October 18, 2011 – LyondellBasell announced that it has developed an enhanced logistics concept with its distributors designed to improve service to its polypropylene and polyethylene customers in Europe. The company also plans to close its online polyolefins sales channel Alastian on Nov. 1.

LyondellBasell distributors will serve customers from dedicated warehouses at LyondellBasell’s European production sites, reducing logistics complexity and accelerating order turnaround and responsiveness. This new logistics concept already has been realized at LyondellBasell’s largest European polymer site in Wesseling, Germany. Other production sites will adopt this approach in 2012.

“Our company has had a long-standing and fruitful relationship with our distributors,” said Paul Turner, head of sales, Polyolefins Europe. “By enabling our distributors to serve their customers directly from our production sites, we believe we will be able to improve our agility and efficiency in reacting to customer needs.”

After the closure of the Alastian online sales channel, customers will be served one of two ways – directly through LyondellBasell's technical service and sales organization or through a distributor for those customers purchasing smaller volumes. All former Alastian customers will now be able to enjoy the benefits of technical service and sales support available directly from LyondellBasell or its distributors.

LyondellBasell’s distributors have been selling polypropylene and polyethylene resins and compounds into their local markets for decades, and are regarded as an important element of LyondellBasell’s approach to the European market.

“With the enhanced service level we will be receiving from our distribution partners, we will further optimize LyondellBasell’s channel-to-market strategy,” added Turner. “Our goal is to provide our high-quality products to customers of various sizes in the most effective manner possible.”

Source: Lyondell Basell