial applications. The company was founded in 1986 by Ting Tsung Chao and developed around the production and downstream processing of basic chemical materials. Its business model combines upstream chemical manufacturing with further processing, allowing Westlake to supply both commodity intermediates and more finished materials for construction, infrastructure, packaging, consumer products, and industrial markets. Westlake's principal activities are organized around two broad operating areas: Olefins and Vinyls, together with downstream building-products activities. The olefins business includes ethylene and polyethylene, while the vinyls platform includes chlorine, caustic soda, vinyl chloride monomer, ethylene dichloride, and polyvinyl chloride. This integration links feedstock and intermediate production to PVC and other products used in pipes, siding, windows, flooring, wire and cable, and related construction applications. Westlake has been described as the largest producer of low-density polyethylene in the United States and as one of the significant integrated vinyls producers in the industry. The company expanded its geographic and product reach through a series of acquisitions and capital investments. In 2014, it expanded ethylene-production capacity at its Sulphur, Louisiana, facilities and acquired Vinnolit, a German PVC manufacturer. In 2016, it acquired Axiall Corporation, a United States chlor-alkali and vinyls producer, for approximately $3.8 billion. The Axiall transaction increased Westlake's integration across chlorine, caustic soda, vinyl intermediates, PVC, and related products. In 2021, Westlake bought Boral's United States building-products business for approximately $2.2 billion, extending the company beyond chemicals into products sold directly into construction markets. In 2022, it acquired Hexion's epoxy division, adding epoxy resins and related materials to its portfolio. Westlake's customers operate across consumer and industrial value chains. Its chemicals can become components of packaging, electrical products, water and sewer infrastructure, building envelopes, flooring, coatings, adhesives, and other manufactured goods. Its building-products activities provide a closer connection to residential, commercial, and infrastructure construction than a purely upstream chemical producer would have. The company has also faced operational and environmental scrutiny. Explosions at Louisiana facilities in 2021 and 2022 injured workers, and regulators and communities have raised concerns about releases of hazardous substances from some Louisiana operations. In 2024, the United States Environmental Protection Agency reported that air-monitoring results around Calvert City, Kentucky, showed elevated cancer risk associated with ethylene dichloride emissions and identified Westlake's operations as the area's main source of those emissions. These events have made process safety, emissions control, and regulatory compliance important issues in assessments of the company. Westlake is headquartered in Houston, Texas, trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WLK, and serves markets in the United States, Europe, and other international locations. Its competitive positioning rests on scale, vertical integration, broad vinyls and olefins capabilities, and the combination of chemical manufacturing with downstream building products.
History
Westlake Corporation was founded in 1986 by Ting Tsung Chao. It grew as a producer of basic petrochemicals and polymers, with its activities centered on olefins and vinyls. Over time, the company developed a vertically integrated production system connecting feedstocks such as ethylene and chlorine with intermediates, polymers, and downstream products. This structure enabled Westlake to participate in several stages of the plastics and construction-materials value chains rather than relying exclusively on sales of a single commodity chemical. A significant phase of expansion took place in the 2010s. In 2014, Westlake expanded ethylene-production facilities in Sulphur, Louisiana, and acquired Vinnolit, a German manufacturer of polyvinyl chloride. The acquisition strengthened Westlake's international position in PVC and added European manufacturing and market capabilities to its vinyls platform. The Sulphur investment supported greater domestic olefins capacity and reinforced the company's integration between ethylene and downstream chemical production. In 2016, Westlake acquired Axiall Corporation for approximately $3.8 billion. Axiall was a major United States chlor-alkali and vinyls producer, and the transaction materially expanded Westlake's access to chlorine, caustic soda, vinyl intermediates, and PVC-related operations. The deal was strategically important because chlor-alkali production supplies essential inputs for the vinyls chain and complements Westlake's existing olefins and polymer capabilities. Westlake subsequently moved further downstream. In June 2021, it purchased Boral's United States building-products business for approximately $2.2 billion. This transaction broadened the company from a principally chemical and polymer manufacturer into a supplier with a larger presence in fabricated products used in construction. In 2022, Westlake took over Hexion's epoxy division, adding epoxy resins and associated materials to its portfolio and extending its reach into coatings, adhesives, composites, and other industrial applications. The company's history has also included safety and environmental controversies. 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; six workers were injured and authorities issued a shelter-in-place order. Westlake facilities in Louisiana have also been associated with uncontrolled releases involving substances including benzene, chloroform, ethylene dichloride, hydrogen chloride, and vinyl chloride. In 2024, the EPA reported results from long-term air monitoring near Westlake's Calvert City, Kentucky, operations and concluded that ethylene dichloride emissions were driving elevated cancer risk in the surrounding community. The agency identified Westlake's operations as the area's main source of those emissions. Westlake remains a publicly traded company headquartered in Houston, Texas. Its current business profile combines large-scale chemical manufacturing with downstream building products, serving global industrial, consumer, and construction markets.
- 2022
Hexion epoxy division acquisition
[1]Westlake took over Hexion's epoxy division and added epoxy materials to its product portfolio.
- 2021
Boral United States building-products acquisition
[1]Westlake acquired Boral's United States building-products business for approximately $2.2 billion.
- 2016
Axiall acquisition
[1]Westlake acquired Axiall Corporation for approximately $3.8 billion, expanding its chlor-alkali and vinyls operations.
- 2014
Sulphur ethylene expansion and Vinnolit acquisition
[1]Westlake expanded ethylene-production facilities in Sulphur, Louisiana, and acquired German PVC producer Vinnolit.
- 1986
Company founded
[1]Ting Tsung Chao founded Westlake, establishing the company as a producer of petrochemicals and polymers.
Products and positioning
An integrated basic-chemicals, polymers, and building-products supplier combining upstream petrochemical and vinyls production with downstream processing.
Polymer
Low-density polyethylene
Westlake produces low-density polyethylene, a flexible thermoplastic used in packaging, films, consumer products, and industrial applications. The company has been described as the largest United States producer of LDPE. LDPE connects Westlake's olefins operations with downstream converters that manufacture finished plastic goods.
Vinyl polymer
Polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride is a core Westlake product and an important material for pipes, siding, windows, flooring, wire and cable, and other construction applications. Westlake's integrated vinyls operations produce PVC alongside key feedstocks and intermediates, supporting supply across both industrial and building-products markets.
Basic chemicals
Chlor-alkali products
Westlake's chlor-alkali activities include chlorine and caustic soda. These chemicals are foundational industrial inputs used in water treatment, chemical processing, manufacturing, and the production of vinyl intermediates. The Axiall acquisition expanded the scale and strategic importance of this part of the portfolio.
Petrochemical intermediates
Ethylene and vinyl intermediates
Westlake produces ethylene and vinyl-chain intermediates including vinyl chloride monomer and ethylene dichloride. These materials support the manufacture of polyethylene, PVC, and other downstream chemical products. The company's Louisiana ethylene expansion increased its olefins capacity and reinforced its integrated production model.
Specialty chemicals · 2022
Epoxy materials
Westlake added epoxy resins and related epoxy materials through its 2022 takeover of Hexion's epoxy division. Epoxy products are used in coatings, adhesives, composites, electrical applications, and other industrial markets. The business gives Westlake a specialty-chemicals presence alongside its larger commodity polymer and vinyls operations.
Building products · 2021
Fabricated building products
Westlake's downstream building-products business supplies fabricated materials for construction markets. It was significantly expanded through the 2021 acquisition of Boral's United States building-products business, giving the company a more direct role in products used in residential, commercial, and infrastructure construction.
Controversies
2026
Westlake accused of discriminating against blind employee
A Fort Worth Report headline states that a Westlake company was accused of discriminating against a blind employee. The supplied source provides only the headline and does not include further details, such as the identity of the employee, the nature of the alleged discrimination, or any response from the company. No determination or outcome is reported in the available material. The item is therefore limited to the allegation as framed in the headline, and no additional facts or findings should be inferred beyond that.
2024
Calvert City ethylene dichloride emissions scrutiny
The EPA reported that long-term air monitoring around Calvert City, Kentucky, found ethylene dichloride emissions were driving elevated cancer risk and identified Westlake's operations as the area's principal source.
2022
Westlake Louisiana ethylene dichloride tank explosion
An ethylene dichloride tank explosion at a Westlake facility in Westlake, Louisiana, injured six workers and led to a shelter-in-place order in January 2022.
2021
Sulphur ethylene-plant explosion
An explosion at Westlake's ethylene plant in Sulphur, Louisiana, injured six workers in September 2021.
2020
EU fines Orbia, Clariant and Celanese over ethylene purchasing cartel
The European Commission fined Orbia, Clariant and Celanese for participating in a cartel to lower ethylene purchase prices. According to the report, the companies admitted participating and agreed to settle. Westlake disclosed the cartel and avoided a fine. The event was reported in the context of the European Commission's enforcement against the ethylene purchasing cartel.
Brand decisions
2022
Take over Hexion's epoxy divisionM&ABackground
Westlake aimed to broaden its chemical portfolio beyond commodity olefins and vinyls.
Action taken
Westlake took over Hexion's epoxy division.
Aftermath
The transaction added epoxy resins and related specialty materials for industrial applications.
2021
Acquire Boral's United States building-products businessM&ABackground
Westlake sought to expand downstream into fabricated products serving construction markets.
Action taken
The company purchased Boral's United States building-products business for approximately $2.2 billion.
Aftermath
Westlake increased its exposure to construction products and moved further downstream from basic chemical manufacturing.
Transaction value. $2.2 billion (June 2021)
2016
Acquire Axiall CorporationM&ABackground
Westlake pursued greater scale and integration in chlor-alkali and vinyls manufacturing.
Action taken
Westlake acquired Axiall Corporation for approximately $3.8 billion.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded Westlake's chlorine, caustic soda, vinyl intermediates, and PVC capabilities.
Transaction value. $3.8 billion (2016)
2014
Expand ethylene production and enter German PVC manufacturingStrategyBackground
Westlake sought to expand its olefins capacity while strengthening its integrated vinyls and PVC presence.
Action taken
The company expanded its Sulphur, Louisiana, ethylene facilities and acquired Vinnolit in Germany.
Aftermath
The actions increased Westlake's ethylene capacity and international PVC manufacturing footprint.
Recent events
- 2022
Westlake acquires Hexion's epoxy division[1]
M&A · Product launch
Westlake took over Hexion's epoxy division, adding epoxy materials to its chemical-products portfolio.
- 2021
Westlake purchases Boral's United States building-products business[1]
M&A
Westlake acquired Boral's United States building-products business for approximately $2.2 billion, broadening its downstream construction portfolio.
- 2016
Westlake acquires Axiall Corporation[1]
M&A
Westlake completed the acquisition of United States chlor-alkali producer Axiall Corporation in a transaction valued at approximately $3.8 billion.
- 2014
Westlake expands ethylene production in Sulphur, Louisiana[1]
Product generation · Other
Westlake made a significant expansion of its ethylene-production facilities in Sulphur, Louisiana.
- 2014
Westlake acquires Vinnolit[1]
M&A
Westlake acquired German PVC manufacturer Vinnolit, strengthening its European vinyls and polyvinyl chloride operations.
Sources6 sources
- 1Westlake Corporationen.wikipedia.org
- 2Westlake Corporation official websitewestlake.com
- 3Westlake accused of discriminating against blind employeenews.google.com
- 4EU fines Orbia, Clariant and Celanese over ethylene purchasing carteltech.sina.com.cn
- 5Westlake Chemical Corporation: Westlake Completes Acquisition of Epoxy Businessfinanznachrichten.de
- 6Westlake Corporation: Westlake Epoxy Achieves EcoVadis Platinum Sustainability Rating, Demonstrating Continued Sustainability Advancementsfinanznachrichten.de
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