Arkema Announces the Start-up of Its New Methyl Acrylate Plant on Its Clear Lake Site, Texas

Regulatory News:

Arkema (Paris:AKE) announces the start-up of its new plant for the production of methyl acrylate, an acrylic acid derivative used in the manufacture of polymers for water treatment, elastomers and engineering polymers. This investment, on its Clear Lake site in Texas, represents the last phase of a $110 M investment plan intended to strengthen Arkema’s rankings in the US acrylics market.

Following the commissioning of a 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate (2EHA) production plant in Bayport in 2012 and the opening of an acrylic acid capacity expansion in Clear Lake in June 2013, the start-up of a 45 KT methyl acrylate plant announced today represents the last phase of the revamping and capacity increase plan for Arkema’s acrylics business in Texas announced in November 2010.

This commissioning now makes Clear Lake one of the world’s leading manufacturing sites for acrylic acid and derivatives.

With the completion of this investment program, Arkema aims to fully capitalize on the growth of acrylic acid and derivatives in the fast-growing markets of water treatment, superabsorbents and enhanced oil and gas recovery.

"With the finalization of this investment plan in the United States, our world-class site in Carling, France, and our project for the acquisition of Jurong’s acrylics assets in China due to be closed early September, Arkema more than ever ranks among the world’s acrylics leaders and is well positioned to serve its customers around the world from competitive and reliable production sites” , Marie-Pierre Chevallier, Global Group President for Arkema’s Acrylics business unit, is pleased to confirm.

A global chemical company and France’s leading chemicals producer, Arkema is building the future of the chemical industry every day. Deploying a responsible, innovation-based approach, we produce state-of-the-art specialty chemicals that provide customers with practical solutions to such challenges as climate change, access to drinking water, the future of energy, fossil fuel preservation and the need for lighter materials. With operations in more than 40 countries, some 14,000 employees and 10 research centers, Arkema generates annual revenue of some €6.1 billion, and holds leadership positions in all its markets with a portfolio of internationally recognized brands.

ARKEMA
420, rue d’Estienne d’Orves – F-92705 COLOMBES Cedex – France
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