Total's Base Chemicals activities encompass petrochemicals , including base petrochemicals (the production of olefins and aromatics), polyethylene, polypropylene and styrenics, as well as fertilizers.

From Oil to Polymers, Integrated Global Petrochemicals Operations

Total's petrochemicals activities include olefins and aromatics (base petrochemicals) as well as polyethylene, polypropylene and styrenics. On October 1, 2004 Total Petrochemicals was created to regroup these activities.

Total's main petrochemicals sites are located in Belgium (Antwerp, Feluy), France (Gonfreville, Carlling, Lavéra, Feyzin), and the United States (Port Arthur, Houston and Bayport in Texas, Carville in Louisiana) as well as in Singapore and China (Foshan).
Most of these sites are either adjacent to or connected to Group refineries. As a result, Total's petrochemicals activities are closely integrated with the Group's refining operations.

Base petrochemicals encompasses the olefins and aromatics produced by steamcraking petroleum cuts, mainly naphta, as well as propylene and aromatics produced in the refineries of the Group.

Polyethylene is a plastic produced by the polymerization of ethylene manufactured in the Group's steamcrackers. It is principally intended for the packaging, automotive, food, cable and pipe markets.Polypropylene is a plastic produced by the polymerization of propylene manufactured in the steamcrakers and refineries of the Group and principally intended for the packaging, appliance, car industry, carpet and household and sanitary goods markets.
The styrenics business unit encompasses styrene monomer and polystyrene. Most of the styrene produced by the Group is used in the production of polystyrene. Polystyrene is a plastic principally used in packaging, domestic appliances, electronics and audiovideo.

	- Sales: €11.5 billion   - More than 7,000 employees   - 17 production sites: Europe, United States, Midlle East and Asia  - 3 research centers : France, Belgium, United States  - 1 technical center in Lyon (France)

To find out more, go to::
 Total Petrochemicals

Fertilizers: nitrogen chemistry

For nearly a century now, GPN has been cultivating the art of taking nitrogen from the air and turning it into plant fertilizer, and as the leading producer in France the company is a reference in the agricultural sector. Furthermore, for the past twenty years GPN has not just been helping to boost soil productivity so as to feed a growing population, the company has also been encouraging farmers to adopt a rational approach to fertilization.
In addition to producing fertilizers, GPN has been diversifying into complementary segments: the company supplies the transport industry with a number of solutions for reducing pollutant atmospheric emissions and it serves the mining and quarrying industry by supplying the ammonium nitrates needed to make industrial explosives. GPN is now also developing an Engineering and Process business that should soon be designing and installing chemicals plants in many parts of the world.

Total’s Rosier subsidiary, based in Moustier, Belgium and with a subsidiary of its own (Zuid-Chemie) in the Netherlands, has been manufacturing mineral fertilizers for more than a hundred years. The company produces three families of environmentfriendly fertilizers (Rosafert®, Rosaliq® and Rosasol®), meeting the needs of open-air farmers and glass-house operators all over the world. Rosier products are marketed in more than 80 countries, providing the nutritional input needed by crops at all stages in their growth. Like GPN, Rosier promotes a rational approach to crop growing, so that Nature will be more bountiful and protected at the same time.

	- 2006 Fertilizers Sales: €600 million  - GPN: 1,000 employees and 4 production sites in France  - Rosier: 225 employees and 2 production sites (Belgium, the Netherlands)

To find out more, go to:
 GPN
 Rosier Fertilizers