Oxea, the global chemical company, announced today that due to continued strong growth in strategic, high-value segments, the company will build a new carboxylic acids unit in Oberhausen, Germany, that will come on stream by late 2012. The new unit will boost Oxea’s global carboxylic acids production capacity by an additional 40% on top of the already announced capacity expansion projects becoming effective end of 2011. Main driver for these capacity increases is a growing demand for synthetic fatty acids in segments such as energy-efficient lubricant esters and specialty phthalate-free plasticizers.
„Oxea is the leading carboxylic acids producer. We have the largest production capacity and the broadest product portfolio in synthetic carboxylic acids worldwide,“ said Miguel Mantas, responsible for Marketing and Sales within Oxea’s Executive Board. „The new unit will come in addition to our ongoing capacity increases this year. It will considerably increase Oxea’s supply capacity, improve our flexibility and enhance our ability to support the growth of our customers.“
In 2010 Oxea expanded the production capacity of its existing carboxylic acids units, and in December 2010 Oxea announced another increase by 20% of its capacities scheduled to be completed towards the end of 2011. Subject to approval by the relevant authorities, the new carboxylic acids unit is planned to come on stream by late 2012.
„Oxea is backward integrated in carboxylic acids value chains, based on its own hydroformylation technologies. This means, that we supply our acids production units with precursors that we produce ourselves. This strategy makes us more independent and improves Oxea’s supply flexibility,“ said Dr. Martina Flöel, spokesperson for the Executive Board of Oxea. „The building of a new production unit supports an important aspect of our strategy: the expansion in growth markets and in Oxo Derivatives.“