Huntsman to expand Texas ethylene oxide plant

(hydrocarbonprocessing) -- The performance products division of US chemical producer Huntsman plans to add 250 million lb/year (about 113,000 tpy) of ethylene oxide (EO) capacity at its manufacturing plant in Port Neches, Texas. Huntsman already has 1 billion lb/year of annual capacity at the Port Neches facility.

 The performance products division of US chemical producer Huntsman plans to add 250 million lb/year (about 113,000 tpy) of ethylene oxide (EO) capacity at its manufacturing plant in Port Neches, Texas, the company announced late Thursday.

The new capacity will be added to Huntsman’s existing 1 billion lb/year of annual capacity at the plant, the company said. The expansion of EO capacity at Port Neches will leverage Huntsman’s integrated EO derivatives production currently in place at the site to produce surfactants, ethanolamines, specialty chemicals and ethylene glycol (EG).

“The expansion of our ethylene oxide capacity enables Huntsman to leverage the favorable North American ethane cost position, which will benefit our intermediate chemicals and has an attractive projected return on investment,” said Stu Monteith, president of Huntsman Performance Products.

Janice Latz, vice president of operations for performance products, said the company’s new EO capacity should help allay customer concerns about having access to sufficient EO to support their growth.

“The Port Neches EO reactor will enable us to utilize currently untapped derivative capacity within our assets and meet future needs to match our customers’ growth,” she said.